Can Your College Essay Be Over 650 Words?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can your college essay be over ?

The ideal word count for your Common App essay is between 500 and 650 words

. This word count gives you enough space to write an in-depth essay about your chosen topic. Some colleges will state that you can send them a physical copy if the space in the online application isn't enough.

Can college essay exceed 650 words?


The 2019-20 version of the Common Application has an essay length limit of 650 words

and a minimum length of 250 words. This limit has remained unchanged for the past several years. Learn how important this word limit is and how to make the most of your 650 words.

What happens if your Common App essay is over 650 words?

There are no strict word limits. We suggest that for the first essay (where you choose one of the seven prompts), the extended essay stay around 650 words. While we won't as a rule stop reading after 650 words,

we cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention for as long as you'd hoped it would

.

Is it okay if my college essay is too long?

Can you exceed the word count in college essay?

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and

you should stay within 10% of the upper limit

. If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words. You should aim to stay under the specified limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely.

Should you use all 650 words on Common App essay?

The Common App essay word count range is 250-650 words. But just how long should your statement be?

Admissions Blog advises aiming for around 500 words

. And former Tufts University admissions officer Becky Leichtling concurs.

How long is a 650 word essay?

650 words is

1.3 pages single-spaced or 2.6 pages double-spaced

. Documents that typically contain 650 words are high school and , short blog posts, and news articles.

What is the word limit for CUNY essay?

A personal essay of at least

250 words

is part of the application process. Unless a currently enrolled CUNY student, to submit your application, you must pay a $70 non-refundable processing fee.

Is 900 words too long for a college essay?

Rarely will you see a word limit higher than around 650 words (over one single-spaced page). College essays are usually pretty short:

between 150 and 650 words

. Admissions officers have to read a lot of them, after all! Weigh your words carefully, because they are limited!

How many words should a college application essay be?

A college application essay is usually

around 500 words

, and those words can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection. You will spend many days researching and crafting your essay, but admissions officers will only have a few minutes to actually read it, so you need to get their attention.

Can I write more than 650 words in common app?

Navigating the Word Count

The Common App will specify the word limit for writing your essay. This has changed over the years. The current word count is between 250 and 650 words.

The online application won't accept essays that are below 250 words or over 650 words

.

How long is the average college essay?

Type of essay Average word count range College admission essay

200–650 words
Undergraduate college essay 1500–5000 words Graduate school admission essay 500–1000 words Graduate school essay 2500–6000 words

Is it okay to exceed word limit in scholarship essay?

Word Count

I know many students express their frustration over the limitations placed on scholarship essays, but the word count is there for a reason.

In most cases, scholarship essays are kept to 500 words or less

. It makes it easier for committees to review hundreds (sometimes thousands!) of submissions.

How long should a college essay be 2021?

However, that's not always the case. If your institution doesn't provide a specific word count, it's best to keep your essay between the length established by the longer college admissions essay format:

250 to 650 words

. Word count is just one factor to consider as you craft your college admissions essay.

How much over word count is acceptable?

Assignment length requirements are usually given in terms of numbers of words. Unless the lecturer tells you that these limits are strict, it is normally acceptable to be

10% above or below this word limit

(so, for example, a 2000 word assignment should be between 1800 and 2200 words).

What happens if an essay is over the word count?

The falsification of a word count may result in the failure of the paper. There is no penalization for essays which exceed the word limit by up to 5% of the imposed limit. However, if you exceed the word limit by any more than 5%,

a fixed penalty of five marks will be deducted from your assessment grade

.

What is a good college admission essay?

The traditional college application essay usually requires

an open-ended personal statement in response to broad or general prompts that might have you share a story, reflect on an event, or discuss a topic

.

How do I make my college essay stand out?

  1. Write about something that's important to you. …
  2. Don't just recount—reflect! …
  3. Being funny is tough. …
  4. Start early and write several drafts. …
  5. No repeats. …
  6. Answer the question being asked. …
  7. Have at least one other person edit your essay. …
  8. Test Your College Knowledge.

How much does the essay matter for college?

At the top 250 schools, your essays generally account for

25% of your overall application

. This is only slightly behind the 30% for extracurriculars. Essays are actually ahead of the 20% for grades and coursework, 15% for test scores, and 10% for recommendations and interviews.

How many words should an introduction be in a 650 word essay?

Views:57540 Answer. The introduction and conclusion should both be

approximately 10% of the overall essay word count

. For example, if you write a 1500 word essay, your introduction and conclusion will be around 150 words each.

How do you write a 650 word essay?

What is the word count for Macaulay essay?

As part of the Macaulay application to the class of 2027, we require that you submit two pieces of writing: Each should be

around 500 words

long. Your word counts may be slightly over or under, within reason. Select one of the options below.

How long should a scholarship essay be?

In general, scholarship essays are meant to be

about 500 words or one page

in length. Many scholarship essays will provide some kind of minimum requirement for the word or page count of your essay. But if you can't find one then you are generally fine to stick to 500 words or one page.

How long should a Hunter College essay be?

Application Process

The essay portion should

not exceed 650 words

.

How long should Harvard essay be?

The ideal length for your essay is

about 500 words

, any longer and your essay will be hard to read; if it's too short, it will feel a little incomplete.

Does a 500 word essay have to be exactly 500 words?

500-word essays

do not have to be exactly 500 words

, but they should be as close as possible. The essay prompt may say “in under 500 words” or “in at least 500 words,” which would state whether 500 is the minimum or maximum word count.

What is 600 word limit?

600 words is

1.2 pages single-spaced or 2.4 pages double-spaced

. Documents that typically contain 600 words are high school and college essays, short blog posts, and news articles.

Whats considered a long essay?

A long essay is

any essay that tends to be longer than three pages or 3,000 words or more

. Of course, the definition of a long essay will differ from one classroom to another, depending on the age and level of the students.

Can you go over 500 words in a personal statement?

Should I title my Common App essay?

Do I need a title for the Common App essay?

A title is not required for the Common App essay

, but you are, of course, more than welcome to include one if you'd like.

How long is the Common App essay 2022?

Strategy for Writing the 2022-2023 Common App Essays. Because the Common App essay is

650 words

long and has few formal directions, organizing a response might seem daunting.

What is the max words for college essay?

How many words should a college essay be?

So, how many words should a college essay be? Main application essays are generally

500-650 words

. For example, the Common Application, which can be used to apply to more than 800 colleges, requires an essay ranging from 250-650 words.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.