How long is the average college essay?

The length of a college essay really depends on the type of prompt and the specific requirements set by the college. For the Common App personal statement, most students write essays that are between 600 and 650 words. Since the maximum is 650, many choose to get as close as possible without going over, just to maximize their space to share their story. If you have a compelling story that fits naturally within 600-650 words, you generally want to aim toward the higher end, but making every word count is much more important than just hitting a number.

When it comes to supplemental essays, colleges provide a wider range of word limits, usually from 100 to 350 words, though some ask for even shorter or longer responses. For these, almost everyone recommends getting within about 90% of the word limit, and you shouldn't go under by more than 10-20 words unless your answer is very focused and satisfying. For a 250-word limit, writing 230-250 words is a good range, but if you’re at 210 and it's clear, concise, and powerful, that can also work.

I found that for my supplementals, I usually ended up right near the word cap—maybe within 5-15 words of the maximum—because it allowed me to fully answer the question, but it did require careful editing! For shorter answers (like 'why this major?' in 100 words), every sentence needs purpose, so staying concise is more important than length.

If the school gives a range, don't feel pressured to fill every available word—focus on writing a clear, thoughtful essay that addresses the prompt. And avoid going over the limit, even by a few words, since many application systems will cut you off or refuse to submit extra text.

So in summary:
- For the Common App, aim for 600-650 words.
- For supplements, get as close as you can without sacrificing quality—typically within 10-20 words of the limit.
Quality always wins over quantity. Tight, effective writing that directly answers the prompt will stand out far more than a rambling essay that just hits the word count.

Hope that helps clarify things as you draft and revise your essays!