Is it okay to go over the word limit on my college essay?
I’m working on my Common App essay and every time I revise it, it keeps ending up a little bit over 650 words—like around 670-680. I’ve spent hours cutting things out but I feel like if I trim it more, it’s going to lose some of the important details that make my story stand out.
Will it be automatically rejected if I’m a bit over the word limit? Or is a few extra words fine as long as it’s close? Should I make sure it’s exactly 650 or under?
I just don’t want something small like this to mess up my application after working so hard.
Will it be automatically rejected if I’m a bit over the word limit? Or is a few extra words fine as long as it’s close? Should I make sure it’s exactly 650 or under?
I just don’t want something small like this to mess up my application after working so hard.
4 months ago
•
47 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
You’ll want to keep your Common App essay at or under the 650-word limit. The application system is designed to enforce this limit, so you typically won’t be able to submit your essay if you’re even a word over. If your essay is currently 670-680 words, you’ll need to trim it down, even if it means cutting some details you like.
Admissions officers read thousands of essays, and the word count is also about fairness and clarity. They expect applicants to follow instructions. Plus, submitting an essay that exceeds the limit can be seen as not respecting guidelines.
Getting the most out of the space is tough, but remember that sometimes less is more. Focus on what details are vital to your story. If a description or sentence doesn't add something unique or push your narrative forward, consider shortening it or removing it. For instance, if you’ve written a paragraph detailing a side anecdote, ask yourself if it truly reveals something critical about who you are or just adds color.
One trick is to use more concise language. For example, instead of saying, “I was extremely nervous as I prepared for the presentation, and my hands were shaking uncontrollably as I stood in front of the class,” you could condense it to, “My hands shook as I faced the class.”
You absolutely don’t want a word count issue to hurt your application. Taking the time to meet the limit will show your attention to detail.
If you're struggling to cut words, ask a teacher, counselor, or trusted friend to help you spot places to be more concise. Sometimes another set of eyes makes all the difference. Keep refining—it’s worth it!
Admissions officers read thousands of essays, and the word count is also about fairness and clarity. They expect applicants to follow instructions. Plus, submitting an essay that exceeds the limit can be seen as not respecting guidelines.
Getting the most out of the space is tough, but remember that sometimes less is more. Focus on what details are vital to your story. If a description or sentence doesn't add something unique or push your narrative forward, consider shortening it or removing it. For instance, if you’ve written a paragraph detailing a side anecdote, ask yourself if it truly reveals something critical about who you are or just adds color.
One trick is to use more concise language. For example, instead of saying, “I was extremely nervous as I prepared for the presentation, and my hands were shaking uncontrollably as I stood in front of the class,” you could condense it to, “My hands shook as I faced the class.”
You absolutely don’t want a word count issue to hurt your application. Taking the time to meet the limit will show your attention to detail.
If you're struggling to cut words, ask a teacher, counselor, or trusted friend to help you spot places to be more concise. Sometimes another set of eyes makes all the difference. Keep refining—it’s worth it!
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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