Is a 600-word college essay too long or too short?
I'm currently drafting my main Common App essay and it's sitting at about 600 words right now. I know the limit is 650, but I'm wondering if that's too close to the maximum. Does it look bad to admissions officers if you basically fill up the word count?
I feel like I need most of the words to tell my story, but also don’t want it to seem like I’m rambling just to hit a higher word count. Has anyone had experience submitting essays in the 600-650 word range? Did you get any feedback on it? I want to make sure I'm not hurting my application by writing too much (or too little, if I cut it down too much). Would love to hear people’s thoughts or advice on this!
I feel like I need most of the words to tell my story, but also don’t want it to seem like I’m rambling just to hit a higher word count. Has anyone had experience submitting essays in the 600-650 word range? Did you get any feedback on it? I want to make sure I'm not hurting my application by writing too much (or too little, if I cut it down too much). Would love to hear people’s thoughts or advice on this!
4 months ago
•
90 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
A 600-word college essay is right in the sweet spot for the Common App personal statement. The official word limit is 650 words, so being close to that maximum is actually very common.
Admissions officers don’t judge you negatively for using most or all of the word count. They want you to use the space you need to fully answer the prompt and showcase your personality, experiences, and growth. In fact, most successful essays fall somewhere between 500 and 650 words. What matters most is that every sentence serves a purpose and contributes to your story.
If you’re currently at 600 words and feel that each paragraph is necessary to your narrative, you’re on the right track. It only becomes a problem if you’re padding the essay with repetitive information or off-topic details just to reach the limit. On the other hand, it's also not a problem to submit something shorter (for example, 550 words), as long as it fully answers the prompt and gives insight into who you are.
For example, a student who wrote about their experience volunteering in a hospital wrote a 645-word essay. Everything in her story built up to a moment when she advocated for a nervous patient, revealing her growth and empathy. The essay didn’t feel long because every sentence moved her story forward and told the reader something meaningful about her. She later shared that she was accepted to several selective colleges—no one suggested that her essay’s length was a problem.
A pro tip: after you reach your initial draft, read through it and try to cut any sentences that repeat an idea, or details that don’t advance your main theme. Then, get feedback from someone who can tell you if anything feels unnecessary or confusing. If you keep your focus and avoid filler, the word count will take care of itself.
So, don’t worry about being at 600 words if the essay flows well and tells your story effectively! Admissions officers just want a compelling, clear, and authentic essay—regardless of whether it’s closer to 500 or 650 words.
Admissions officers don’t judge you negatively for using most or all of the word count. They want you to use the space you need to fully answer the prompt and showcase your personality, experiences, and growth. In fact, most successful essays fall somewhere between 500 and 650 words. What matters most is that every sentence serves a purpose and contributes to your story.
If you’re currently at 600 words and feel that each paragraph is necessary to your narrative, you’re on the right track. It only becomes a problem if you’re padding the essay with repetitive information or off-topic details just to reach the limit. On the other hand, it's also not a problem to submit something shorter (for example, 550 words), as long as it fully answers the prompt and gives insight into who you are.
For example, a student who wrote about their experience volunteering in a hospital wrote a 645-word essay. Everything in her story built up to a moment when she advocated for a nervous patient, revealing her growth and empathy. The essay didn’t feel long because every sentence moved her story forward and told the reader something meaningful about her. She later shared that she was accepted to several selective colleges—no one suggested that her essay’s length was a problem.
A pro tip: after you reach your initial draft, read through it and try to cut any sentences that repeat an idea, or details that don’t advance your main theme. Then, get feedback from someone who can tell you if anything feels unnecessary or confusing. If you keep your focus and avoid filler, the word count will take care of itself.
So, don’t worry about being at 600 words if the essay flows well and tells your story effectively! Admissions officers just want a compelling, clear, and authentic essay—regardless of whether it’s closer to 500 or 650 words.
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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5 years
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