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College apps

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twintipteles
Posts: 2954 - Karma: 13
How important is it to stay within the length guidelines for the essays. I'm finishing my UW essay right now and it says "Recommended length: 2 pages. (500-650 words)" I'm at 1000 and feeling really good about the essay, do I really need to trim it down to 650? Is there a happy medium of maybe 750 or 800 words?
Jan 15 2008 3:47PM
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.makuma.
Posts: 2258 - Karma: 43
maybe just add a little something, but its not a big deal to be a few under or over
Jan 15 2008 4:49PM
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RJD2
Posts: 3532 - Karma: 921
Unless it says maximum length allowed, like most essays for college apps, you have nothing to worry about.

But if i were you, I would make it short and to the point. That's what the essays are supposed to be about, not long, drawn out descriptive stories that include everything you've ever learned in an english class. Just be honest about everything you right, and don't BS most of it.
Jan 15 2008 6:31PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 150
+-10% is generally the norm
Jan 15 2008 6:34PM
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Itsbackfliptime
Posts: 18901 - Karma: 75
Major universities get 10s of thousands of applications. If you go over, the person reading is gonna get pissed.
Jan 15 2008 6:37PM
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Lineskiah11
Posts: 2029 - Karma: 21
my english teacher was a person who read essays for some college i forget where but she said that if you go over by 100ish words then its aright but 1000 is def way too long for that just trim it down a little. she siad that if someone went way to long they would just stop reading it, so i would say try to cut it down to like 700-800 so then it isnt too long. mine was aruond 720 for one that had similar guidlines and she looked mine over and said it was fine length wise.
Jan 15 2008 6:53PM
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zerospinskier
Posts: 4867 - Karma: 350
Well, at least it's good you didn't wait till the last minute.
Jan 15 2008 7:03PM
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skierdudeguy
Posts: 6574 - Karma: 81
my UW personal statement was 707 words, and i got in. i dunno if that helps you, but thats how mine happened
Jan 15 2008 7:25PM
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potatofarmer
Posts: 2020 - Karma: 13
most colleges that I've spoken to say after a while they just stop reading it.  Meaning if its only overa little bit they wont really care, but not 4 or 5 pages beyond.  Anyone else have a fear they just won't get in anywhere?
Jan 15 2008 8:43PM
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Schoening
Posts: 14332 - Karma: 1,268
damn, lotta kids applying to UW, thats sick!

I think my personal statement was like 503 haha
Jan 15 2008 8:45PM
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Owen.
Posts: 1134 - Karma: 13
Yeah these people read alot of essays, so you would want to keep it kind of short.

Also, when you're writing other application essays, check out one of those successful essay books, they explain what cliches you should try to avoid.... (talking about a trip you took? apparently they get thousands of those....)
Jan 15 2008 8:55PM
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foodisfun
Posts: 5427 - Karma: 287
for my common app essay it was over 1400 words and 4 pages.  although there is no maximum, the genral rule is like 500-700 or around 2 pages. 

but that's just me being an xx-treme risk taker.  it's seriously the best essay ever so it doesn't even matter because it's gonna be going in books on how to write an awesome college essay.
Jan 15 2008 9:55PM
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RJD2
Posts: 3532 - Karma: 921
For the OSU application is it required that you keep both of your essays under 250 words. That was pretty tough...
Jan 15 2008 10:15PM
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WONTON
Posts: 6951 - Karma: 55
yea man way to not wait till the last second..............

haha u have 4 and a half hours to get it in. I did the early app for UW but i keep second guessin the quality of my essays
Jan 15 2008 10:32PM
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pommery
Posts: 853 - Karma: 185
The rule I've heard is if it's going to be extra long, make it worth the read. So if it's a really good essay and a little longer than most, you should be okay.
Jan 15 2008 10:37PM
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