What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

How to deeply express yourself in only 650 words?

Hey everyone, I'm feeling really overwhelmed trying to fit all my emotions and experiences into a 650-word college essay. How the heck do I do this? Any tips on condensing a lot of thoughts into such a limited word count?

11 months ago

I understand how overwhelming the process of fitting everything into a 650-word essay can be! My child went through the same struggle when they were applying to college.

What you really want to focus on is the central message or theme of your essay. Instead of trying to include every single idea or experience, choose the most significant ones that allow you to deeply express yourself.

Try brainstorming and writing down all your thoughts first. Once you've done that, see if there's a common thread or theme that appears. Use this central theme to guide your essay and help you condense your thoughts into a focused narrative.

Be concise and precise in your writing. Cut out any details or sentences that don't directly contribute to your central message. Also, avoid long-winded explanations or redundant phrases.

Getting feedback from others is beneficial in this process. Reach out to teachers, family members, or friends for input since they can help you identify what is essential and what can be trimmed down.

Good luck!

11 months ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.