So I'm brainstorming for my Common App essays and I'm wondering, is there a strict word count I need to stick to? I know there's probably a max limit, but is hitting the upper limit looked at unfavorably? Also, do short responses look bad? What's the sweet spot here? Any tips from past applicants?
Absolutely, there is a strict word count for the Common App essays that you should be mindful of—the maximum limit is 650 words, and the application won't allow you to submit an essay that's over that limit. It's not unfavorable to hit that upper limit; in fact, typically the more space you use, the better! College applications are restrictive by their nature, so you don't want to voluntarily restrict yourself even further by leaving a whole bunch of words unused. Obviously, you don't need to hit 650 on the dot, as your exact word count depends more on phrasing, word choice, and so on than content, but you should ideally be well into the 600s (the minimum word count is 250, but you should be well, well above that).
A common piece of advice is to write your first draft without worrying too much about word count—get all your ideas down. Then, refine and trim your essay in subsequent drafts. This strategy often results in an essay that both is strong and falls within a comfortable range of the word limit. Good luck!
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.