In other words, yes, a college essay can be 700 words long only when a word count is not specified. Moreover, in some instances, you would have to abide by a specific page limit. If this is the case, don’t worry about the word count and just write until you are done.
Is 700 words too long for a college essay?
The shortest word limits for college essays are usually around 150 words (less than half a single-spaced page). Rarely will you see a word limit higher than around 650 words (over one single-spaced page). College essays are usually pretty short: between 150 and 650 words.
Is 700 words good for an essay?
700 words is about 3.5-7 paragraphs for essays or 7-14 for easy reading.
Can my Common App essay be 700 words?
There are no strict word limits. We suggest that for the first essay (where you choose one of the seven prompts), the extended essay stay around 650 words.
Can a college essay be 750 words?
Even if you aren’t filling out the Common App, most college essays set word limits around 500-750 words.
How strict are college essay word limits?
Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit. If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words. You should aim to stay under the specified limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely.
How long is an average college essay?
Essay length guidelines
| Type of essay | Average word count range |
|---|---|
| College admission essay | 200–650 words |
| Undergraduate college essay | 1500–5000 words |
| Graduate school admission essay | 500–1000 words |
| Graduate school essay | 2500–6000 words |
Is a 700 word paragraph too long?
If you look online, you will find a tip that says paragraphs should be 100 to 200 words long. As a guideline for paragraph length, this is fine for most documents. This means that paragraphs can be long, but within reason, around 450-500 words.
How long does it take to write a 700 word essay?
Writing 700 words will take about 17.5 minutes for the average writer typing on a keyboard and 35 minutes for handwriting. However, if the content needs to include in-depth research, links, citations, or graphics such as for a blog article or high school essay, the length can grow to 2.3 hours.
How long does it take to present 700 words?
A speaker with an average speaking speed will need 700 words for a 5 minutes speech. A fast speaker will need 850 words for the same speech length.
How long should a college essay be 2021?
The primary essay for your college application, often called a personal statement, is typically around 400-600 words. The Common App personal statement — which is used as the primary application essay by more than 800 colleges — must be 250-650 words.
Do college essays need big words?
Firstly, many colleges don’t provide any specific instruction regarding the word count of your essay. Therefore, it may be stressful if you are applying to such a college since this leaves you with so many options. Having said that, a good thumb of rule is to restrict your essay to a 500-700 word limit.
Can your college essay be over 650 words?
The 2019-20 version of the Common Application has an essay length limit of 650 words and a minimum length of 250 words. This limit has remained unchanged for the past several years. Learn how important this word limit is and how to make the most of your 650 words.
Does a 500 word essay have to be exactly 500 words?
500-word essays do not have to be exactly 500 words, but they should be as close as possible. The essay prompt may say “in under 500 words” or “in at least 500 words,” which would state whether 500 is the minimum or maximum word count.
What happens if my college essay is too long?
Being over the word limit on your college essay is a great problem to have. All writing requires revision, and almost all revision entails condensing. Your aim in cutting down an admission essay is to say as much as possible with as few words as possible.
Is it okay to go over word limit?
One rule of thumb that is frequently tossed around is 10%, although it’s worth noting that admissions consultants tend to promote this rule more than any admissions officer does. However, if you can stay within 10% of the word limit for an essay, you probably are okay.
Do colleges check word count?
The admissions counselors are skilled at estimating the length of your essay. If they specify “an essay of no fewer than 250 words,” they expect at least one typewritten, double-spaced page with normal fonts and margins. And if they ask for no more than two typewritten pages, they will be annoyed to receive ten.
How can I reduce my college essay word count?
10 Tricks to Reduce Your Word Count in Academic Writing
- Delete “The” You can often omit the word “the” from your text without losing any meaning.
- Erase “That”
- Remove Adverbs and Adjectives.
- Use Shorter Words.
- Trim Wordy Phrases.
- Choose Active Voice.
- Revise Needless Transitions.
- Eliminate Conjunctions.
Can I write more than 650 words in common app?
Navigating the Word Count
The Common App will specify the word limit for writing your essay. This has changed over the years. The current word count is between 250 and 650 words. The online application won’t accept essays that are below 250 words or over 650 words.
What is a good college admission essay?
The traditional college application essay usually requires an open-ended personal statement in response to broad or general prompts that might have you share a story, reflect on an event, or discuss a topic.
How do I make my college essay stand out?
A standout college essay has several key ingredients: A unique, personally meaningful topic. A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook. Specific stories and language that show instead of telling.
