400 word common app essay

Example #1: My Shape. This essay example comes from the Essay Academy, our digital college essay course. It has a really unique structure and uses shapes as a metaphor. It's also written in response to Common App Prompt #2. It may seem counterintuitive, but college essays aren't about showing only showing successes.

Prompt 2: Overcoming challenges. Prompt 3: Questioning a belief or idea. Prompt 4: Appreciating an influential person. Prompt 5: Transformative event. Prompt 6: Interest or hobby that inspires learning. Prompt 7: Free topic. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about college application essays.

TheWikiMan August 5, 2010, 2:30pm 5. <p>the common app requires at least 250 words, so I don't see how 76 words got someone anywhwere, but i think the optimal range is 500-750 words, Longer if it adds to the piece, and shorter if what you have already expresses everything you want to say.</p>. eagertolearn August 5, 2010, 5:50pm 6.

What are these mystical college essays, anyway? Let's define our terms: Personal statement (PS): When people refer to the personal statement, they're talking about the 650-word Common Application Essay, which all schools using the Common App will see. Your personal statement is your major chance to articulate the qualitative aspects of yourself to the admissions committee and the ...

Common App Essay Examples. Here are the current Common App prompts. Click the links to jump to the examples for a specific prompt, or keep reading to review the examples for all the prompts. Prompt #1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without ...

Brainstorm (I think it's the most important step). Structure your essay according to your topic. Draft. Revise. Repeat. Common App essay word limit. The word limit for the Common App essay is 650. That doesn't mean you need to use all 650 words—many of the great example essays below don't.

Sample Common App Essay #2. The second of our Common App essay examples takes the unique—and potentially challenging—approach of talking about another person. In this essay, the author describes her relationship with Sophia, a child with special needs that she meets while volunteering.

So, you'll only need to write one essay that meets the Common App essay word limit. Supplemental essays and the Common Application. Many schools also require students to write supplemental essays. Most supplemental essays will be shorter —usually 200-400 words as opposed to the Common App essay word limit of 650.

It's a common misconception that you need to hit the maximum word count to have an effective Common App essay. Admissions officers prioritize quality over quantity. If you can convey your message, showcase your personality, and answer the prompt effectively in fewer words, that's perfectly fine. It's better to have a shorter, well-crafted essay than one that feels stretched out or is filled ...

For example, the Common App essay is used by over a thousand colleges in the United States and explains that essays are to be between 250-650 words. This is typically a page long. Common Topics. ... 400 Word Essay Sample. This sample could answer the Common App prompt: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. ...

A 400-word essay for college applications can be acceptable depending on the specific essay prompt and the word limit given by the college. Typically, the main Common App essay has a word limit of 250-650 words, while individual colleges might have supplemental essays with varying word limits, usually ranging from 100 to 500 words. Since the word limits can differ for each essay prompt, you ...

Show the admissions committee how you faced an obstacle, but responded with a creative and dignified solution instead of giving up. Be vulnerable - show your insecurity, regret, and fears. Finally, as indicated in the prompt, describe what you learned and the experience's permanent significance. If you can't think of such an impact, you ...

Show, don't tell. Be specific. Choose active voice, not passive voice. Avoid clichés. Write in a tone that aligns with your goals for the essay. For example, if you are a heavy STEM applicant hoping to use your Common App essay to humanize your application, you will be undermined by writing in a brusque, harsh tone.

The word limit for the Common Application essay is indeed a firm one. Admissions officers expect students to follow the instructions, which includes adhering to the 650-word maximum. If your essay is over this limit, the online application could actually cut off the excess words without your control, leading to an abrupt ending or incomplete sentences.

It's great for developing better content for your activities list. Instructions: Spend 5-8 minutes filling out a BEABIES chart per activity on your list to generate plenty of content for your activities list descriptions. Use the 25 questions below the chart for ideas. The key here is active verbs.

2024-25 Short Answer and Essay Prompts. When answering these prompts, be precise when explaining both why you are applying to Penn and why you have chosen to apply to that specific undergraduate school. Some of our specialized programs will have additional essays to complete, but the Penn short answer prompts should address your single-degree ...

Essay Topics. All first-year applicants will complete a few Yale-specific short answer questions. These required questions are slightly different based on the application platform an applicant chooses. The 2024-2025 Yale-specific questions for the Coalition Application, Common Application, and QuestBridge Application are detailed below.

The exact word limit for the Common App essay has varied somewhat over the years, but the current range is 250-650 words. You must stay within this length; in fact, the online application won't allow you to submit fewer than 250 words or more than 650. Some schools will state that if this isn't enough space, you can send them a physical copy of ...

Revised on June 1, 2023. 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.

6. **Draft and Revise**: Start by drafting your ideas without worrying too much about word limit or flawless prose. After your thoughts are down on paper, then you can revisit and refine. Make sure to have people you trust read your essays for feedback. Remember, your essay should reflect you. It's not just about what you've done, but about who ...

Last year, the Common App essay was capped at 650 words with a minimum of 250 words required. The best essays tend to range between 500-650 words. Think of it this way as you start to draft: 500 words is one single-spaced page (250 words is one double-spaced page), so you should write roughly a page to page and half of typed, single-spaced ...

A typical college application essay, also known as a personal statement, is 400-600 words. Although that may seem short, writing about yourself can be challenging. ... If you're applying to 10 or more colleges, it's easy to veer off course with so many application essays. A common mistake many students make is trying to fit previously written ...

Some of the best statements are written as personal stories. In general, concise, straightforward writing is best, and good essays are often 300-400 words in length. Please note that the UW essay questions must be answered within our application. For the Common App, that means within our UW questions. We do not consider the Common App essay.