Many students don’t pay enough attention to essay length. However, a very short essay may not adequately address all aspects of the prompt. A lengthy essay may include irrelevant details and cause a loss of focus. Either way, professors will not be impressed by your writing. Finding the sweet spot is key to standing out during the college application process.

In general, the college essay word limit ranges from 250 to 650 words. The exact number depends on the applications the colleges/universities use and the types of essays. It’s best to check the guidelines for the required word count.
Most professors in our UndocuScholars team agree that while staying within the word limit is essential, it should not be the top priority when writing a college application essay. We recommend covering all the key points first, and then you can adjust the word count accordingly at the end of the writing process.
In This Article:
Word Count Limits For Different Apps
Common App
Common App is trusted by over 900 colleges and universities, so it’s safe to follow the word limit on this application. Your essay length can range from 250-650 words. However, we suggest keeping it within 550 to 650 words.
In our experience, essays shorter than 500 words are less likely to impress college admissions officers. This is because it doesn’t paint a complete picture of who you are. Sometimes, it might come across as if you didn’t put enough effort into writing the essay.
Coalition App
More than 150 colleges employ the Coalition App; if your school also uses this application, be sure to keep your actual essay within 500-650 words. However, this is just a suggested limit. It’s best to check with the specific schools you are applying to.
University of California System
The University of California leverages its own system during the application process. If you’re aiming at this university, you have to write 4 college admissions essays out of 8 given prompts. The good news is that the school already sets a word limit of 350 words for each essay. We recommend making the most out of 350 words to highlight your personality.
Other School Apps
Many other colleges use their own apps, so it’s advised to read the guidelines carefully to check the word count and other requirements. The word limit can vary depending on the prompts. Some schools, like Georgetown, give a page limit or an approximate word count (e.g., approximately 1 page).
Word Counts For Different Essay Types
Personal Statement
Apart from your grades and test scores, a personal statement gives the admissions committee a glimpse into your personality that makes you a great candidate. In general, school students should aim for a well-written essay between 500 and 650 words, with 650 words being the maximum word count. This range gives you ample room to effectively express your unique identity without redundancy.
That said, the word limit can vary by school. For example, to apply to the University of Texas at Austin, students have to craft essays from 500-700 words and answer three questions in 250 to 300 words each.
Supplemental College Application Essays
Besides personal statements, some colleges require supplemental essays in the college admissions process. These allow the college admissions officers to understand candidates better. The prompts revolve around topics like “Why your major,” “Why us,” or “Community.”
These essays are typically shorter than personal statements, ranging from 250 to 650 words at max. The ideal length is around 400 to 550 words. Some schools might need from 1 to 3 supplemental essays, so remember to check the guidelines carefully.
Scholarship Essays
The length of a scholarship essay usually falls between 500 to 1,000 words. In our experience, we recommend keeping it within 400 to 600 words. The scholarship reviewers have to examine thousands of essays, so try to impress them with a short and sweet yet compelling essay.
However, the word limit can be different depending on the specific scholarship you’re applying to. It’s essential to double-check the requirements and stick to the word count or page limit.
Can I Exceed/Go Under The Word Limit?

The word limit is there for a good reason, so don’t try to work around it. If the essay prompt mentions a specific word range, it’s best to at least reach the lower end. Writing less than the required word count suggests that you haven’t fully explored essay topics or struggled to articulate your thoughts.
Similarly, exceeding the word count is not advised because:
- In some cases, the word count is a hard limit, and you can’t enter as many words into the text box on the application.
- Going over the word limit shows that you don’t follow suit with the instructions, which may negatively impact your application.
- The school counselor might not read the rest of your college application essay if you pass the word count.
Of course, some colleges allow students to exceed the upper limit by a small margin, like 1-2 words. But as shared earlier, you’d better adhere to the guidelines for the best result.
What If No Word Limit Is Given?
Some colleges only give general guidelines without a specific word count. However, they might require a certain number of paragraphs or pages for your school essay, so follow the requirements. Remember to use the standard font size (12 pt), though.
If you can’t find any information regarding the word limit, we recommend you stick with the general word range of most colleges, from 250 to 650 words. The ideal length should be around 500 words, ensuring that you have enough space to express your ideas.
Conclusion
Your college essay should be at least 250 words long, and the sweet spot is around 550 to 650 words. The majority of colleges use this word limit for their application process. However, recheck the guidelines of your desired school and adhere to their instructions.
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