Build Momentum In Your Common App Essay With Shorter Paragraphs — The Admissions Essay Guru (2024)

FAQs

Is it bad if my Common App essay is short? ›

For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650. Any submission shorter than 500 words will make it look as though you simply didn't care enough to give your best effort.

COMMON APP ESSAY PROMPT #1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

PROMPT #7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Multiple paragraph breaks also help you build momentum.

Breaking up your Common App essay down into multiple, easy-to-read paragraphs also shows you understand your essay flow and know where you're headed in your story.

If your institution doesn't provide a specific word count, it's best to keep your essay between the length established by the longer college admissions essay format: 250 to 650 words. Word count is just one factor to consider as you craft your college admissions essay.

There's one golden rule for a great introduction: don't give too much away. Your reader shouldn't be able to guess the entire trajectory of the essay after reading the first sentence. A striking or unexpected opening captures the reader's attention, raises questions, and makes them want to keep reading to the end.

You can find the Common App essay prompts and instructions by navigating to the "Common App" tab on your Common App account and clicking on "Writing." You'll get to choose one of seven prompts to respond to, and your essay must be between 250 and 650 words long.

Common App Prompt #5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Should Common App essay tell a story? ›

A good Common App Essay topic can relate, as much as possible, to a particular anecdote, story, or even scene. Let's say Josh found himself writing about his siblings—his older brother who just left for college, and his little sister who he's spent more time with since his brother left.

Instead of starting off with a definition, start with a small snippet of a story that shows the word you're trying to definte. For example, instead of defining “determination,” start by writing about the time you won first place in a long-distance race even though you felt like giving up many times during it.

For the 2024/25 application cycle, the prompts are as follows: Personal Background or Talent: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

When writing your Common App essay, choose a prompt that sparks your interest and that you can connect to a unique personal story. No matter which prompt you choose, admissions officers are more interested in your ability to demonstrate personal development, insight, or motivation for a certain area of study.

Most colleges have a word limit or range for their essays, so make sure you adhere to those guidelines. A shorter essay can be impactful if it's well-written and truly conveys your message. On the other hand, a longer essay can provide more context and illustrate your experiences more vividly.

The Common App essay word count range is 250-650 words. But just how long should your statement be? Admissions Blog advises aiming for around 500 words. And former Tufts University admissions officer Becky Leichtling concurs.

As a general guideline, aim to write an essay between 500 to 650 words. An essay that's too short might not provide enough depth, while an excessively long essay can be tough to engage with. It's important to strike a balance, conveying your unique story or perspective in a focused and engaging way.

The Common App essay is limited to 250 - 650 words, which roughly translates to a maximum of one single-spaced page of text. You must stay in this word range. In fact, the online portal for essay submission will not let you proceed if you don't. In general, we advise writing an essay between 500 and 600 words.