Common App Essay details for Wash U

taintedlove21
Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:05:31 +0000

I know there are a lot of threads on this - but I have some questions about small essay details and the like for anyone who knows Wash U’s application process well enough.

1) Contractions - my Common App essay follows a laid back, but not informal style, as that is my voice, so it does contain a small number of contractions. I’ve heard vastly different things about using contractions in college essays - that it absolutely should not be done, that it should be done in moderation if at all, that it can be done if the essay is more laid back and calls for it, etc. etc. In my essay, the places in which I use contractions would sound stilted if I spelled out the words. Does anyone have any knowledge of what Wash U admissions officers, particularly, think about contraction use?

2) Typos - I proofread my essay many, many times before sending it and asked a parent to as well, but it was not until I was cutting down the essay to another school’s word limit that I noticed a very small typo. I had written “I picked up a piece on notebook paper…” instead of “I picked up a piece of notebook paper…”. I realize that typos can be indicative of carelessness, but is this truly a big deal?

3) Length - my essay is 948 words. I’ve heard many people say that if it is that long, it should be very engaging. I have a pretty unique writing style, so I think I made my essay engaging and interesting, but nevertheless, I hope the length isn’t a turnoff.

My problem is that I thought I had written and submitted a very good essay. My dad brought up these concerns today as I was working on some of my other apps, and the way he said them (“according to this or that essay book, typos give off a very, very, VERY bad impression. typos are BAD NEWS.”) sort of freaked me out. Please let me know if this thread should be in another sub-forum - I was thinking of posting it in the general college essay forum, but I wanted to know if anyone had an idea of what Wash U specifically thinks on this issue.

Thanks for any responses!