<p>Hey, i have a question about the common app online "personal statement".</p>
<p>it says 250-500 words, are they looking for the normal 5 paragraph intro 3body concl. essay? (not sure if you could make 250-500 words into one like that) or do they just want a big paragraph one..or what.. help</p>
<p>Just split it up into paragraphs where necessary. I would recommend staying away from the "5-paragraph" format. Mine was 8 paragraphs. It should be more of a story or memoir or something like that, not an english essay.</p>
<p>make it as many paragraphs as it needs. Also do not feel too constrained by the 500 word limit if it goes long it is fine (as long as the essay is good).</p>
<p>Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.</p>
<p>for that topic, i was planning on writing about something I did this summer, (I ran 400 miles for my cross country team in order to acheive the award of a Blue Mile Runner. It was a challenge, had to run 40 miles a week, went on a family vacation for 2 weeks across country, which made it very hard to still run, i developed asthma, and still successfully finished the 400. The following xc season, my times improved greatly, and i acheived a varsity letter..</p>
<p>thats what i wanna do it about..sound good?</p>
<p>Sounds good - shows commitment, ability, perserverence, and camaraderie.</p>
<p>thanks for your input, gotta get started writing it ;)</p>
<p>My commonapp, which I submitted ED to Tufts, was a little over 800 words. They said "do not sacrifice words for content" so I didn't shorten it to the preferred 250-500. Will I be okay?</p>
<p>Yes, I have a question very similar to the one above. My CommonApp essay, which is the same as the one for all my other schools, is currently 720 words. It was originally 1000 words and I don't really think I can cut it down any more without losing meaning. Is that OK for the CommonApp and for other online apps such as Brown, which impose a "3500 character" limit? I can just finish the end of it in the "Additional Information" box at the end if it's truncated, right? Does this look bad and should I really try it make it around 550 or so words instead? Thanks!</p>
<p>IceMan5043, Check on the websites of some of the schools that you designated on the Common App, see what limits (if available) they say and let that guide you</p>
<p>If you can't find any related info, i would ask teachers/people to see what could be shortened, said in another, more concise way</p>
<p>Don't worry about it. You will NEVER be rejected because your essay went over 200 words.</p>
<p>OK thanks. I'll talk to my English teacher tomorrow and see if she can find a more concise way to put things. I tend to ramble a bit anyway. I was mainly concerned about the character limit boxes, such as Brown's. I cannot find ANY extra space box on their website for the additional words...</p>