<p>What does UM consider an acceptable length for the main common App essay (not the ones in the supplement)? I ask only because mine is turning into one of the lengthier ones (around 720)…</p>
<p>bump. bump.</p>
<p>If every word is essential to the meaning of your essay, and your essay is concrete and solid, 720 seems alright to me. I tried to keep mine around 500, though. </p>
<p>Don’t shorten it if it makes your essay lose meaning, but take a look at it again.</p>
<p>I kept my mine around 500 words, I think. It came out to a little over two pages when I printed it out to proof read it. Don’t sacrifice great writing for the sake of making it shorter, but if you really want to shorten it look for unneeded sentences that don’t add anything to the paper. Good luck!</p>