<p>How long should the personal essay be? I’ve read somewhere around 700-800, but mine is rather lengthy… oh maybe 1300? lol. It’s a really really really good essay, quite possibly the best I"ve ever written, and it’s basically a vivid description of my first two days of my hospital internship, the clinical part and the surgery part. I would just erase one, but the thing is, they play a huge part in my conclusion, which is essentially what medicine means to me, to be very very vague. So how long is too freakin long? Would they mind if it was an exceptionally written essay? Or woudl this be too much of a risk? I’m applying to a couple ivies and some other very selective schools, so I want to take some risk, but not a huge one. I plan on submitting in the next day or two and getting this college stuff out of my hair, so I’d appreciate rapid responses whether or not to shorten it… significantly or not.</p>
<p>It’s mighty cocky of you to consider your essay to be “exceptionally written” or whatever. I absolutely guarantee that it doesn’t need to be 1300 words. Economy is essential, and 1300 words doesn’t show it. Be a writer and edit. You might end up cutting things you like but that’s the way it goes.</p>
<p>The kids who think they write the greatest 1300 word essay ever…</p>
<p>I didn’t particularly say it was at the moment, I said if it was… I’m not going to lie, I think it’s a really good essay, so do my english teachers, not saying it’s earthshattering, but I’m just wondering how much I need to cut it down. I’m in the process right now, I didn’t say it was going to stay that long, I’m asking for how much it needs to be cut down. </p>
<p>Thanks for not answering my questions.</p>
<p>It’s my understanding that personal essay is an unstated 500 word goal. You already know that 1300 is way over. The question becomes, if you are confident enough in it to justify 1300 words. Like the above poster stated, word economy and concision are marks of great writers. If 1300 is the lowest you can go without drastically altering, say the clinic v. surgery stuff, then think long and hard if its that good.</p>
<p>It would have to be reallly well written, in my eyes, near professional level work to convince myself to put in a 1300 word essay in my app. Your decision for your app in the end. I would recommend cutting it down.</p>
<p>I’m definitely going to cut it down, just not sure by how much. Does ~800 sound like a reasonable goal? I’ve cut it down to about 1000 as of now, but it’s really getting difficult. It’s really not like it’s redundant, it’s a brief story that explains my conclusion, so it’s really important to get most of it in, but I will do my best to cut more out.</p>