<p>So I know the common app says maximum 500 words for the essay, and I’m at around 540 for mine. It all fits nicely on one page and it’s reallllly difficult to cut…</p>
<p>What’s the deal with the word limit? I see people saying it’s okay, and people saying it’s not? What’s the rule for applying for Ivys?</p>
<p>The general rule is that basically you shouldn’t write more than a page. </p>
<p>540 words is fine but 800 words is too much. The adcoms want to see how you can express yourself within the 500 words you are allowed. Supposedly this year the word limit is stricter but, that’s not true because you can upload your document and it can be more than 500 words no problem the real limit exists in size of the file.</p>