·6 min read
College Application Word Limits (And How to Cut Smart)
Common App length, supplemental essays, and a cut list that preserves voice.
Many US applications use a roughly 650-word personal statement ceiling.
Draft freely first, then cut throat-clearing intros and repeated values statements.
Prefer one vivid moment over three vague achievements.
Set a goal under the limit so final polish does not force a panic cut.
Do not game the counter with weird spacing — readers see the real essay.