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How long is a “Why this college” essay?
Most “Why this college” essays have limits between 150 and 350 words, set by each college. Some allow up to 650, a few as little as 100. At 300 words it is about 0.7 of a single-spaced page.
Work it out
pages, single-spaced, Arial 12 pt, about 500 words a page
- Handwritten pages
- 1.4
- Reading time
- 1 min 28 sec
- Speaking time
- 2 min 20 sec–2 min 42 sec
- Typing time
- 8 min 45 sec
- Paragraphs
- 2–4
- Sentences
- 18–23
- Characters with spaces
- about 2,100
Write it in the word counter with a limit of 300 words.
Open the word counter“Why this college” essay in pages and minutes
| Length | Single-spaced | Double-spaced | Reading time | Speaking time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 words | 0.3 | 0.6 | 38 sec | 1 min–1 min 9 sec |
| 350 words | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1 min 28 sec | 2 min 20 sec–2 min 42 sec |
Estimates for US Letter or A4 with 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins and ordinary paragraphs; reading at 238 words a minute, speaking at 130 to 150.
Each college sets its own limit
Supplemental essays are added by individual colleges on top of the main application, and each one sets its own word limit, often between 150 and 350 words. Check the current year’s prompt in the application itself: limits change from year to year.
Making a short limit specific
- Name two or three real things: a course, a program, a professor’s research, a tradition. Generic praise (“beautiful campus”, “great reputation”) fits every college and convinces none.
- Connect each to you: why that course, given what you have already done.
- Do not repeat the main essay. Use the space for new information.
Questions and answers
How long should a “why us” essay be?
As long as the limit allows, minus a little: aim for 90 to 100% of the limit.
Can I reuse a “why us” essay for different colleges?
The structure, yes; the content, no. The specifics that make it work are different for every college.