How to Reduce the Word Count Of Your College Essay
When my students sit down to tackle their Common App personal statement, I beg them to ignore the word count. Just because they reach 650 words in a first draft does not mean they’ve finished. Write, I say, and keep writing until you tell a complete and compelling story. Something that doesn’t just share what you’ve done, but explores the why. That’s the hard part.
You know what’s not hard? Cutting an essay down to 650 (or fewer) words.
Here are just a few … a few … some pro tips for when you’re ready to start trimming:
Contractions. It’s pretty amazing how many words you can cut just by combining them. I have → I’ve; They would → They’d; It is → It’s (not to be confused with ‘its’ when you’re using it as a possessive)
Ages. Check this out: When I was 5 years old → When I was five → (or better yet) At age five
Conjunctions. Sometimes the “and” can be replaced by a semicolon. Here’s an example: “My hands were sweating; my legs shook up and down.”
Get TO the point. Rather than say “I wanted to be able to …” you can just say “I wanted to …” Get rid of that whole “be able to” business!
Repetition. You don’t have to rephrase or repeat something you’ve just said. There’s no need for repetition. (Lookie there! Just saved seven words!)
To me, or not to me? I say not. Have a look: My mom always said to me, “You catch more flies with honey.”
He said … what? Along these same lines, watch me cut two words: My teacher had great advice. He said, “If you’re going to spend time worrying about what will go wrong, it’s only fair to spend the same amount of time thinking about the best possible outcome.” (And you’ll want to make the period after “advice” a colon.)
Some people are experts at packing luggage into cars, or loading the dishwasher to perfection. I geek out on the red pen. (But, “high school” is definitely two words. Sorry, folks.)