what is the longest a college essay can be

Choose Your Test

• Search Blogs By Category
• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

The Best College Essay Length: How Long Should It Be?

College Essays

Figuring out your college essay can be one of the most difficult parts of applying to college. Even once you've read the prompt and picked a topic, you might wonder: if you write too much or too little, will you blow your chance of admission? How long should a college essay be?

Whether you're a terse writer or a loquacious one, we can advise you on college essay length. In this guide, we'll cover what the standard college essay length is, how much word limits matter, and what to do if you aren't sure how long a specific essay should be.

How Long Is a College Essay? First, Check the Word Limit

You might be used to turning in your writing assignments on a page-limit basis (for example, a 10-page paper). While some colleges provide page limits for their college essays, most use a word limit instead. This makes sure there's a standard length for all the essays that a college receives, regardless of formatting or font.

In the simplest terms, your college essay should be pretty close to, but not exceeding, the word limit in length. Think within 50 words as the lower bound, with the word limit as the upper bound. So for a 500-word limit essay, try to get somewhere between 450-500 words. If they give you a range, stay within that range.

College essay prompts usually provide the word limit right in the prompt or in the instructions.

For example, the University of Illinois says :

"You'll answer two to three prompts as part of your application. The questions you'll answer will depend on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program , and if you've selected a second choice . Each response should be approximately 150 words."

As exemplified by the University of Illinois, the shortest word limits for college essays are usually around 150 words (less than half a single-spaced page). Rarely will you see a word limit higher than around 650 words (over one single-spaced page). College essays are usually pretty short: between 150 and 650 words. Admissions officers have to read a lot of them, after all!

Weigh your words carefully, because they are limited!

How Flexible Is the Word Limit?

But how flexible is the word limit? What if your poignant anecdote is just 10 words too long—or 100 too short?

Can I Go Over the Word Limit?

If you are attaching a document and you need one or two extra words, you can probably get away with exceeding the word limit by such a small amount. Some colleges will actually tell you that exceeding the word limit by 1-2 words is fine. However, I advise against exceeding the word limit unless it's explicitly allowed for a few reasons:

First, you might not be able to. If you have to copy-paste it into a text box, your essay might get cut off and you'll have to trim it down anyway.

If you exceed the word limit in a noticeable way, the admissions counselor may just stop reading your essay past that point. This is not good for you.

Following directions is actually a very important part of the college application process. You need to follow directions to get your letters of recommendation, upload your essays, send supplemental materials, get your test scores sent, and so on and so forth. So it's just a good general rule to follow whatever instructions you've been given by the institution. Better safe than sorry!

Can I Go Under the Word Limit?

If you can truly get your point across well beneath the word limit, it's probably fine. Brevity is not necessarily a bad thing in writing just so long as you are clear, cogent, and communicate what you want to.

However, most college essays have pretty tight word limits anyways. So if you're writing 300 words for an essay with a 500-word limit, ask yourself: is there anything more you could say to elaborate on or support your points? Consult with a parent, friend, or teacher on where you could elaborate with more detail or expand your points.

Also, if the college gives you a word range, you absolutely need to at least hit the bottom end of the range. So if you get a range from the institution, like 400-500 words, you need to write at least 400 words. If you write less, it will come across like you have nothing to say, which is not an impression you want to give.

What If There Is No Word Limit?

Some colleges don't give you a word limit for one or more of your essay prompts. This can be a little stressful, but the prompts generally fall into a few categories:

Writing Sample

Some colleges don't provide a hard-and-fast word limit because they want a writing sample from one of your classes. In this case, a word limit would be very limiting to you in terms of which assignments you could select from.

For an example of this kind of prompt, check out essay Option B at Amherst :

"Submit a graded paper from your junior or senior year that best represents your writing skills and analytical abilities. We are particularly interested in your ability to construct a tightly reasoned, persuasive argument that calls upon literary, sociological or historical evidence. You should NOT submit a laboratory report, journal entry, creative writing sample or in-class essay."

While there is usually no word limit per se, colleges sometimes provide a general page guideline for writing samples. In the FAQ for Option B , Amherst clarifies, "There is no hard-and-fast rule for official page limit. Typically, we anticipate a paper of 4-5 pages will provide adequate length to demonstrate your analytical abilities. Somewhat longer papers can also be submitted, but in most cases should not exceed 8-10 pages."

So even though there's no word limit, they'd like somewhere in the 4-10 pages range. High school students are not usually writing papers that are longer than 10 pages anyways, so that isn't very limiting.

Implicit Length Guideline

Sometimes, while there's no word (or even page) limit, there's still an implicit length guideline. What do I mean by this?

See, for example, this Western Washington University prompt :

“Describe one or more activities you have been involved in that have been particularly meaningful. What does your involvement say about the communities, identities or causes that are important to you?”

While there’s no page or word limit listed here, further down on page the ‘essay tips’ section explains that “ most essay responses are about 500 words, ” though “this is only a recommendation, not a firm limit.” This gives you an idea of what’s reasonable. A little longer or shorter than 500 words would be appropriate here. That’s what I mean by an “implicit” word limit—there is a reasonable length you could go to within the boundaries of the prompt.

But what's the proper coffee-to-paragraph ratio?

Treasure Hunt

There is also the classic "treasure hunt" prompt. No, it's not a prompt about a treasure hunt. It's a prompt where there are no length guidelines given, but if you hunt around on the rest of the website you can find length guidelines.

For example, the University of Chicago provides seven "Extended Essay" prompts . You must write an essay in response to one prompt of your choosing, but nowhere on the page is there any guidance about word count or page limit.

However, many colleges provide additional details about their expectations for application materials, including essays, on FAQ pages, which is true of the University of Chicago. On the school’s admissions Frequently Asked Questions page , they provide the following length guidelines for the supplemental essays: 

“We suggest that you note any word limits for Coalition or Common Application essays; however, there are no strict word limits on the UChicago Supplement essays. For the extended essay (where you choose one of several prompts), we suggest that you aim for around 650 words. While we won't, as a rule, stop reading after 650 words, we're only human and cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention indefinitely. For the “Why UChicago?” essay, we suggest about 250-500 words. The ideas in your writing matter more than the exact number of words you use!”

So there you go! You want to be (loosely) in the realm of 650 for the extended essay, and 250-500 words for the “Why UChicago?” essay.

Help! There Really Is No Guidance on Length

If you really can't find any length guidelines anywhere on the admissions website and you're at a loss, I advise calling the admissions office. They may not be able to give you an exact number (in fact, they probably won't), but they will probably at least be able to tell you how long most of the essays they see are. (And keep you from writing a panicked, 20-page dissertation about your relationship with your dog).

In general, 500 words or so is pretty safe for a college essay. It's a fairly standard word limit length, in fact. (And if you're wondering, that's about a page and a half double-spaced.) 500 words is long enough to develop a basic idea while still getting a point across quickly—important when admissions counselors have thousands of essays to read!

"See? It says 500 words right there in tiny font!"

The Final Word: How Long Should a College Essay Be?

The best college essay length is usually pretty straightforward: you want to be right under or at the provided word limit. If you go substantially past the word limit, you risk having your essay cut off by an online application form or having the admissions officer just not finish it. And if you're too far under the word limit, you may not be elaborating enough.

What if there is no word limit? Then how long should a college essay be? In general, around 500 words is a pretty safe approximate word amount for a college essay—it's one of the most common word limits, after all!

Here's guidance for special cases and hunting down word limits:

If it's a writing sample of your graded academic work, the length either doesn't matter or there should be some loose page guidelines.

There also may be implicit length guidelines. For example, if a prompt says to write three paragraphs, you'll know that writing six sentences is definitely too short, and two single-spaced pages is definitely too long.

You might not be able to find length guidelines in the prompt, but you could still hunt them up elsewhere on the website. Try checking FAQs or googling your chosen school name with "admissions essay word limit."

If there really is no word limit, you can call the school to try to get some guidance.

With this advice, you can be sure you've got the right college essay length on lockdown!

Hey, writing about yourself can even be fun!

What's Next?

Need to ask a teacher or friend for help with your essay? See our do's and dont's to getting college essay advice .

If you're lacking in essay inspiration, see our guide to brainstorming college essay ideas . And here's our guide to starting out your essay perfectly!

Looking for college essay examples? See 11 places to find college essay examples and 145 essay examples with analysis !

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How Long Should Your College Essay Be? What Is the Ideal Length?

What’s covered: , personal statement length vs. supplemental essay length, are college essay word limits hard, what if a college essay word count isn’t given, what if you need to submit a graded paper, where to get your essays edited.

Students often spend hours agonizing over the best topics for their college essays. While it’s natural to wonder whether your personal statement is original or compelling enough, there’s one aspect of the process that shouldn’t cause you undue stress—how many words should a college essay be? Fortunately, with a little research, you can uncover the ideal college essay length for all your applications.

Unlike high school assignments, which typically have a strict page requirement, most colleges provide a word limit or word range for their application essays. This practice helps ensure that essays are the same length regardless of font or formatting. A good guideline is that students should strive to get as close as possible to the upper limit of the word range without exceeding it. Keep reading to learn more about best practices for college essay length.

How many words should a college essay be? Personal statements are generally 500-650 words. For example, the Common Application , which can be used to apply to more than 800 colleges, requires an essay ranging from 250-650 words . Similarly, the Coalition Application , which has 150 member schools, features an essay with a recommended length of 500-650 words.

650 words is the most common limit for your personal statement, but some schools may ask students to write more or less. For example, ApplyTexas , a platform used to apply to Texas public universities and other select colleges, requests essays with requirements that vary by school. For example, students applying to UT Austin will need to submit an essay of 500-700 words, along with three short-answer questions of 250-300 words each.

On the other hand, the University of California (UC) application includes a Personal Insight section with eight prompts . Students are asked to respond to any four of these prompts, with each response topping out at 350 words.

Additionally, some schools request a few supplemental essays, which are typically shorter than a personal statement. These questions are designed to gain more information about a student’s interests and abilities, and may include topics like your reasons for wanting to attend their school, your desired major, or your favorite activity.

Most schools require 1-3 supplemental essays, though some may require more or none at all (see our list of top colleges without supplemental essays ). These essays tend to be around 250 words, but some may be just as long as your main essay. For example, Cornell requires applicants to write a second supplemental essay (of 650 words max) that is specific to the program they’re applying to. The exception to this is the Cornell College of Engineering, for which applicants are required to compose two supplemental essays of 250 words max each.

For best results, keep your essays within the word range provided. While you don’t have to hit the count exactly, you should aim to stay within a 10% difference of the upper limit—without including fluff or filler. For example, if the school requests 500 words, try to ensure that your essay is between 450 and 500 words.

For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650. Any submission shorter than 500 words will make it look as though you simply didn’t care enough to give your best effort. An essay shorter than 500 words won’t be long enough to truly share who you are and what matters to you.

Exceeding the word count isn’t an option—the application portal cuts off anything over the maximum number of allowed words. This is something you want to be particularly careful of if you’re drafting your essay in a Word or Google document and pasting it into the application.

Although most schools provide applicants with a specific word count, some offer more general guidelines. For example, a college may ask for a particular number of pages or paragraphs.

If you aren’t given a word count, try to adhere to the best practices and conventions of writing. Avoid writing especially short or overly long paragraphs—250 words per paragraph is generally a safe upper limit. If you’re asked to write a certain number of pages, single- or double-spaced, stick to a standard font and font size (like 12-point Times New Roman).

In the event that the college doesn’t offer any guidelines at all, aim for an essay length of around 500 words.

While essays are the most commonly requested writing sample, some colleges ask for additional pieces of content. For example, Princeton University requires students to submit a previously graded paper for evaluation .

Princeton offers guidelines that cover length, but if another school requests an old paper and doesn’t offer length requirements, a paper ranging from 3-5 pages should yield the best results. The goal is to select a paper long enough to showcase your writing skills and unique voice, but short enough that the admissions officer doesn’t get bored reading it.

Is your essay effective while staying within the required word count? It’s hard to evaluate your own writing, especially after rereading it numerous times. CollegeVine’s free Peer Essay Review provides an opportunity to have your essay reviewed by a fellow student, for free. Similarly, you can help other students by reviewing their essays—this is a great way to refine your own writing skills.

Expert advice is also available. CollegeVine’s advisors are prepared to help you perfect your personal statement and submit a successful application to your top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Ideal College Application Essay Length

Can you go over the Common App length limit? How long should your essay be?

• Essay Samples & Tips
• College Admissions Process
• College Profiles
• College Rankings
• Choosing A College
• Application Tips
• Testing Graphs
• College Financial Aid
• Advanced Placement
• Homework Help
• Private School
• College Life
• Graduate School
• Business School
• Distance Learning
• Ph.D., English, University of Pennsylvania
• M.A., English, University of Pennsylvania
• B.S., Materials Science & Engineering and Literature, MIT

The 2019-20 version of the  Common Application has an essay length limit of 650 words and a minimum length of 250 words. This limit has remained unchanged for the past several years. Learn how important this word limit is and how to make the most of your 650 words.

Key Takeaways: Common Application Essay Length

• Your Common Application essay must be between 250 words and 650 words.
• Don't assume shorter is better. A college requires an essay because they want to learn more about you.
• Never go over the limit. Show that you can follow instructions and that you know how to edit.

How Strict Is the Limit?

Many wonder whether they can go over the limit, even if only by a few words. What if you feel that you need more space to communicate all of your ideas clearly?

650 words is not a lot of space in which to convey your personality, passions, and writing ability to the people in admissions offices—and the title and any explanatory notes are also included in this limit. The holistic admissions processes of most schools prove that colleges really do want to get to know the person behind your test scores and grades . Since the essay is one of the best places for showcasing who you are, is it worth it to go over?

Most experts recommend adhering to the limit. The Common Application will even prompt its applicants if they exceed the word count to prevent them from going over. Most admissions officers have stated that, while they will read all essays in their entirety, they are less inclined to feel that essays over 650 accomplish what they set out to do. In short: any of the prompts can and should be answered in 650 words or fewer.

Choosing the Right Length

If everything from 250 to 650 words is fair game, what length is best? Some counselors advise students to keep their essays on the shorter end, but not all colleges place the most value in succinctness.

The personal essay is the most powerful tool at your disposal for showing readers your personality without meeting them. If you've chosen a focus that reveals something meaningful about you, you're probably going to need more than 250 words to create a thoughtful, introspective, and effective essay. However, it isn't essential to hit the 650 mark, either.

From the Admissions Desk

"There is no need to meet the full word count [650] if the essay captures what the student would like to share. Visually, you want to make sure the essay looks complete and robust. As a general rule, I would suggest the essay be between 500-650 words."

–Valerie Marchand Welsh Director of College Counseling, The Baldwin School Former Associate Dean of Admissions, University of Pennsylvania

Each of the Common App essay prompts creates different writing challenges, but no matter which option you choose, your essay should be detailed and analytical, and it should provide a window into some important dimension of your interests, values, or personality. Ask yourself: Will the admissions officers know me better after reading my essay? Chances are, an essay in the 500- to 650-word range will accomplish this task better than a shorter essay

In general, the length of an essay does not determine its effectiveness. If you have answered the prompt in its entirety and feel proud of your work, there is no need to stress about any particular word count. Do not pad your essay with filler content and tautologies to stretch it out, and on the flip side, don't leave important sections out in the interest of keeping the essay brief.

Why You Shouldn't Go Over the Essay Length Limit

Some colleges will allow you to exceed the limit set by the Common Application, but you should avoid writing more than 650 words in all cases for the following reasons:

• College students adhere to guidelines : If a professor assigns a five-page paper, they don't want a 10-page paper and you don't have 55 minutes to take 50-minute exams. The message that you send to a college when you write a powerful essay in 650 words or fewer, even when they accept longer submissions, is that you can succeed under any conditions.
• Essays that are too long can leave a negative impression: Essays over 650 may make you appear over-confident. The word counts have been established by experts for a reason and writing more than you are allowed might make it seem like you think what you have to say is more important than other applicants, who have to follow the rules. Avoid seeming self-important by stopping yourself from going overboard.
• Good writers know how to edit and cut : Any college writing professor would tell you that most essays become stronger when they are trimmed. There are almost always words, sentences, and even entire paragraphs that don't contribute to an essay and can be omitted. As you revise any essay you write, ask yourself which parts help you to make your point and which get in the way—everything else can go. Use these 9 style tips to tighten up your language.

College admissions officers will read essays that are too long but may consider them to be rambling, unfocused, or poorly-edited. Remember that your essay is one of many and your readers will wonder why yours is longer when it doesn't need to be.

• How Long Should Your Common Application Short Answer Essay Be?
• How to Write an Outstanding College Application Essay
• Addressing Diversity in a College Application Essay
• Tips for Writing a Winning College Transfer Essay
• College Application Essay - The Job I Should Have Quit
• Should an Application Essay Be Single-Spaced or Double-Spaced?
• Common Application Essay Option 2 Tips: Learning from Failure
• Bad Essay Topics for College Admissions
• The Length Requirements for the Common Application Essay in 2020-21
• How to Ace Your University of Wisconsin Personal Statements
• Common Supplemental Essay Mistakes
• Common Application Short Answer Tips
• Tips for Writing a Winning College Application Essay
• How to Write a Great College Application Essay Title
• Common Application Essay Option 4—Gratitude
• UC Essay Examples for the Personal Insight Questions

How Long Should a College Essay Be

Writing a college essay is a big deal for students, giving them a chance to share their unique stories and ambitions with admissions officers. But here's the thing: figuring out how long it should be can be tricky. 

In this article, we're going to tackle the question of a perfect essay length head-on. We'll break down what influences the ideal length for your essay and give you some tips on finding that sweet spot between saying enough and not saying too much.

Why Following a College Essay Word Limit Is Important

Sticking to the college essay length matters for a few important reasons. Firstly, it shows that you can follow instructions, which is a skill you'll need in college and beyond. Admissions officers have lots of essays to read, so keeping within the limit respects their time and attention. 

Plus, it helps level the playing field for all applicants, giving everyone a fair chance to make their case without overwhelming reviewers with too much information. And on your end, it forces you to be concise and clear, focusing on what really matters in your story. If the word limit of your essay is too large, simply say, ‘ do my essay for me ,’ and our experts will help you fit into any word limit.

Why Essay Length Varies in Different Assignments

The issue of how long is an essay can change depending on the assignment for a few reasons. First off, it's about who's reading it and why. A formal academic essay might need more detail and research, so it could end up longer. But it might be shorter and more casual if you're just sharing your thoughts with a friend. 

Then there's the topic itself – some things need more explanation. Plus, your teacher's guidelines, like how many words or pages to aim for, can also affect how long your essay turns out. It's about fitting the essay to the task at hand and making sure you cover everything you need to without going overboard.

Struggling to Fit into the Word Count?

Let an expert writer help you add more meaningful content to your essay.

Wondering about the ideal length for your college essay? You're not alone. Figuring out how much to write can be a head-scratcher for many students. But fear not! In this guide, we'll show you how to strike the right balance between text length and informational richness.

High School Essay

The length of a high school essay can vary depending on the assignment and teacher's instructions. Generally, essays in high school classes range from around 500 to 1000 words, though some assignments may require shorter or longer compositions. The length often reflects the depth of analysis and detail expected by the teacher, as well as the complexity of the topic. 

Shorter essays might focus on summarizing information or making a concise argument, while longer essays allow for more in-depth exploration and analysis. Regardless of length, students should prioritize clarity, coherence, and relevance to effectively convey their ideas and meet the requirements of the assignment.

College Admission Essay

College admission essay length typically ranges from 250 to 650 words, with many colleges setting specific word limits. Admissions officers receive thousands of applications, so brevity is key. A well-crafted essay should be concise yet impactful, showcasing the applicant's personality, experiences, and aspirations within the given word count. 

Adhering to the word limit demonstrates the applicant's ability to follow instructions and communicate effectively, while exceeding it may signal a lack of respect for guidelines or an inability to convey ideas succinctly. 

Undergraduate College Essay

Undergraduate college essay length typically ranges from 400 to 650 words, although some institutions may specify shorter or longer limits. The essay aims to provide admissions officers with insight into the applicant's character, values, and potential contributions to the campus community. 

While brevity is important, the essay should be substantive enough to convey meaningful information about the applicant's experiences and aspirations.

Graduate School Admission Essay

Graduate school admission essay length varies, typically ranging from 500 to 1000 words, although specific requirements may differ by program. These essays allow applicants to articulate their academic and professional goals, research interests, and reasons for pursuing graduate studies. 

Admissions committees seek concise yet comprehensive essays demonstrating the applicant's readiness for advanced academic work and alignment with the program's values and objectives. 

Graduate School Essay

Graduate school essay length typically ranges from 500 to 1000 words, although requirements can vary between programs. These essays serve as a crucial component of the application process, allowing applicants to convey their academic background, research interests, career goals, and suitability for the program. 

Admissions committees value conciseness and coherence, so applicants should prioritize quality over quantity when crafting their essays. Ultimately, the essay should offer a compelling narrative that highlights the applicant's strengths, experiences, and motivations for pursuing graduate studies.

Recommended Length of Each Part of the Essay

While the recommended college essay length of each its part can vary depending on the specific requirements of the assignment or application, here's a general guideline:

• Introduction

The introduction typically comprises 10-15% of the total essay length. It should provide background information on the topic, establish the context, and present the thesis statement or main argument.

• Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should be roughly the same length and account for approximately 60-70% of the total essay length. Aim for around 150-200 words per paragraph. Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea or point and provide supporting evidence or examples to strengthen the argument.

The conclusion should be similar in length to the introduction, comprising around 10-15% of the total essay length. It should summarize the main points discussed in the essay, restate the thesis or main argument, and provide a sense of closure or resolution.

Remember that these are general recommendations, and the actual length of each part may vary based on the specific requirements of your assignment or application. 

It's essential to review any guidelines provided and adjust your essay accordingly to meet the expectations of your audience. Use a specialized college essay writing help from experts who always hit the mark when it comes to the length of assignments.

How Long Should an Introduction Be

An introduction should typically span between 50 to 100 words, offering enough context to engage the reader while succinctly presenting the main argument or thesis. It serves as a roadmap for the essay, providing an overview of what to expect without delving into excessive detail.

How Long Is a Body Paragraph

A body paragraph is typically around 100 to 200 words in length, although this can vary depending on the complexity of the topic and the depth of analysis required. Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea or point, supported by evidence or examples, and contribute to the overall argument or thesis of the essay.

How Long Should a Conclusion Paragraph Be

Knowing how long should a college essay be – from 400 to 600 words – a conclusion paragraph should mirror the length of the introduction, comprising between 50 to 100 words of the total essay length. It should summarize the main points discussed in the essay, restate the thesis or main argument, and provide a sense of closure or resolution to the reader.

How to Check Word Count

To check the word count of an essay, you can use various methods depending on the software or platform you're using:

How to Make an Essay Longer

To make an essay longer, consider these strategies:

• Expand Ideas: Add more detail and examples to elaborate on your points.
• Provide Supporting Details: Include additional evidence or references to strengthen your arguments.
• Address Counterarguments: Discuss opposing viewpoints and explain why they're invalid.
• Use More Sources: Incorporate more research to support your claims.
• Use Transitions: Improve the flow between paragraphs with transitional phrases.
• Rephrase and Expand: Clarify and expand on your ideas by revising your sentences.
• Consider Different Angles: Explore the topic from various perspectives.
• Revise Carefully: Edit your essay to ensure added content enhances its quality.

How to Shorten an Essay

To shorten an essay length while maintaining its essence, follow these strategies:

• Remove Redundancy: Cut out repetitive phrases or sentences.
• Combine Similar Ideas: Condense related points to streamline your message.
• Simplify Language: Use clear, concise language to convey your ideas.
• Delete Unnecessary Details: Eliminate irrelevant examples or explanations.
• Focus on Essentials: Keep only the most relevant information.
• Check for Wordiness: Remove filler words and phrases.

When working on your compositions, remember about the impact of remote learning on students and your productiveness.

How to Format a College Essay Based on the Required Length

Let’s explore strategies to tailor your essay's structure and content to fit within specified word limits. By understanding how to adjust your writing style and organization, you'll be better equipped to craft a compelling essay that adheres to length requirements without sacrificing quality or clarity.

Spacing is crucial for how long is an essay looking, its readability and adherence to length requirements. Opting for double-spacing ensures adequate room for markers to review your content and allows for easy reading. Additionally, double-spacing aids in maintaining a clean, organized appearance, enhancing the overall presentation of your essay.

• If the instruction is to double-space the paper, consider using a spacing of 2.1 or 2.2 instead. 
• You can extend the margin size by a quarter, such as increasing the right and bottom margins from 1 inch to 1.25 inches, to make subtle adjustments in length without significantly impacting the overall appearance.
• Another strategy is to increase the spacing between characters, although it should be done cautiously to avoid excessive alterations. 
• Aim to keep the spacing between 1.2 and 1.5 to maintain readability and visual consistency throughout the document.

Font and Size

Font selection and size can be key to adjusting the college essay length. Opt for a standard, easily readable font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri to ensure clarity and consistency. Aim for a font size of 12 points, which is the standard for most academic writing and provides optimal legibility without sacrificing space or readability.

• If your instructor hasn't specified a font, consider using larger options such as Arial, Bangla Sangam MN, Cambria, or Quicksand. 
• Exercise caution and try not to exceed an increase of 0.1-0.5 points to avoid noticeable alterations. 
• Another technique is to increase the size of punctuation marks, such as periods and commas, by a couple of points compared to the main text size, or italicizing them, which can subtly add to the overall length of your essay.

Following the specified length for your college essay is super important because it shows that you can stick to the rules and pay attention to instructions, which is a skill colleges value. Plus, sticking to the word count helps you be concise and get your point across clearly without rambling or overwhelming the reader.

If you’re struggling to fit into the required word limit, buy a college essay that will be written by a seasoned professional who knows exactly how to meet academic standards.

Got a Lengthy Essay to Write?

Use our service to handle those 2000-word essay ‘giants’ quickly and stress-free!

How Many Pages Are in an Essay

How long is an essay paragraph.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• How long should my essay be? – BigFuture | College Board . (n.d.). https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/help-center/how-long-should-my-essay-be  
• 12 Strategies to Writing the Perfect College Essay - Harvard Summer School . (2022, August 9). Harvard Summer School. https://summer.harvard.edu/blog/12-strategies-to-writing-the-perfect-college-essay/
• How Long Should a College Essay Be? | Honor Society - Official Honor Society® Website . (n.d.). https://www.honorsociety.org/articles/how-long-should-college-essay-be

The Best College Essay Length: How Long Should It Be?

How Long Is a College Essay? First, Check the Word Limit

When it comes to college essays, it's crucial to adhere to the specified word limit set by the college or university. The word limit typically ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand words, depending on the institution and the specific essay prompt.

The purpose of setting a word limit is to ensure that applicants can effectively convey their ideas and demonstrate their writing skills within a reasonable length. Admissions officers have a large volume of essays to review, and adhering to the word limit allows for fair evaluation and comparison of applicants.

While word limits can vary, most college essays fall within the range of 250 to 650 words. Some institutions may have specific guidelines for different essay components, such as a shorter word limit for supplemental essays or a longer limit for personal statements. It's important to carefully review the application instructions and essay prompts to determine the specific word limits for each essay.

It's crucial to follow the word limit and avoid exceeding it. Going significantly under the word limit may indicate a lack of depth or detail in your response, while exceeding the limit may be seen as disregarding the instructions and displaying poor attention to detail.

To make the most of the word limit, focus on crafting a concise and impactful essay. Prioritize clarity, coherence, and relevance in your writing. Use precise language and avoid unnecessary repetition or fluff. It's essential to express your thoughts and ideas effectively within the given word count.

Remember that the word limit serves as a guideline and a constraint to ensure a fair evaluation process. Admissions officers appreciate concise and well-crafted essays that effectively address the prompt. By staying within the word limit and maximizing the impact of your writing, you can present a compelling and memorable essay that stands out among the competition.

How Flexible Is the Word Limit?

The word limit for college essays is generally set with the intention of providing applicants with a clear guideline for expressing their ideas concisely. Adhering to the word limit is important because it demonstrates your ability to follow instructions and effectively communicate within a given constraint. However, it's important to understand that the flexibility of the word limit can vary among colleges and universities.

In some cases, colleges may have a strict word limit, and exceeding it may result in penalties or disqualification of the essay. Admissions officers often have many essays to review, and they rely on the word limit to manage their workload effectively. Consequently, going significantly over the word limit can be viewed as disregarding instructions or displaying poor attention to detail.

On the other hand, some institutions may provide a certain degree of flexibility in their word limits. They understand that applicants have unique experiences and stories to share and may need a few extra words to effectively convey their message. In such cases, there may be a specified range within which you can work, allowing for a slightly longer or shorter essay as long as it remains within that range.

It's important to note that even if a college offers flexibility, it's generally not advisable to write a significantly longer essay than the stated word limit. Admissions officers have limited time to review applications, and a concise and well-crafted essay is more likely to capture their attention and make a lasting impression.

When in doubt about the flexibility of the word limit, it's always best to err on the side of caution and adhere to the specified limit as closely as possible. Remember that quality and clarity of content are more important than word count alone. Focus on presenting a compelling and coherent narrative within the given word limit to maximize the impact of your essay.

Lastly, always review and follow the specific instructions provided by each college or university regarding word limits. Adhering to these guidelines demonstrates your ability to understand and follow directions, which is an essential skill that colleges value in their applicants.

The Final Word: How Long Should a College Essay Be?

When it comes to determining the ideal length for a college essay, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The length of a college essay can vary depending on the specific requirements and guidelines set by each college or university. However, there are some general considerations to keep in mind when determining the appropriate length for your essay.

1. Adhere to the specified word limit: Most colleges and universities provide a word limit or a range within which your essay should fall. It's important to respect these guidelines as they are set to ensure a fair evaluation process and to assess your ability to express your ideas concisely.

2. Quality over quantity: The focus should be on the quality and substance of your essay rather than simply meeting a specific word count. Admissions officers are more interested in the content, clarity, and coherence of your writing. A well-crafted, concise essay can be more impactful than a lengthy one that lacks focus or substance.

3. Consider the prompt and purpose of the essay: The essay prompt and the intended purpose of the essay can provide clues about the appropriate length. Some prompts may require more in-depth exploration and analysis, while others may be more concise and focused. Tailor your essay length to meet the requirements of the prompt and effectively address the key points.

4. Engage your reader: Admissions officers have a large volume of essays to review, so it's important to capture their attention and maintain their interest. A well-structured, engaging essay that conveys your unique voice and perspective can leave a lasting impression regardless of its length.

5. Seek feedback: If you are unsure about the length of your essay, seek feedback from trusted advisors, such as teachers, counselors, or mentors. They can provide valuable insights and help you determine whether your essay is effectively conveying your message within the appropriate length.

Remember, the goal of a college essay is not to meet a specific word count, but rather to present a compelling narrative that showcases your personality, experiences, and aspirations. Focus on expressing your ideas clearly and concisely while adhering to any specified guidelines. Ultimately, it's the quality and impact of your essay that will leave a lasting impression on admissions officers.

You Might Also Like

Planning for Successful College Applications

Know the right way for successful college application and how to get prepared for college admission to gain admission in your dream college - Read our blog

Know Why Demonstrated Interest is Crucial

If you want to gain admission in your dream college, you have to show your demonstrated interest to join the institution and why it is crucial

Sample College Essays

Sample Exemplar Essays to help you figure out on how to Write and Form your essay which stands out of the rest

Free Resources

• SAT BootCamp
• SAT MasterClass
• SAT Private Tutoring
• SAT Proctored Practice Test
• ACT Private Tutoring
• Academic Subjects
• College Essay Workshop
• Academic Writing Workshop
• AP English FRQ BootCamp
• 1:1 College Essay Help
• Online Instruction
• Free Resources

How long should a college essay be?

Bonus Material : PrepMaven’s 30 College Essays That Worked

If you’re a high school student preparing to apply to top schools, you might already know that one of the most important parts of the application process is your college admissions essay. Because the personal essay is so crucial, you’ll want to make sure you perfect it before sending it out to admissions committees. 

We’ve helped thousands of students gain admission into selective colleges through college essay coaching, and in this blog post we’ll guide you through how the length of your essay affects your chances of admission. 

By using this guide alongside our other college application essay guides on brainstorming and formatting , you can perfect your college application essay and maximize your chance of acceptance. 

Another great starting point is our collection of 30 real, proven sample essays that worked to secure top-tier admissions for our past students, which you can download free below. 

Download Thirty College Essays that Worked

Jump to section:

What is the word limit on the Common App Personal Statement? How long should your final essay be? How long should your first draft be? How do you cut to get to the word count? How do you add more to get to the word count? Next steps

What is the word limit on the Common App Personal Statement?

The Common App’s personal essay has had the same maximum word count for years: you get 250-650 words for the entire essay. While you don’t have to hit this limit exactly, the Common App portal will not accept anything longer than 650 words. Any part of the college essay beyond the 650 words will simply not paste in.

Though the Common App is by far the most common college application essay, accepted by the majority of universities, there are a few other personal essay word limits you should be familiar with. 

The University of California system is the most important other one to know: it asks you to respond to four “Personal Insight Questions,” each of which has a maximum of 350 words. 

Other college application essays you’ll write, like supplemental essays, will vary widely in length, though will often cap you at somewhere between 150 and 250 words. Of course, you’ll have to ensure you double-check each essay question’s specific maximum and minimum word count. 

How long should your final essay be?

We can’t stress this enough: the best common application essay responses are at or near the maximum word count . The personal essay is your chance to tell the admissions committee about what makes you unique, and it should actually feel difficult to condense your personality and interests into a mere 650 words. 

With very rare exception, the most successful college admissions essays are between 600 and 650 words. If your personal essay comes out shorter than that, you’re simply not maximizing the opportunity provided to you. In other words, you need to really sit down and think about what could be expanded, what else you could say to make a strong impression on admissions officers. 

Below, we’ll talk about the different stages of the drafting process. Even though the personal statement should end up close to 650 words, that does not mean your first draft should be at the same length. We’ll also offer some advice on how to both shorten and expand your admissions essay.

This advice is backed by decades of experience in crafting successful college application essays, but it is general advice. If you want personalized essay coaching on your specific essays, there’s no better way to get it than by reaching out to us here and getting connected with one of our expert college essay counselors. 

And be sure to read over these real sample essays and note how long each one is: you’ll notice most of the best essays come close to the word count. 

How long should your first draft be?

The easiest way to set yourself up for a college admissions essay that hits the word count is to start long. The truth is that it’s easier to shorten an essay than to add to it. The best way to ensure you don’t find yourself under the word count for your final essay is to start with a first draft that exceeds the word count. 

When we work with students, we advise them to start with a first draft of 850 or more words. We know: that sounds like a lot of writing, but this approach has a ton of benefits for the final product. For one thing, writing more than you have to at first lets you warm up and sharpen your writing skills. 

For another, it pushes you to get all of your ideas on paper. There may be ideas that you don’t initially want to include in your admissions essay: maybe you think they’re unresponsive to the essay question, or maybe you think they wouldn’t interest college admissions officers. 

But the only way to actually know if these ideas will work is to get them on paper. Writing a long first draft ensures you don’t leave any potentially good ideas behind. One of the best things you can do for the first draft of your admissions essay is to get all your ideas on paper, then have someone–like, say, one of our phenomenal admissions essay counselors–read your first draft and tell you what’s worth keeping. 

The truth is that most students will need to cut lots of the things from their first draft of the college admissions essay. If you start your first draft at or near the word count, that’ll make it harder to hit that sweet spot of just under 650 words. 

Your essay’s length might look something like this through the drafting process: 

• Draft 1: around 850 words
• Draft 2: around 750 words
• Draft 3: around 650 words
• Draft 4 and on: just below 650 words. 

Of course, this is just a sample: your own process might be faster or slower, but the gradual shortening of the essay through the drafting process is nearly universal. 

In a nutshell: start with a long first draft, and cut from there as you redraft. 

How do you cut to get to the word count?

So, let’s say you’ve written the first draft of your college admissions essay and gotten to around 900 words. Well done! But now how do you get it down under the maximum word count? How do you decide what deserves to get cut from the essay, and what absolutely has to make its way to college admission officers?

You can think of this process as consisting of three stages:

Start by identifying what is central to your essay. What moments or reflections are absolutely crucial for you to tell your story? Anything not totally necessary to your essay should be on the chopping block. Remember: it is far better to go into detail on a few ideas than to talk about lots of things but without specificity. 

This is the chopping stage: in essence, you eliminate entire moments/sections/paragraphs from your essay. You’re deciding that these elements of your essay simply don’t need to be there. This stage, which is one of the most important in the editing process, should reduce your word count significantly. 

Next, you trim. If you’re certain that all of the content you have in your draft needs to be there for your college admissions essay to work but the draft is still above the word count, you need to trim your existing ideas down to size. 

When we trim essays, we’re not generally removing any of the content. Instead, we’re tactically cutting two words here, a word there. This is precise fine-tuning: can you flip the sentence structure to save yourself two words without losing the flow? Can you cut a helping verb without messing with the grammar of the sentence?

The trimming stage can take a long time, but you’ll be surprised how much you can shorten an essay even if you’re working just one to two words at a time. 

Of course, there’s nothing worse than cutting something that might have wowed an admission committee, or taking out precisely the wrong word in an effort to shorten a sentence. The best way to avoid those mistakes is with an experienced second-opinion: our essay coaches have been through this process themselves, and will be happy to help you avoid any crucial mistakes in these drafting stages. 

If you look at the below essays, you might want to think about all the work that went into ensuring none of this brilliant content got cut out along the way. 

How do you add more to get to the word count?

Ideally, you won’t have this problem: if you follow our initial drafting advice, you’ll be worried about cutting, not adding. 

But if you’re already in the later drafting stages and are struggling with getting up to the maximum word count, there are a few things you can do without adding new content. 

The biggest is simply to add more detail! This is, at the end of the day, what makes a strong college admissions essay: the specific, vivid details from your own life. It’s basically the time-tested adage of “show don’t tell.” 

Instead of saying, for example, “I was nervous as I prepared to perform in the school play,” you’d be better off writing something like, “As I waited my turn to take the stage, I felt my knees grow weak. Was I going to make a fool of myself out there? Had I really rehearsed my role enough?” And so on: it’s the same basic information, but more detailed, more interesting, and longer. 

Ultimately, all suggestions on adding to reach a word count will circle around this same basic idea: more detail. But again, we recommend sidestepping this whole problem by beginning with long drafts overflowing with specific details and content. 

If you’re preparing to write your college essay, your next steps are pretty straightforward. First, make sure you’re well-prepared by reading our guides on brainstorming and essay formatting. Then, read over a few sample essays from the 30 real college essays we’ve collected below. Then: write that long first draft!

We know, we know: it’s easy to say “Write a first draft of 850+ words,” but it can be a lot harder to actually do it. That’s why we’ve got a brilliant team of college essay tutors, all of whom have been accepted to elite universities and all of whom are ready to help you craft the perfect application essay as soon as you reach out. 

Mike is a PhD candidate studying English literature at Duke University. Mike is an expert test prep tutor (SAT/ACT/LSAT) and college essay consultant. Nearly all of Mike’s SAT/ACT students score in the top 5% of test takers; many even score above 1500 on the SAT. His college essay students routinely earn admission into their top-choice schools, including Harvard, Brown, and Dartmouth. And his LSAT students have been accepted In into the top law schools in the country, including Harvard, Yale, and Columbia Law.

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy preferences.

How long should my essay be?

The average length of a personal essay for college is 400─600 words. Always read the prompt. Follow the instructions provided in the application.

Also Found On

• Search All Scholarships
• Exclusive Scholarships
• Easy Scholarships to Apply For
• No Essay Scholarships
• Scholarships for HS Juniors
• Scholarships for HS Seniors
• Scholarships for College Students
• Scholarships for Grad Students
• Scholarships for Women
• Scholarships for Black Students
• Scholarships
• Student Loans
• College Admissions
• Financial Aid
• Scholarship Winners
• Scholarship Providers

Student-centric advice and objective recommendations

Higher education has never been more confusing or expensive. Our goal is to help you navigate the very big decisions related to higher ed with objective information and expert advice. Each piece of content on the site is original, based on extensive research, and reviewed by multiple editors, including a subject matter expert. This ensures that all of our content is up-to-date, useful, accurate, and thorough.

Our reviews and recommendations are based on extensive research, testing, and feedback. We may receive commission from links on our website, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted. You can find a complete list of our partners here .

How Long Should Your College Essays Be?

Cait Williams is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cait recently graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Journalism and Strategic Communications. During her time at OU, was active in the outdoor recreation community.

Learn about our editorial policies

Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

For the most part, colleges tell you exactly how long your college essays should be, but what happens when they don’t? In this article, we will go over the reason behind word limits and what to do if a college you’re applying to does not provide a word limit.  

Why is there a word limit? 

Because most colleges receive such a large volume of essays, they don’t have time to read through multi page essays from every student.  If you’re having trouble staying within a given word limit, you might begin to feel frustrated. Maybe you are asking yourself, “why is there a word limit?” Rest assured that colleges don’t just come up with these word counts randomly. They know how long it should take for the average student to answer the given questions.    

Additionally, having a word count can be beneficial to you, even if you don’t initially realize it. Without a word limit, you might find yourself feeling anxious that you didn’t say enough or that you said too much. A word count can help you gauge how much detail you should go into and help reassure you that you said what you wanted to say within the guidelines. 

How to draft your essay with a word count 

Word count is a limitation to factor into your college applications, but it shouldn’t be what dictates how you answer essay questions. Write the first draft of your essay without a word limitation. Simply write down what it is you would like to convey and how. This will give you a good starting point from which you can tailor your essay to be either longer or shorter.  

You can use some of the questions below if you find that your essay is getting too long or too short.  

Is your essay too short? 

• Did you mention all necessary details and clearly convey your message?  
• Is there an added point that you would like to make that could strengthen the core of your essay? 
• Is there another essay question that you could answer in addition to the one you just answered? 

Having an answer that you struggle to make long enough isn’t always a bad thing. If you can get your point across in fewer words, while not compromising the core of your essay, that’s okay. However, you should certainly check back through your answer a few times. The last thing you want to do is submit an answer that is too short and doesn’t fully answer the question asked.  

Don’t miss: How to end a scholarship essay

Avoid “fluffy filler”

You might feel tempted to use a lot of filler words in order to hit a certain word count, but this isn’t the best strategy. College admissions officers want to read engaging responses to get to know you. With such limited space to show off who you are, it’s important to take advantage of the space you have. If you’ve entirely answered the essay and are short on words, try incorporating an added point that ties well to your essay. 

Is your essay too long?  

• Are there any details that could be omitted without changing the core of your essay?  
• Is there anything you said that could be inferred and doesn’t need to be explicitly said? 
• Did you use any filler words or is there wording that you could change to be more concise?  

Having an answer that is too long means you probably very thoroughly explained your answer, which is a good thing. But it also might mean that you went off track a bit and mentioned some things that weren’t necessary.  

Scan back through your article and try to be as concise as possible with your writing. If you can’t find anywhere to make cuts, have a family member or friend read through it for you and offer an outside perspective.  

Okay, but what happens if your essay really is too long, and you absolutely cannot cut it down… 

What happens if you exceed the word limit?  

If you exceed or come in just below the word limit by a few words and you’re sending your essay through a PDF or attached file, it’s not the worst thing. College admissions officers probably won’t notice that they had to read ten, or potentially even twenty extra words. The same goes for if you are below the word count.  

However, if you have to answer the essay question within a textbox, or a provided space, you may be unable to submit your answer unless it falls somewhere within the word count. So, keep that in mind as you move forward. You may not have any other choice but to revise your answer to make it fit the word count.  

Related: Tips for a successful college application

Additional resources

We have plenty of resources to help you with essay writing, so before you start writing. Learn some tips on writing 250 word essays as well as 500 word essays. Maybe you need help starting your essay? Learn how to  start a scholarship essay (with examples!)  One of the hardest things to do is write about one’s self. We can help you there too! Learn how to write an essay about yourself and wow whoever reads your essay! 

Key Takeaways

• Word counts aren’t meant to be an added challenge to the college application process 
• Before writing your essay, verify if you will be sending it via PDF, Word document, or if you will need to type it directly into a designated space 
• Write the first draft of your essay without a word count in mind and then critique your essay from there 
• If possible, give yourself a few different times to sit down and write various versions of your essay  

Start your scholarship search

• Vetted scholarships custom-matched to your profile
• Access exclusive scholarships only available to Scholarships360 members

Frequently asked questions about essay word counts

What does “approximately” mean, how long is 650 words, is 900 words too long for a college, how long does it take to write a college essay, scholarships360 recommended.

10 Tips for Successful College Applications

Coalition vs. Common App: What is the difference?

College Application Deadlines 2024-2025: What You Need to Know

Trending now.

How to Convert Your GPA to a 4.0 Scale

PSAT to SAT Score Conversion: Predict Your Score

What are Public Ivy League Schools?

3 reasons to join scholarships360.

• Automatic entry to our $10,000 No-Essay Scholarship
• Personalized matching to thousands of vetted scholarships
• Quick apply for scholarships exclusive to our platform

By the way...Scholarships360 is 100% free!

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, how long should a college application essay be.

Hey y'all, I'm planning to start drafting my college essays during the summer and I'm a bit unsure about how long they should be. Is there a certain word count I should aim for? Or do different colleges have different requirements? Thanks in advance for the info!

Hello! You're absolutely right that different colleges can have different word count requirements for their application essays. Generally, however, the main Common Application essay has a word limit of 650 words, and colleges want students to use this space to the fullest to share their story. Aim to write an essay that's neither too short nor too close to the maximum, as both could potentially give the reader a negative impression. Around 500-650 words is usually a good range for the main essay.

For supplemental essays, colleges will typically provide specific word count guidelines within the prompt. These can range anywhere from 100 to 500 words, though 250-word essays are fairly common.

It's always valuable to remember that clarity and quality of content matter more than the sheer quantity of words, so prioritize creating a compelling narrative over hitting a specific word count. Good luck with your writing process!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

What are the six different essay lengths?

This is the second of three chapters about Essays . To complete this reader, read each chapter carefully and then unlock and complete our materials to check your understanding.   

– Discuss why essays might vary in length

– Outline the six major lengths of academic essay

– Provide defining features for each essay length

Chapter 1: What is an academic essay?

Chapter 2: What are the six different essay lengths?

Chapter 3: What are the seven different types of academic essay?

Before you begin reading...

• video and audio texts
• knowledge checks and quizzes
• skills practices, tasks and assignments

The length of essay you’re assigned will likely depend on where you are exactly in your academic course. Generally, assignments at the start of a bachelor’s degree will be shorter than those required in a student’s final years, just like master’s  and doctoral-level essays will continue to increase in both length and difficulty.

1. The One-Paragraph Essay

Generally about 150 to 250 words in length, the one-paragraph essay may be assigned by academic tutors simply in order to practise the basic concepts of paragraph writing, or it may also be used for specific purposes such as to practise summarising an article that’s been read in class or to write an extended definition of a concept. Additionally, one-paragraph essays may also be used as a diagnostic to quickly determine the level of a student’s writing. Unlike other essay lengths, for the one-paragraph essay, you’ll need to include at least some introductory, body and conclusive elements within the same paragraph.    

2. The Three-Paragraph Essay

Usually around 500 words in length, the three-paragraph essay is generally used to introduce students to the concept that all essays should maintain an introduction , body section and conclusion if the writer wishes to produce cohesive and a logical writing. The introduction and conclusion will be the first and last paragraphs and tend to be a little shorter in length, while the central body paragraph will contain the essay’s content or argument. A simple table explaining the balance of content in a three-paragraph essay has been provided below:

3. The Five-Paragraph Essay

Around 1,000 words in length, the five-paragraph essay is generally set by tutors who are content that their students understand the introduction-body-conclusion essay  structure and wish to allow more freedom to expand the ideas and arguments presented by the writer in the body section of the essay. This length of essay still only dedicates one paragraph to the introduction and conclusion , but allows three paragraphs to be dedicated to the exploration of the theme in the essay’s body. At this length, certain essay types such as cause and effect essays or compare and contrast essays may now be utilised. The following is a simple diagram of the balance of paragraph lengths in a five-paragraph essay.

4. The Extended Essay

The extended essay is the most common type of essay that’s assigned during a bachelor’s or master’s degree , and it may be of any length – although it’s unusual for such essays to be above 5,000 words. The most common lengths for an extended essay are 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000 words, with a word count allowance of plus or minus 10%. Such essay types will most certainly require research and referencing skills , and may also begin to follow more complex structures such as are found in dissertations and theses rather than simply following the introduction-body-conclusion structure of shorter essays.

5. The Dissertation

Generally assigned as the final project for both bachelor’s   and master’s degree , the typical length of an academic dissertation is 10,000 or 15,000 words. Unlike shorter essay types , dissertations have more complex structures and are almost always based around primary research (original research that the writer has conducted themselves). The following table demonstrates some of the key parts of a dissertation as well as the rough word count  percentages for each section:

6. The Thesis

Finally, the thesis is the longest academic essay type and the one that’s reserved for doctorate students studying PhDs. Generally between 40,000 and 60,000 words in length, the doctorate thesis may contain all the elements of a dissertation but in much more detail and with more careful investigation. Such essays  are almost certainly original and are based on primary research , with a larger focus on the accuracy of the literature review , data collection and data analysis . Many students will never encounter this essay type. 

Once you can recognise which essay length you’ve been assigned, the next question covered in Chapter 3 is about determining the type of essay you have to write. This is because each essay type will require particular styles, structures, foci and language.

To reference this reader:

Academic Marker (2022) Essays . Available at: https://academicmarker.com/academic-guidance/assignments/essays/ (Accessed: Date Month Year).

• Harvard Writing Center
• Leeds University Library
• Purdue Online Writing Lab

Downloadables

Once you’ve completed all three chapters about essays , you might also wish to download our beginner, intermediate and advanced worksheets to test your progress or print for your students. These professional PDF worksheets can be easily accessed for only a few Academic Marks .

Our essays academic reader (including all four chapters about this topic) can be accessed here at the click of a button.

Gain unlimited access to our essays  beginner worksheet, with activities and answer keys designed to check a basic understanding of this reader’s chapters.

To check a confident understanding of this reader’s chapters, click on the button below to download our  essays   intermediate worksheet with activities and answer keys.

Our essays  advanced worksheet with activities and answer keys has been created to check a sophisticated understanding of this reader’s chapters. 

To save yourself 5 Marks , click on the button below to gain unlimited access to all of our essays chapters and worksheets. The All-in-1 Pack includes every chapter in this reader, as well as our beginner, intermediate and advanced worksheets in one handy PDF.

Click on the button below to gain unlimited access to our essays  teacher’s PowerPoint, which should include everything you’d need to successfully introduce this topic.

Collect Academic Marks

• 100 Marks for joining
• 25 Marks for daily e-learning
• 100-200 for feedback/testimonials
• 100-500 for referring your colleages/friends

The Ivy Coach Daily

• College Admissions
• College Essays
• Early Decision / Early Action
• Extracurricular Activities
• Standardized Testing
• The Rankings

September 15, 2021

2021-2022 Prize for the Longest College Essays

It’s that time of year. Awards season. And while Emmys will be given out this weekend, we’d like to give out another award: the prize for the longest college essays of the 2021-2022 college admissions season. So which university takes home the grand prize? Is it the University of Chicago with their two long essays? Stanford University with their three somewhat long essays and then laundry list of short answers? Columbia University with their two fairly long essays and super long lists, some of which happen to be shorter than in years past? No, no. None of these schools have claimed the 2021-2022 grand prize for the longest college essays among elite universities.

Tulane University Asks the Longest Essay Prompts

The grand prize goes to…drum roll please…Tulane University. That’s right. Tulane University, which historically has presented applicants with a long supplement in the past , outdoes itself this year. This year, the school asks applicants to respond to two 800-word essays and one 250-word essays. We can’t think of any other elite university that asks applicants to respond in up to 800 words — unless the school doesn’t specify a word count. And to ask two 800-word essays and a 250-word essay? Well, who can accuse Tulane of trying to bump up its US News & World Report ranking by making it easier for students to apply? The school is making them jump through quite the hoop when it comes to its essays.

Tulane University Asks 3 Essay Prompts, Including Two 800-Word Essays

And what exactly are the Tulane essay prompts, you ask? The first prompt reads, “Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences.” Applicants are asked to respond in 250 words. And while the essay is “optional,” loyal readers of our college admissions blog know all too well that “optional” means diddly-squat in elite college admissions. The second prompt reads, “Please describe why you are interested in attending Tulane University.” This essay, too, is optional and applicants are given 800 words to respond. And the third essay reads, “Tulane values the lessons gained from pursuing an education alongside a student body that represents a wide range of experiences and perspectives and is reflective of our multicultural world. If you would like to share a perspective related to your family, cultural group, sexual or gender identity, religious group, or some other aspect that has shaped your identity, please do so here.” This essay, like the other two, is also optional. Applicants are given 800 words to respond just like for the second prompt.

Congratulations to Tulane University for winning the 2021-2022 grand prize for longest college essays!

You are permitted to use www.ivycoach.com (including the content of the Blog) for your personal, non-commercial use only. You must not copy, download, print, or otherwise distribute the content on our site without the prior written consent of Ivy Coach, Inc.

Related Articles

A Famously Bad ‘Why College’ Essay

August 10, 2024

Why Applicants Should Avoid “Fluffing Up” Their College Essays

August 9, 2024

How to Write a College Essay: Top 10 Tips for a Great Essay

How to Write Compelling College Essays, Broken Down by Topic

2024-2025 Notre Dame Supplemental Essay Prompts

August 8, 2024

College Essay Length: Go to the Maximum Word Count

August 7, 2024

TOWARD THE CONQUEST OF ADMISSION

If you’re interested in Ivy Coach’s college counseling,
fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch.

Fill out our short form for a 20-minute consultation to learn about Ivy Coach’s services.

How Long Is an Essay? The Ultimate Essay Length Guide

It’s safe to say that most students struggle with the word limit within an essay. Sometimes, it’s hard to find ideas for a text and meet the word requirement for every part of the paper. With so many factors influencing essay length, it’s easy to get confused.

Luckily, our custom-writing team has your back. In this article, our custom-writing experts will answer all your questions regarding essay length. We will also help you write papers with an ideal number of words!

📜 Is Essay Length Important?

📏 essay parts: recommended length.

• 🤔 How to Make Essays Shorter or Longer
• 📑 Essay Length & Formatting
• ❓ Different Academic Levels FAQ
• 📚 Essay Length: Different Types
• ⭐ Other Aspects
• 📝 Essay Examples

🔍 References

Often, the phrase “word limit” causes panic among students. After all, if an essay is too long or too short, your grade will be lowered. However, in reality, there’s nothing to worry about. When it comes to words, limitations are beneficial for both the students and the professors.

Let’s see what exactly it means.

Many people believe that the longer an essay is, the better. However, according to Frontiers, research shows that it’s a bias that couldn’t be further from the truth. A perfect-length paper is one that allows students to express their ideas and showcase their knowledge fully while keeping it clean and simple.

What Influences Essay Length

Various factors determine the length of an essay. Here are the most important ones:

Let’s start with the essentials. Usually, assignment length is given as a number of words rather than pages. Unless your supervisor or instructor mentions any specific limitations, it’s acceptable to be 10% below or above the word limit.

It’s also worth knowing the 80/20 rule . According to it, the body should constitute 80% of the text, while the intro and the conclusion take up the remaining 20%.

Keep reading to learn more about the recommended length of each essay part. The main numbers are shown in the table below:

How Long Should an Introduction Be?

An introduction is the first section and the face of your essay. For that reason, it needs to be compelling and well-thought-out. Usually, it consists of 3 to 5 sentences or 50 to 80 words .

An introduction must have a hook, some background information, and a thesis statement. While the attention grabber and the thesis are usually brief, you may need 2 to 3 sentences for the background. To avoid going overboard, try to stay on topic and don’t add any filler.

How Long Is a Body Paragraph in an Essay?

The length of a body paragraph may vary. Sometimes, it can be limited to a single sentence. In other cases, it may take up a whole page. Usually, it’s recommended to have between 80 and 200 words (5-8 sentences) per body paragraph.

Since the paper’s body contains the most information, it’s necessary to explain and support your ideas properly. That’s why it’s no big deal if your body paragraphs go slightly over the word limit.

How Many Body Paragraphs Should Be in an Essay?

Like the word count, the number of paragraphs is determined by the type of paper and its topic. The minimum is 1. Generally, however, the body consists of 3-5 paragraphs , 1 for each argument.

To improve your paper’s structure, ensure that there are as many paragraphs as there are points in your thesis statement. Each one should have a purpose and support your arguments. If there’s any fluff, it’s better to get rid of it.

How Long Should a Conclusion Be?

Like the introduction, the conclusion consists of 50-80 words . It’s essential to keep it simple and only mention the central ideas. A weak concluding sentence may affect the reader’s understanding of the topic and spoil the overall impression of your paper.

🤔 How to Make Essays Shorter or Longer: Best Tips

Undoubtedly the essay’s content is more important than the number of words you use. But there are times when students go more than 10-15% below or over the limit. Is there a solution to this problem?

Yes, there is! In this section, we will share the most useful tips to help you stay on point with your paper’s word count.

How to Make Essays Longer

Since having enough words is essential for a good grade, we’ve collected the best tips that can help you lengthen your essay without teachers noticing:

• Use relevant quotations.  You don’t need to litter your essay with citations, but using them whenever appropriate is a great idea. For instance, if you’re working on a book analysis, referencing a couple of direct quotes from the source text will make your essay more credible and increase the word count.

• Give examples.  Go through the claims in your paper and provide additional evidence where possible. It will make your essay longer and more informative.

• Use transitional expressions.  Adding transition words and phrases is a natural way of increasing the number of words. It will also improve your essay’s readability. 

• Add more references.  Providing references is always a good idea when writing a formal essay. That way, you will increase the number of words and make your paper more credible.

• Work on your descriptions.  If you struggle to develop new ideas, go over what you’ve already written and consider adding some descriptive words. It’s a great idea for creative essays to include more imagery. 

How to Shorten an Essay

Another struggle of academic writing is cutting down the number of words in your essay to meet a set limit. We are here to tell you that it’s not that hard. Writing straightforwardly and keeping your sentences short is a key to concise content. Here are several strategies you may use to tighten a lengthy essay:

• Choose the active voice.  It takes up less space than passive voice. Using it also makes your writing more professional and compelling.

• Remove needless transitions.  Transitions can indeed maintain the flow of the paper. But some transitional phrases can be easily removed.

• Get rid of unnecessary adverbs and adjectives.  Some students tend to overuse adjectives and adverbs. It adds wordiness to their writing.

• Avoid running starts.  Some students like to start their sentences with long phrases like: “there are,” “it is believed,” or “the fact that.” Getting rid of them makes texts much more concise.

• Delete “that.”  In most cases, the word “that” can often be easily removed from texts.

Another cool trick is to use our summarizing tool as essay shortener. Try it out!

📑 How Long Is an Essay Depending on Formatting?

As we mentioned earlier, the essay’s length is usually limited by the number of words. But sometimes, a teacher may ask you to write a specific number of pages. This is trickier because the amount of text you can place on the page depends on the formatting. By using the font size and spacing properly, it’s possible to make the paper visually longer or shorter. Let’s discuss it in more detail.

Essay Spacing: How Does It Affect the Length?

• Adjusting the spacing between lines.  Try to make the changes as slight as possible. For instance, if you were asked to double-space the paper, use 2.1 or 2.2 spacing instead. Another option is to slightly extend spaces between paragraphs.
• Extending the margin size.  You can increase the right and bottom margins by a quarter to make very subtle changes in length. For example, if the margins are 1 inch , you can set them at 1.25 inches instead. 
• Increasing the spacing between characters.  It is less noticeable than the line spacing. Still, try not to overdo it and keep the numbers between 1.2 and 1.5 . 
• Adjusting the footer.  Add a footer with page numbers to stretch the bottom margin even further.
• Lengthening the header.  You can extend your header by adding your name, e-mail address, or other relevant information. Another option is double-spacing it.

Length of an Essay: Font and Size

• Using the right type of font.  If your instructor didn’t specify which font you should use, go for the bigger ones. We suggest Arial, Bangla Sangam MN, Cambria, or Quicksand. They will make your text look longer without being too on the nose.  
• Using a bigger font size.  This is another technique that can come in handy. However, be careful and don’t increase your font by more than 0.1-0.5 pt.  
• Increasing the size of periods and commas.   This is one of the less noticeable tricks you can use. For instance, if your paper’s font is 12 pt. , increase it to 14 pt. only for punctuation marks. Italicizing periods and commas will also add several lines of length to your essay. 

What to Do if There Are No Length Guidelines

Sometimes a teacher sets no word limit for a written work. What to do in that case? Well, first, you can ask your professor to confirm if they have simply forgotten to mention it. But if that’s not the case, here are a couple of helpful solutions:

• Think of the paragraph number.  Sometimes, you may be given the number of paragraphs instead of words. In that case, you can decide on the number of words depending on how many paragraphs you have. 
• Think about the topic’s complexity.  The length of your paper is also directly dependent on the theme. If the topic is simple, 4-5 paragraphs will be enough. A more complex issue may require an in-depth explanation, so your essay can be 6-8 paragraphs long.

❓ Essay Length for Different Academic Levels FAQ

The length of the elementary school essay is usually short. Usually, a paper needs to have around 3-5 paragraphs, with 4-5 sentences per paragraph. Primary school essays can be 1-2 paragraphs long.

The word limit for a middle school essay is usually between 300 to 1000 words. The most common essay length is 500 words, which is about 5 paragraphs. However, it may differ from school to school.

The length of the high school essay may differ depending on the school and the complexity of the task itself. Usually, however, a paper can be between 300 to 1000 words long.

The length of the undergraduate college essay often falls within the range of 1500 to 2100 words. It translates into roughly 5-7 pages. 5 pages is the most common essay length at this level.

When it comes to the graduate school admission essay, the word limit is usually between 500 and 1000 words. It’s possible to go slightly over or below the set limit; however, it’s best to stick to the requirements as close as possible.

📚 How Long Should an Essay Be: Different Types

Now, let’s talk about different types of essays. How long should they be? Keep reading to learn about the length of college essays, short and extended ones, scholarship essays, and research papers.

How Long Is a College Essay?

When it comes to a college essay, it’s more important to stick to the word limit than with any other paper. Some teachers may refuse to read it unless it meets all the requirements.

The shortest limit for a college essay is about 250 words which is the shortest length of a Common App personal statement. It’s also rare to see a good college essay with over 650 words . So, an average piece usually has between 150 and 650 words ; you can go over or below the limit by 50.

How Long Is a Paragraph in College Essays?

A college essay usually consists of 4-5 paragraphs . One paragraph takes about 1/3 of the page, which is roughly 5 sentences . Each sentence corresponds with one of the following components:

• Topic sentence.
• Explanation.
• Transitions.

College Essay Length Requirements: Top 5 Schools

To understand the requirements for a college application essay even better, take a look at the table below. It showcases the top 5 schools and their length criteria for personal statements. Keep it in mind when writing your college essay:

How Long Is a Short Essay?

A short essay is usually 500 words long. Using 12pt Times New Roman font with standard margins and double spacing should result in about 2 pages of text.

Extended Essay Length

An extended essay is different from a short or a standard one. It requires extensive research and thorough explanation. That’s why the upper limit for this kind of essay is 4000 words . In this case, a typical essay length is 3500 words or 18 paragraphs .

Scholarship Essay Length

Generally, scholarship papers have a limit of 500 words , which is 1 page in length. Most scholarship programs provide additional requirements that indicate the minimum number of words or pages. If there are no set limitations, you can stick to the limit.

How Long Is a Research Paper?

Typically, a research paper is between 4000 and 6000 words long. Sometimes, there are shorter papers, which have around 2000 words, or in-depth ones with over 10000 words.

⭐ Other Aspects of Essay Length

When it comes to essay length, many different aspects come into play. Here, we’ve gathered all the essential information regarding an essay’s number of pages, paragraphs, words, and references.

How Many Paragraphs Are in an Essay?

Sometimes, it is more convenient to count paragraphs rather than words. Let’s now figure out how many paragraphs are in essays of different lengths. You may also check out the examples to see what such an essay looks like:

How to Count Paragraphs in an Essay Based on Word Count

You can also count the number of body paragraphs for your essay using the formula below:

Number of body paragraphs (average) = (TWC – TWC*0.16)/100

• TWC – total word count
• 0.16 – an average percentage of total word count for introduction and conclusion
• 100 – an average number of words per paragraph

How Many Pages Are in an Essay?

The number of pages in your essay may vary from subject to subject. But it’s still possible to determine the number of pages based on word count. Check out the numbers below to see the conversions with bonus examples:

You can also use a specialized calculator such as Word Counter to determine a number of pages in your essay.

What Does an Essay Look Like when Typed?

You might be wondering: what do essays of different lengths look like when typed? Well, here’s the table where you can find out the metrics for single- and double-spaced papers.

How Many Pages Are in a Handwritten Essay?

In case you need to turn in a handwritten paper, you should check out the table below.

Counting Words in a Handwritten Essay

If you don’t have enough time to count the words in your handwritten essay one by one, here’s what you can do:

• Count how many words there are in one line. Take the first and last lines and a line in the middle of a page. Let’s say there are 15, 14, and 15 words in them. Then, the average number of words per line is 15.
• Next, count how many lines there are on one page. Let’s say there are 17 lines on a page.
• Take the number of words per line and multiply it by the number of lines per page. In our case, we multiply 15 by 17. So, there are 255 words per page on average.
• Finally, multiply the number of words per page by the number of pages. If your essay has 3 pages, it is approximately 765 words long.

How Long Does it Take to Write an Essay?

It is crucial to know how long writing will take you, especially if you are working on an exam essay or just short on time. Note that you need to consider the time for typing and researching necessary to complete a piece. Research time may vary. Usually, it’s 1-2 hours for 200-250 words .

Below, we’ve gathered the average writing time for average and slower writing speed:

And here are the results in pages:

How Many References Does an Essay Need?

Another essential part of any composition is the reference list. Different academic levels require different references. You’ll find out how many of them should be in your paper in the table below!

📝 Essay Examples: Different Length

Finally, we’ve gathered some excellent sample essays of different lengths. Make sure to check them out!

We also recommend you check out our free essay samples sorted by pages:

• 1-Page Essay Examples
• 2-Page Essay Examples
• 3-Page Essay Examples
• 4-Page Essay Examples
• 5-Page Essay Examples
• 10-Page Essay Examples
• 20-Page Essay Examples
• 30-Page Essay Examples
• 40-Page Essay Examples
• 50-Page Essay Examples

Now you know all about essay length, word limits, and ways to lengthen or shorten your text. If you know other interesting tricks, make sure to share them in a comment! Good luck with your writing assignments!

You may also like:

• How to Write a Process Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline
• How to Write a Precis: Definition, Guide, & Examples 
• How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay: Examples & Guide
• How to Write a Narrative Essay Outline: Template & Examples
• How to Write a Formal Essay: Format, Rules, & Example
• Word Limits and Assignment Length: Massey University
• The Paragraph in the College Essay: California State University, Long Beach
• Introductions & Conclusions: The University of Arizona Global Campus
• How Long Should a Paragraph Be?: Daily Writing Tips
• Paragraphing (Length Consistency): Purdue University
• Hitting the Target Word Count in Your College Admission Essay: Dummies.com
• How Long Should Your College Essay Be? What is the Ideal Length?: College Vine
• Writing Personal Statements Online: Issues of Length and Form: Penn State University
• Pen Admissions: Essays: University of Pennsylvania
• Essay Questions: University of Michigan
• Essay Structure: Harvard University
• Components of a Good Essay: University of Evansville
• Write Your Essay: UNSW Sydney
• College Writing: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 21 Helpful and Easy Tips to Make an Essay Longer: Seventeen
• How to Make a College Paper Longer: ThoughtCo
• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

Do you dream of being successfully admitted to college? Well, you probably know that admission is a long process that includes many challenging steps. One of them is a recommendation letter: a document written on your behalf that describes your characteristics as a student. If done well, such a letter...

Almost everyone feels insecure when they start working on their first resume. Suddenly there are lots of questions that need to be answered. What should I write? How should I write it? What should I include in my resume to make it more appealing? If you’re looking for answers to...

What’s the first thing we do when facing the unknown? We Google it, of course! Google is fundamental to our experience of the Internet. According to the statistics, more than 100 000 people press “search” on Google every second! At first glance, the process is straightforward. You type in what...

Ever heard of a smart egg tray? Welcome to 2024! Today, there are gadgets for everything, and the variety of intelligent devices available increases every day. Some of them can improve your life. Others seem a bit useless. Will a smart egg tray actually add value to your life, or...

Dorms become like a second home to many students during their university experience. And while dorm life can mean making new friends and having exciting adventures, adjusting to new routines is not always easy. Since most students who come to the dorms have no prior experience living outside their parents’...

Imagine you’ve just written a paper. You’re going to proofread it, right? But is proofreading enough to ensure the absence of any factual errors or unfounded conclusions? Can you say with 100% certainty that you cited every reference correctly? If you want to learn how to fact-check like a pro,...

Every year, millions of U.S. students decide which university they want to attend. Around 20% of students rely on college rankings to make their final decision. Over the last two decades, such rankings have significantly grown in popularity. But are these lists reliable? Which criteria can be trusted? And which...

Have you ever seen someone else’s success and thought to yourself: “Why can’t I do the same?” What was your thought process like? Perhaps you believed you lacked some innate quality. Or did you think you could have achieved the same thing if you had put in enough effort? The difference in these attitudes is defined by two distinct mindsets—growth or fixed. You will read all about them in this article by Custom-Writing.org. You’ll also...

Are you interested in having a side hustle? If you have a hobby you are passionate about, look no further. A hobby-based side hustle is a great way to spend time doing something you love, a great source of income, and a way to boost your resume! In this article by Custom-Writing.org, you will find: a list of 7 inexpensive hobbies available to anyone; ways to monetize them; their benefits for...

In 2024, online education remains one of the most searched terms. Not only can you undertake short courses, but it is now commonplace to get Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees online. Is this the right fit for you? Keep reading to find out! In this article, our custom writing team will:...

What is the number one reason for becoming a volunteer? You may already know that charitable organizations help people in need and allow everyone to make a difference. However, there are some material benefits as well. Volunteer experience can boost your career prospects: it increases your chances of getting into...

Are you excited about grammar? Have you ever read the dictionary for fun? Do you become enthralled by your textbooks? Whether you are a language nerd or not, crossword puzzles are here to help. In this article, you will find dozens of exciting puzzle resources to support your learning. You...

Frequently asked questions

How long should a college essay be.

Most college application portals specify a word count range for your essay, and you should stay within 10% of the upper limit to write a developed and thoughtful essay.

You should aim to stay under the specified word count limit to show you can follow directions and write concisely. However, don’t write too little, as it may seem like you are unwilling or unable to write a detailed and insightful narrative about yourself.

If no word count is specified, we advise keeping your essay between 400 and 600 words.

Frequently asked questions: College admissions essays

When writing your Common App essay , choose a prompt that sparks your interest and that you can connect to a unique personal story.

No matter which prompt you choose, admissions officers are more interested in your ability to demonstrate personal development , insight, or motivation for a certain area of study.

The Common App essay is your primary writing sample within the Common Application, a college application portal accepted by more than 900 schools. All your prospective schools that accept the Common App will read this essay to understand your character, background, and value as a potential student.

Since this essay is read by many colleges, avoid mentioning any college names or programs; instead, save tailored answers for the supplementary school-specific essays within the Common App.

Most importantly, your essay should be about you , not another person or thing. An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability.

Your essay shouldn’t be a résumé of your experiences but instead should tell a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding your message and content. Then, check for flow, tone, style , and clarity. Finally, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors .

If your college essay goes over the word count limit , cut any sentences with tangents or irrelevant details. Delete unnecessary words that clutter your essay.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

If you’ve got to write your college essay fast , don’t panic. First, set yourself deadlines: you should spend about 10% of your remaining time on brainstorming, 10% on outlining, 40% writing, 30% revising, and 10% taking breaks in between stages.

Second, brainstorm stories and values based on your essay prompt.

Third, outline your essay based on the montage or narrative essay structure .

Fourth, write specific, personal, and unique stories that would be hard for other students to replicate.

Fifth, revise your essay and make sure it’s clearly written.

Last, if possible, get feedback from an essay coach . Scribbr essay editors can help you revise your essay in 12 hours or less.

Avoid swearing in a college essay , since admissions officers’ opinions of profanity will vary. In some cases, it might be okay to use a vulgar word, such as in dialogue or quotes that make an important point in your essay. However, it’s safest to try to make the same point without swearing.

If you have bad grades on your transcript, you may want to use your college admissions essay to explain the challenging circumstances that led to them. Make sure to avoid dwelling on the negative aspects and highlight how you overcame the situation or learned an important lesson.

However, some college applications offer an additional information section where you can explain your bad grades, allowing you to choose another meaningful topic for your college essay.

Here’s a brief list of college essay topics that may be considered cliché:

• Extracurriculars, especially sports
• Role models
• Dealing with a personal tragedy or death in the family
• Struggling with new life situations (immigrant stories, moving homes, parents’ divorce)
• Becoming a better person after community service, traveling, or summer camp
• Overcoming a difficult class
• Using a common object as an extended metaphor

It’s easier to write a standout essay with a unique topic. However, it’s possible to make a common topic compelling with interesting story arcs, uncommon connections, and an advanced writing style.

Yes. The college application essay is less formal than other academic writing —though of course it’s not mandatory to use contractions in your essay.

In a college essay , you can be creative with your language . When writing about the past, you can use the present tense to make the reader feel as if they were there in the moment with you. But make sure to maintain consistency and when in doubt, default to the correct verb tense according to the time you’re writing about.

The college admissions essay gives admissions officers a different perspective on you beyond your academic achievements, test scores, and extracurriculars. It’s your chance to stand out from other applicants with similar academic profiles by telling a unique, personal, and specific story.

Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial to avoid distracting the reader from your college essay’s content.

A college application essay is less formal than most academic writing . Instead of citing sources formally with in-text citations and a reference list, you can cite them informally in your text.

For example, “In her research paper on genetics, Quinn Roberts explores …”

There is no set number of paragraphs in a college admissions essay . College admissions essays can diverge from the traditional five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in English class. Just make sure to stay under the specified word count .

Most topics are acceptable for college essays if you can use them to demonstrate personal growth or a lesson learned. However, there are a few difficult topics for college essays that should be avoided. Avoid topics that are:

• Overly personal (e.g. graphic details of illness or injury, romantic or sexual relationships)
• Not personal enough (e.g. broad solutions to world problems, inspiring people or things)
• Too negative (e.g. an in-depth look at your flaws, put-downs of others, criticizing the need for a college essay)
• Too boring (e.g. a resume of your academic achievements and extracurriculars)
• Inappropriate for a college essay (e.g. illegal activities, offensive humor, false accounts of yourself, bragging about privilege)

To write an effective diversity essay , include vulnerable, authentic stories about your unique identity, background, or perspective. Provide insight into how your lived experience has influenced your outlook, activities, and goals. If relevant, you should also mention how your background has led you to apply for this university and why you’re a good fit.

Many universities believe a student body composed of different perspectives, beliefs, identities, and backgrounds will enhance the campus learning and community experience.

Admissions officers are interested in hearing about how your unique background, identity, beliefs, culture, or characteristics will enrich the campus community, which is why they assign a diversity essay .

In addition to your main college essay , some schools and scholarships may ask for a supplementary essay focused on an aspect of your identity or background. This is sometimes called a diversity essay .

You can use humor in a college essay , but carefully consider its purpose and use it wisely. An effective use of humor involves unexpected, keen observations of the everyday, or speaks to a deeper theme. Humor shouldn’t be the main focus of the essay, but rather a tool to improve your storytelling.

Get a second opinion from a teacher, counselor, or essay coach on whether your essay’s humor is appropriate.

Though admissions officers are interested in hearing your story, they’re also interested in how you tell it. An exceptionally written essay will differentiate you from other applicants, meaning that admissions officers will spend more time reading it.

You can use literary devices to catch your reader’s attention and enrich your storytelling; however, focus on using just a few devices well, rather than trying to use as many as possible.

To decide on a good college essay topic , spend time thoughtfully answering brainstorming questions. If you still have trouble identifying topics, try the following two strategies:

• Identify your qualities → Brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities
• Identify memorable stories → Connect your qualities to these stories

You can also ask family, friends, or mentors to help you brainstorm topics, give feedback on your potential essay topics, or recall key stories that showcase your qualities.

Yes—admissions officers don’t expect everyone to have a totally unique college essay topic . But you must differentiate your essay from others by having a surprising story arc, an interesting insight, and/or an advanced writing style .

There are no foolproof college essay topics —whatever your topic, the key is to write about it effectively. However, a good topic

• Is meaningful, specific, and personal to you
• Focuses on you and your experiences
• Reveals something beyond your test scores, grades, and extracurriculars
• Is creative and original

Unlike a five-paragraph essay, your admissions essay should not end by summarizing the points you’ve already made. It’s better to be creative and aim for a strong final impression.

You should also avoid stating the obvious (for example, saying that you hope to be accepted).

There are a few strategies you can use for a memorable ending to your college essay :

• Return to the beginning with a “full circle” structure
• Reveal the main point or insight in your story
• Look to the future
• End on an action

The best technique will depend on your topic choice, essay outline, and writing style. You can write several endings using different techniques to see which works best.

College deadlines vary depending on the schools you’re applying to and your application plan:

• For early action applications and the first round of early decision applications, the deadline is on November 1 or 15. Decisions are released by mid-December.
• For the second round of early decision applications, the deadline is January 1 or 15. Decisions are released in January or February.
• Regular decision deadlines usually fall between late November and mid-March, and decisions are released in March or April.
• Rolling admission deadlines run from July to April, and decisions are released around four to eight weeks after submission.

Depending on your prospective schools’ requirements, you may need to submit scores for the SAT or ACT as part of your college application .

Some schools now no longer require students to submit test scores; however, you should still take the SAT or ACT and aim to get a high score to strengthen your application package.

Aim to take the SAT or ACT in the spring of your junior year to give yourself enough time to retake it in the fall of your senior year if necessary.

Apply early for federal student aid and application fee waivers. You can also look for scholarships from schools, corporations, and charitable foundations.

To maximize your options, you should aim to apply to about eight schools:

• Two reach schools that might be difficult to get into
• Four match schools that you have a good chance of getting into
• Two safety schools that you feel confident you’ll get into

The college admissions essay accounts for roughly 25% of the weight of your application .

At highly selective schools, there are four qualified candidates for every spot. While your academic achievements are important, your college admissions essay can help you stand out from other applicants with similar profiles.

In general, for your college application you will need to submit all of the following:

• Your personal information
• List of extracurriculars and awards
• College application essays
• Transcripts
• Standardized test scores
• Recommendation letters.

Different colleges may have specific requirements, so make sure you check exactly what’s expected in the application guidance.

You should start thinking about your college applications the summer before your junior year to give you sufficient time for college visits, taking standardized tests, applying for financial aid , writing essays, and collecting application material.

Yes, but make sure your essay directly addresses the prompt, respects the word count , and demonstrates the organization’s values.

If you plan ahead, you can save time by writing one scholarship essay for multiple prompts with similar questions. In a scholarship tracker spreadsheet, you can group or color-code overlapping essay prompts; then, write a single essay for multiple scholarships. Sometimes, you can even reuse or adapt your main college essay .

You can start applying for scholarships as early as your junior year. Continue applying throughout your senior year.

Invest time in applying for various scholarships , especially local ones with small dollar amounts, which are likely easier to win and more reflective of your background and interests. It will be easier for you to write an authentic and compelling essay if the scholarship topic is meaningful to you.

You can find scholarships through your school counselor, community network, or an internet search.

A scholarship essay requires you to demonstrate your values and qualities while answering the prompt’s specific question.

After researching the scholarship organization, identify a personal experience that embodies its values and exemplifies how you will be a successful student.

A standout college essay has several key ingredients:

• A unique, personally meaningful topic
• A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook
• Specific stories and language that show instead of telling
• Vulnerability that’s authentic but not aimed at soliciting sympathy
• Clear writing in an appropriate style and tone
• A conclusion that offers deep insight or a creative ending

While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay , and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Don’t forget to save enough time for breaks between each writing and editing stage.

You should already begin thinking about your essay the summer before your senior year so that you have plenty of time to try out different topics and get feedback on what works.

Your college essay accounts for about 25% of your application’s weight. It may be the deciding factor in whether you’re accepted, especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurricular track records.

In most cases, quoting other people isn’t a good way to start your college essay . Admissions officers want to hear your thoughts about yourself, and quotes often don’t achieve that. Unless a quote truly adds something important to your essay that it otherwise wouldn’t have, you probably shouldn’t include it.

Cliché openers in a college essay introduction are usually general and applicable to many students and situations. Most successful introductions are specific: they only work for the unique essay that follows.

The key to a strong college essay introduction is not to give too much away. Try to start with a surprising statement or image that raises questions and compels the reader to find out more.

The introduction of your college essay is the first thing admissions officers will read and therefore your most important opportunity to stand out. An excellent introduction will keep admissions officers reading, allowing you to tell them what you want them to know.

You can speed up this process by shortening and smoothing your writing with a paraphrasing tool . After that, you can use the summarizer to shorten it even more.

If you’re struggling to reach the word count for your college essay, add vivid personal stories or share your feelings and insight to give your essay more depth and authenticity.

In your application essay , admissions officers are looking for particular features : they want to see context on your background, positive traits that you could bring to campus, and examples of you demonstrating those qualities.

Colleges want to be able to differentiate students who seem similar on paper. In the college application essay , they’re looking for a way to understand each applicant’s unique personality and experiences.

You don’t need a title for your college admissions essay , but you can include one if you think it adds something important.

Your college essay’s format should be as simple as possible:

• Use a standard, readable font
• Use 1.5 or double spacing
• If attaching a file, save it as a PDF
• Stick to the word count
• Avoid unusual formatting and unnecessary decorative touches

There are no set rules for how to structure a college application essay , but these are two common structures that work:

• A montage structure, a series of vignettes with a common theme.
• A narrative structure, a single story that shows your personal growth or how you overcame a challenge.

Avoid the five-paragraph essay structure that you learned in high school.

Campus visits are always helpful, but if you can’t make it in person, the college website will have plenty of information for you to explore. You should look through the course catalog and even reach out to current faculty with any questions about the school.

Colleges set a “Why this college?” essay because they want to see that you’ve done your research. You must prove that you know what makes the school unique and can connect that to your own personal goals and academic interests.

Depending on your writing, you may go through several rounds of revision . Make sure to put aside your essay for a little while after each editing stage to return with a fresh perspective.

Teachers and guidance counselors can help you check your language, tone, and content . Ask for their help at least one to two months before the submission deadline, as many other students will also want their help.

Friends and family are a good resource to check for authenticity. It’s best to seek help from family members with a strong writing or English educational background, or from older siblings and cousins who have been through the college admissions process.

If possible, get help from an essay coach or editor ; they’ll have specialized knowledge of college admissions essays and be able to give objective expert feedback.

When revising your college essay , first check for big-picture issues regarding message, flow, tone, style , and clarity. Then, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors.

Include specific, personal details and use your authentic voice to shed a new perspective on a common human experience.

Through specific stories, you can weave your achievements and qualities into your essay so that it doesn’t seem like you’re bragging from a resume.

When writing about yourself , including difficult experiences or failures can be a great way to show vulnerability and authenticity, but be careful not to overshare, and focus on showing how you matured from the experience.

First, spend time reflecting on your core values and character . You can start with these questions:

• What are three words your friends or family would use to describe you, and why would they choose them?
• Whom do you admire most and why?
• What are you most proud of? Ashamed of?

However, you should do a comprehensive brainstorming session to fully understand your values. Also consider how your values and goals match your prospective university’s program and culture. Then, brainstorm stories that illustrate the fit between the two.

In a college application essay , you can occasionally bend grammatical rules if doing so adds value to the storytelling process and the essay maintains clarity.

However, use standard language rules if your stylistic choices would otherwise distract the reader from your overall narrative or could be easily interpreted as unintentional errors.

Write concisely and use the active voice to maintain a quick pace throughout your essay and make sure it’s the right length . Avoid adding definitions unless they provide necessary explanation.

Use first-person “I” statements to speak from your perspective . Use appropriate word choices that show off your vocabulary but don’t sound like you used a thesaurus. Avoid using idioms or cliché expressions by rewriting them in a creative, original way.

If you’re an international student applying to a US college and you’re comfortable using American idioms or cultural references , you can. But instead of potentially using them incorrectly, don’t be afraid to write in detail about yourself within your own culture.

Provide context for any words, customs, or places that an American admissions officer might be unfamiliar with.

College application essays are less formal than other kinds of academic writing . Use a conversational yet respectful tone , as if speaking with a teacher or mentor. Be vulnerable about your feelings, thoughts, and experiences to connect with the reader.

Aim to write in your authentic voice , with a style that sounds natural and genuine. You can be creative with your word choice, but don’t use elaborate vocabulary to impress admissions officers.

Admissions officers use college admissions essays to evaluate your character, writing skills , and ability to self-reflect . The essay is your chance to show what you will add to the academic community.

The college essay may be the deciding factor in your application , especially for competitive schools where most applicants have exceptional grades, test scores, and extracurriculars.

Some colleges also require supplemental essays about specific topics, such as why you chose that specific college . Scholarship essays are often required to obtain financial aid .

Ask our team

Want to contact us directly? No problem.  We  are always here for you.

• Email [email protected]
• Start live chat
• Call +1 (510) 822-8066
• WhatsApp +31 20 261 6040

Our team helps students graduate by offering:

• A world-class citation generator
• Plagiarism Checker software powered by Turnitin
• Innovative Citation Checker software
• Professional proofreading services
• Over 300 helpful articles about academic writing, citing sources, plagiarism, and more

Scribbr specializes in editing study-related documents . We proofread:

• PhD dissertations
• Research proposals
• Personal statements
• Admission essays
• Motivation letters
• Reflection papers
• Journal articles
• Capstone projects

Scribbr’s Plagiarism Checker is powered by elements of Turnitin’s Similarity Checker , namely the plagiarism detection software and the Internet Archive and Premium Scholarly Publications content databases .

The add-on AI detector is powered by Scribbr’s proprietary software.

The Scribbr Citation Generator is developed using the open-source Citation Style Language (CSL) project and Frank Bennett’s citeproc-js . It’s the same technology used by dozens of other popular citation tools, including Mendeley and Zotero.

You can find all the citation styles and locales used in the Scribbr Citation Generator in our publicly accessible repository on Github .

Published August 01, 2024

Announcing the 2024-2025 Common Application for NYU

Billy Sichel

Assistant Vice President of Undergraduate Admissions

It’s August 1st and that means the application at NYU has officially opened. This year, we’ve made some pretty big changes to NYU’s Common Application to simplify the process for our applicants, and to help us learn a little more about you!

When you start NYU’s member questions on the Common App, you’ll see 6 sections that you’ll need to complete. We give you a little bit of a head start by checking off the “Writing” section. This section is optional – but also new and exciting! More on that later.

The General Information Section

In the “General” section, you’ll be asked a few questions about how you want us to handle your application – Early Decision I, Early Decision II, or Regular Decision? – and which campus you want to apply to. As you (hopefully!) already know, NYU has three degree-granting campuses: in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai. Our Common App will let you apply to any combination of our campuses.

Once you make your campus selections, an additional set of questions will show up that are specific to your campus(es) of interest. Nothing too tricky here! You’ll be able to tell us about your academic area of interest for each campus, and a few other quick-and-easy questions about program eligibility, housing preferences, etc. so that we’re ready for you if you are ultimately admitted.

The Academics Section

Once you have those sections squared away, you’ll move on to the Academics section. This section will walk you through the information we’ll need you to submit outside of the Common App itself. Nothing to do here, except confirm that you’re clear on the next steps and additional requirements.

The Optional Supplemental Question

Now, the moment you’ve been waiting for: The optional, pre-checked-off Writing section. Last year, we made the decision to update our supplemental question. However, what we heard from our applicants was that people really wanted to tell us more! But the thing is…we already know why NYU is a great place to spend your 4 years, so we thought: if you want to tell us more about your passion for NYU, let’s make the question about you .

The new writing question says:

“In a world where disconnection seems to often prevail, we are looking for students who embody the qualities of bridge builders—students who can connect people, groups, and ideas to span divides, foster understanding, and promote collaboration within a dynamic, interconnected, and vibrant global academic community. We are eager to understand how your experiences have prepared you to build the bridges of the future. Please consider one or more of the following questions  in your  essay :

What personal experiences or challenges have shaped you as a bridge builder?

How have you been a bridge builder in your school, community, or personal life?

What specific actions have you taken to build bridges between diverse groups, ideas, or cultures?

How do you envision being a bridge builder during your time at our university and beyond?”

So, if it feels right for you to tell us a little more about yourself in the application, we want to know where you will turn to for inspiration, and what experiences have shaped you and resonate with you. Four years at NYU will propel you into a future you might not even be able to imagine yet, but take a minute (if you want – it really is optional!) to tell us about the ideas that have gotten you to this point, and those that might shape you into the person you’re about to become.

These are just a few of the changes we have made this year, so make sure to carefully read each question carefully before you answer them. If you ever have any questions for us about our questions, we are always here to help . We wish you the best of luck this application season, and can’t wait to learn more about you!

More from Billy:

How to Approach the Common Application

There’s no wrong way to approach the Common Application, but here’s two different strategies you might want to choose from when you apply to NYU.

Submitting a Transfer Application to NYU

Everything you need and everything you need to know about the transfer process.

Why You Should Start Your Common Application Early

There are many benefits to getting an early start on your Common Application to NYU.

I've reviewed 69 laptops and these are my top 7 laptops for college students

We've handpicked the best laptops for college students

• Best overall
• Best for creatives
• Best Windows laptop
• Best 2-in-1
• Best for DIYers
• Best gaming laptop
• Battery life results
• How to choose
• How we test

The list in brief 1. Best overall 2. Best value 3. Best for creatives 4. Best Windows laptop 4. Best 2-in-1 5. Best for DIYers 6. Best gaming laptop Battery life chart How to choose How we test

I remember preparing for college, and the stress of finding the perfect laptop for my studies. You need advice on what will meet the demands of your studies — be it an ultra thin and light for essays or a power-packed machine for intense work — and all you're left with is some shop assistant just asking "what do you want the laptop to do?"

This decision-making process is a difficult one, so I'm here to help you find the perfect option for you. We review all the latest and greatest laptops (in my career, I've reviewed a nice 69), and even put them through strenuous tests in our performance lab. That means we can confidently put our stamp of approval on every single one, as they have been personally tested by me and my team.

So whether you need a machine that is capable of handling web browsing and typing (for those essay-centric degrees) or you're looking for something more specialized for the likes of creative arts or advanced programming, these laptops are going to be best for college use.

Based on that experience, here are the best laptops for college students that I recommend!

The quick list

In a hurry? Here's a brief overview of the laptops on this list, along with quick links that let you jump down the page directly to a review of whichever laptop catches your eye.

The best laptop for most students

The MacBook Air M3 is what we most often recommend to students. You get fantastic performance from the new M3 chip, a bright display and more than 15 hours of battery life in an ultraportable package that's easy to tote to class.

Read more below

Best for students on a budget

Samsung's Galaxy Chromebook 2 is low key one of the best budget laptops for college students, and one that is discounted regularly. From its eye-catching Fiery red design and zippy ChromeOS performance to that QLED touchscreen and ergonomic keyboard, this is a top option for essay work.

The best laptop for creatives The MacBook Pro M3 is the best laptop for college students that do creative work like video editing or graphic design. The new M3 chip is faster and more powerful but you also get a bright display and 17 hours of battery life based on our tests. The MacBook Pro M3 even comes in a new Space Black finish. 

The best Windows laptop for students Microsoft's big move to using Snapdragon X Elite for has allowed HP to make one of the best Windows college laptops. This is a performant powerhouse with power and battery life that rivals the M3 MacBook Air!

The best 2-in-1 for most students When it comes to that perfect blend of laptop and tablet for students, nothing comes close to the Surface Pro 11. Thanks to important keyboard cover upgrades, a drop dead gorgeous OLED touchscreen, and Snapdragon X Plus or Elite chips giving you peak performance and power efficiency.

The best laptop for DIY types and accident-prone

The Framework Laptop is a truly unique Windows ultraportable that's more repairable and upgradeable than any other. It's designed to be easy to upgrade and repair, making it a great investment for tech-friendly (or accident-prone) students.

Load the next 1 laptop...

The best gaming laptop for students

Lenovo's Chromebook Duet 3 is a well-built sub-$500 Chrome tablet that offers a nice screen and enough power to get work done. It's suited to browsing the web or remote learning, and the included keyboard cover is good enough for writing emails or short assignments. 

Read more below 

I've been reviewing laptops for over four years, so I know a thing or two about what makes for a great buy for students heading off to college. Picking the right one for your studies is a huge decision, as it will be your daily driver for the next few years and you need that perfect mix of performance, power efficiency and reliability. I can help you find that!

The best college laptops you can buy right now

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

The best overall

1. Apple MacBook Air M3 (2024)

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

There's a reason why we call the M3 MacBook Air "a small wonder." On the face of it, this is merely a spec bump from last year's M2 MacBook Air, but in use, it is so much more than that.

It all comes down to three key things: design, performance and battery life. Starting with the build quality, this aluminum unibody inspires confidence in its durability and reliability, while also being super slim at just 0.44 inches and light at 2.7 pounds. Plus, with a gorgeously utilitarian aesthetic, you're sure to be the coolest kid on campus!

Next, the M3 chip is a mini wonder of a chipset that drastically improves app performance, graphical capabilities and even enables speedy AI thanks to its beefed up Neural Engine. Whether you're multitasking between Chrome and Pages with Apple Music in the back, or straining it with a Premiere Pro 4K edit, the Air can do it all (especially with that bright and color accurate Liquid Retina display).

And finally, if your college experience is anything like mine was, you'll be running between classes without access to a power outlet. Well, in our own intense battery life testing, we saw the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air last 15 hours and 13 minutes. That's "worry-free battery life" territory!

Top it all off with the slickness of macOS for getting work done by day and playing games/binge watching by night, and you've got what I believe is the best laptop for most college students.

Read our full Apple MacBook Air M3 (2024) review . 

The best cheap laptop for students

2. samsung galaxy chromebook 2.

OK look, I know there are technically cheaper Chromebooks I could've picked for the best budget laptop. But don't make a decision you'll regret by settling for one of them — that Intel Celeron processor and tiny battery will be the bane of your existence after the first few months!

That's why I'm pointing you towards the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2. At under $500, this is an absolute steal for what you get. ChromeOS is one of the least CPU-intensive operating systems out there, so that combo of 10th gen Intel and 8GB RAM make it absolutely fly.

For wiring in to do those essays, the keyboard's key travel may be a little small, but the tactility of it means you'll be comfortable typing away for hours, and the speakers get plenty loud enough for all your Lo-Fi (if that's what helps you concentrate like me).

And for running between classes, that battery life of 7 hours and 50 minutes ensures you'll be able to jot down notes from a full day of lectures. Oh, and the QLED display up top is gorgeous for those moments where you want to tumble down a YouTube rabbit hole.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 review .

The best for creatives

3. MacBook Pro 14-inch M3

Out of the three MacBook Pros on offer, the 14-inch Pro with the standard M3 chip is the best for providing the right amount of horsepower for nailing that creative college degree. And even better, it's regularly discounted at up to $150 off.

Of course, with a saving like that, you could opt for upping that performance with something like the M3 Pro MacBook Pro , and get that additional Thunderbolt 4 port in the process. But for what you may be doing in 4K video editing, graphic design, music production or photography, you really don't need that additional oomph (as is clear from how quick it can roll through our Photoshop benchmark).

So that's a big fat "check" on creative performance. As for having confidence in color accuracy, the MacBook Pro features a 14-inch, mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display and in our lab tests, we saw that it's display is even brighter than its predecessor. Not only that, but with a Delta-E color accuracy score of 0.11 (one of the lowest I've ever seen, and lower is better), you will feel reassured that what you're looking at is true to life before sending it for print.

Add in the juicy extras that came with killing the 13-inch Pro and opting to give everyone this fresh 14-inch chassis — such as a full-size SD card slot, HDMI port, amazing keyboard and a battery life that exceeds 17 hours, and I think we've got a creative winner on our hands.

Read our full MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3, 2023) review .

The best Windows laptop

4. HP OmniBook X

With the dawn of Copilot+ PCs, Windows laptops are starting to become amazing options for students, and the HP OmniBook X leads the charge on this in terms of face-melting performance and astonishing battery life — all in a durable (and gorgeous) chassis with a fantastic typing experience.

This all comes down to Microsoft shedding the skin of its x86 past and adopting an Arm architecture with Snapdragon X Elite chips. You don't really need to know the differences (if you're curious, I go into a ton of detail at the beginning of my Asus Zenbook S 16 review ). But all you need to know is that the move to Snapdragon silicon has been the Windows 11 equivalent of when Apple ditched Intel and created its own chips. The impact on performance and battery life has been mind blowing.

Top all of that up with a beautiful lightweight aluminum design (2.9 pounds) that ensures durability, and a lovely keyboard/touchpad experience that you'll really enjoy typing on for hours on end, and you've got one of the MVPs of Microsoft's new Copilot+ PC movement.

So whether you're a Windows lover, or you've found out that your college's IT infrastructure leans more heavily towards you making the most out of it with a Microsoft machine, the OmniBook X is one of the best to do it.

Read our full HP OmniBook X review.

The best 2-in-1

5. Microsoft Surface Pro 11

It's taken a while, but the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 has finally nailed the 2-in-1 formula — making this a perfect hybrid for college students. Turns out the secret sauce to achieving greatness is Snapdragon X.

As you saw with the HP OmniBook X, the use of Qualcomm's chip has dramatically sped up the system, with particular props to transcoding media (important for video editing) and its multitasking performance. Meanwhile, the OLED display (optional in more expensive models) is a flash flood of gorgeous color and aids the battery life too. 

All of this has been packed into that same beautiful design that is just 0.37 inches thick and weighs a mere 1.97 pounds. Plus, with critical improvements made to the typing experience on that keyboard cover (including a wireless connectivity so you can disconnect it from the Surface Pro and keep on typing), this is a fantastic choice for the next step in your education.

Of course, moving to Arm means that certain apps may be incompatible, but the core set you need (or want) are supported for your studies and keeping yourself entertained. This includes Chrome, Office, Photoshop and much more.

Read our full Microsoft Surface Pro 11 review .

The best for DIYers

6. Framework Laptop

Upgradeability is not necessarily something people think about when it comes to a good college laptop, but it makes a lot of sense, and the Framework Laptop is my top pick for this for its impressive modularity.

Put simply, you can customize, repair and upgrade every component to an unprecedented degree — all while remaining affordable and ultraportable. And when it comes to replacing key components like the screen and mainboard, all you need is the screwdriver that Framework ships with it.

It's not for everyone, but if you're the DIY type and love the idea of being able to tinker with your laptop's innards this is the best laptop for you. The Framework laptop is currently only available for purchase from the Framework  website , and the price tag starts at around $1k — though you can pay even less for the DIY Edition if you're willing to assemble your laptop yourself and provide your own memory, storage, operating system, and Wi-Fi card. It's a great ultraportable that doubles as a learning device you can take apart and fix or upgrade yourself, and for some students it's perfect.

Read our full Framework Laptop review .

The best gaming laptop

7. MSI Cyborg 15

OK, so I can imagine some confused faces here — why am I recommending a gaming laptop for college students? Well, as I'll explain in handpicking the MSI Cyborg 15, you get so much more than you think.

It starts with the ability to handle design-intensive college work well with its dedicated GPU. This will allow it to handle beefy animation tasks impressively well, and thanks to Nvidia's AI toolbox of features, you can be sure of strong horsepower.

And also, there is that gaming performance. Maybe you've got a dense Steam library that you want to play while in your dorm room? This will handle gaming admirably at 1080p, and that RTX 4050 unlocks the combo breaker of gaming and AI that is DLSS 3.5 to give you impressive frame rates.

Of course, it's a gaming laptop, so stamina is not its forte. Only go for this if you can be sure of power outlet availability, and if you're feeling confident whipping out an in-your-face gaming laptop in class without judgemental looks. 

But for what you get at a price below $1,000, if you can forgive battery life, this could be the all-in-one productivity and gaming machine that will carry you through college easily.

Read our full MSI Cyborg 15 review .

Battery benchmarks: comparison

How to choose the best laptop for you

Performance: If you're going to be spending years studying engineering, you're going to need a computer with enough power to handle anything your teachers throw at you. We recommend at least a new mid-range CPU (Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5) and at least 8 GB of RAM, though if you can afford to spend more on on a laptop with better specs it will pay off in the long run.

Graphics and gaming: Most gaming laptops come with discrete graphics cards so they can run the latest games well, but the same card can be equally vital to engineering students who will be using CAD (computer-assisted design) and 3D analysis programs. These kinds of applications really benefit from the power of a good GPU, so if you're expecting to do any graphics or 3D work it's a good idea to invest in a laptop with a discrete Nvidia or AMD graphics card.

Operating system: Laptops typically come in three flavors: Windows (most mainstream PCs), macOS (MacBooks) and Chrome OS (Chromebooks). Chrome OS isn't good for much besides web surfing, file management, and light computing, so a Chromebook isn't a great choice for serious schoolwork. However, a crafty student could install Linux on a high-powered Chromebook to turn it into a decent laptop for engineering work.

Many engineering students spend a lot of time working with specialized or self-developed software, so Windows is often preferable over macOS because it throws up fewer roadblocks when using such tools. However, even Windows can sometimes get in the way of serious engineering work, which is why many engineering students get Windows laptops and install Linux on them so they can dual-boot into either operating system.

As mentioned above, when making your buying decision be sure to consult your teachers and/or the engineering department at your school for more specific advice on what you'll need for your studies. Whichever system you decide on, it's a good idea to pair it with the best mouse for your particular work situation.

How we tested these laptops

How we test the best laptops for students.

To find the best laptops we run every machine through a rigorous suite of benchmarks and real-world tests to gauge how it will perform during everyday use. 

We measure the average brightness and color quality of each laptop's display using our in-house light meter and colorimeter. For general performance, we run our machines through tests that include Geekbench 6 (CPU performance), as well as various 3DMark tests to measure graphics capabilities. We also run a file transfer test to measure how fast a machine's hard drive is, and a custom battery test that has the machine browse the internet over Wi-Fi until it runs out of juice.

Plus, we run the graphics benchmark test in Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm to get a sense of how well a laptop can handle basic games. When testing dedicated gaming laptops, we run benchmarks for a number of games such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Far Cry: New Dawn.

Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox.

Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.

Jason brings a decade of tech and gaming journalism experience to his role as a Managing Editor of Computing at Tom's Guide. He has previously written for Laptop Mag, Tom's Hardware, Kotaku, Stuff and BBC Science Focus. In his spare time, you'll find Jason looking for good dogs to pet or thinking about eating pizza if he isn't already.

What's the perfect student laptop for back to school? Our experts weigh in

I've tested 5 Copilot+ PCs — 3 things I like and 3 things I don't

Lemokey X0 review: Poor ergonomics let down an otherwise competent keypad

Most Popular

• 2 I've just played the funniest PS5 game ever — and it's only $16 for a limited time
• 3 7 best shows like 'The Umbrella Academy' on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus and more
• 4 What's the perfect student laptop for back to school? Our experts weigh in
• 5 I tested Flux vs Midjourney to see which AI image generator is best — here's the winner

Get the Reddit app

r/AskReddit is the place to ask and answer thought-provoking questions.

What is the longest essay/paper you have ever written?

Mine is a mere 9 pages, I'm sure you can beat that.

I am really not looking forward to doing my thesis now.

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

Find anything you save across the site in your account

The Tail End

Here is a good story: It’s 2003 and a childhood friend is stationed at Fort Bragg, in North Carolina—which will be renamed Fort Liberty in 2023—where she’s in the 82nd Airborne Division. She is done jumping out of planes for the day, heading off the base, when she hears meowing coming from a warehouse. Inside, she finds a stray cat, proud but mangy, and decides to take her home. The cat is pregnant. My friend e-mails me a photograph of the kittens, arranged on her lap, one surfing on her kneecap. She writes, “Don’t these remind you of your cats growing up?” She knows a target when she sees one.

A few weeks later, the kittens are loaded onto the back seat of a Jeep and driven north. Two are dropped off at my parents’ house, in White Plains, and one is dropped off with me at my studio apartment, on the Upper West Side. The family joke is that these are military-grade cats. Your tax dollars at work. No laser eyes, but they do fetch and come when you call them, and, if they puke, they do so on nonporous surfaces. Twenty-one years later, mine is the last one standing. Personally, I think there’s a lesson here about nurture, but I keep this thought to myself.

Since this story will continue, perhaps I should build up an immunity within a certain type of reader: Cat cat cat cat cat cat cat cat cat cat cat cat cat cat. Cat. There. Now we can get on with it.

The cat is very sick, so a veterinarian whom I have never met is coming over to kill her. She arrives at 10 A.M. , which feels wrong. Murders and breakups, these are not interactions for God’s hours. On the phone the afternoon before, she tells me of her pastoral childhood in New Zealand. Her mother once put a cat down by feeding it Valium.

“Like, a local cat?”

“No, our cat. So, very local.”

This conversation happens in my living room because it feels disrespectful to conduct it in the bedroom, where the cat is resting on her spot, near the pillows. When we hang up, I walk over to the doorframe and lean on it. The cat lifts her head. She’s a gray tabby, but her shock-white belly has been my first sight in the morning for much of my adult life. After she’s gone, I will place wide objects on my nightstand to obstruct the view of the room when I open my eyes. Her emerald eyes, rimmed in black, are narrowed. Gummy. Surely, she is thinking nothing, except for: I feel like shit. She stretches her paws, which are commonly referred to as “snowcapped,” but our private joke is that I hold a paw between my fingers and say, “Ice-cream sandwich.” They’re all private jokes. It’s a cat.

“That was your executioner,” I tell her, although she does not understand English.

Though she did once type a perfect word while strolling across my keyboard: “poop.”

The vet has arrived at a highly controlled household. The apartment is ready for guests, or perhaps a proposal. There are roses in vases, cellophane still mashed in the trash. There are candles. There is a bundle of sage just in case some things are valid. There is my boyfriend, pressed against a wall in anticipatory horror. He has known the cat for three years, which is not nothing, but it’s also not as if I introduced them and now they hang out without me. On the floor is a hatbox from a hat shop in London. The hat, an expensive wool cloche that wound up costing me forty dollars per wear, has been removed. The box will serve as the cat’s final transport. Her blanket, her closest colleague, the one with all the institutional knowledge, is nested inside, along with a handwritten letter.

This part will be familiar to anyone who has had to put an animal down: It’s been six days since my initial correspondence with her regular vet, during which I fell on the sword of my own hysteria. A skipped meal—it’s probably nothing! Still, blood was taken. The results have not come back yet. I am now seventy-two hours into my career as a personal chef: warming, mixing, shaking, diluting, pinching, drizzling, sprinkling. I treat the bodega like a farmer’s market, making jaunts to buy cans of processed junk. The cat did this at eighteen (cancer) and thirteen (arbitrary rejection of dry food). So this worry, this belligerent kind of love, knows its way around. She will hear no explanations, be asked no questions. With babies, there’s a good chance of their speaking by twenty-one. Poop .

Cats are notoriously secretive when something is wrong. The something at hand is often a puzzle. Dogs are more apt to tell it straight: a failure of the heart, a tumor in the brain. Dogs gossip; cats know where the bodies are buried. Dogs are standup comedians. Cats are essayists. Should we decide this animal has been fatally ill for three weeks, not six days, we’re still talking about a mere fraction of her life. I once had lunch with a mohel, and when I suggested that circumcision was mutilation, to my surprise he agreed. He also told me that the day of the bris was meant to be a microcosm of a man’s life. A few moments of pain in twenty-four hours? May we all have such a life! I have been digging into his words: May we all have such a life!

The other conversation to which I cling is more recent. A college friend, now a vet, predicted what would happen. “You will make the decision to euthanize her and then, in between, there will be something positive,” he said. “The cat will purr or eat a bite of food and you will think you’re making a mistake. It will be bad. You are not making a mistake.”

It wasn’t food, it was a lick of cream, and it wasn’t bad, it was wretched. Even now, I can feel the pressure in my throat, the difficulty swallowing as I paced during those ethically fraught hours, holding my phone because where was the goddam blood work I could have stabbed the cat in the leg and bought a centrifuge by now. Watching this creature fumble in and out of a litter box, I could not come to a conclusion about what it meant. I don’t mean to suggest that I was stymied by emotion; I mean that I had lost the ability to apply opinion to evidence. I thought, Is this not my job as a writer? To see something and say something? Or am I only good for diatribes about airplane etiquette and cheese?

The phone vibrates: It’s her kidneys.

Hearing is thought to be the last sense to go in death. This is likely true of animals as well as humans. I keep it together for her, expressing my gratitude for all those years of witnessing. In the previous days, she leaned on my forearm while a breeze blew through the window, and I told her the story of us. I described the apartments we’d lived in, the men I’d dated, the time I came home drunk and turned the dead bolt to lock the door, but it wasn’t aligned and the door sprang open without my noticing. I woke the next morning to what sounded like my neighbor, calling my name from my kitchen. Because he was in my kitchen. That’s when I heard a distant howling and flew down five flights to find the cat huddled by the mailboxes. On the way back up to safety, another neighbor, a grouchy one, popped her head into the hall.

“Is that a cat?!”

No, it’s a bag of waffles I taught to meow.

So many dramas! Let us not speak of all the questionable modes of rousing—the flops on the head, the whacks to the face, the pointed release of noxious fumes. The supercut of missed jumps. The time I smacked her on the nose. (If this was some new trend in petting, she wasn’t a fan.) The time we saw a mouse and she looked at me like, “You gonna do something about that?” Or the time, during the cancer, when I boasted to a vet that my cousin’s cat had lived to be twenty-four. To which the vet replied, “You do realize there’s no genetic correlation between that cat and this cat.”

It’s all in the past, this life with her as the common denominator. Contrary to the popular idea that she is something I keep, she is the keeper, the database. Pet owners are shamed by the implication that we lack perspective, by the manufactured dichotomy whereby adults of legal age must choose which being they’d drop-kick off a cliff, a child or a pet. First of all, do you know how many people I know who’d answer “Both”? Six. Second of all, this weapon has no effect on pet owners. We need only glance at our creatures to feel sorry for those who don’t understand. When we put a leash on the videos, when we prevent ourselves from extolling the virtues of our pets in public, it’s not out of dignity. It’s out of fear that we’ll sell them too hard and someone will kidnap them.

But there is shame. It comes at the end and springs from the suspicion that, in being so greedy for unconditional love, we have made an awful mistake. We have recorded our lives on devices that will run out of power instead of paying proper attention ourselves. We outsourced too many of our quiet days. We also trusted that our pets knew who we were even when we weren’t so sure. And, if what they knew was “asshole,” they never let on.

I tell the cat that she can go. As if she needs my permission. Once the vet confirms it’s my breath that’s moving her on my lap, new orifices sprout on my face. How else to explain the sheer volume of wetness? This is the last chapter of the book. I signed up for this. Well, sort of. I did not adopt a cat. She fell into my lap. And now she has fallen back out. Gingerly, I move her into the hatbox, sweeping her tail around her. I stroke her legs. Sometimes, when I held her, I’d lightly bounce and rotate my body, a process known within the confines of the apartment as “machine-gun legs.”

The vet speaks in low tones. Her accent is soothing, maybe because I don’t hear it much. My sister, who’s had Crohn’s disease since high school, recently sent me off to my first colonoscopy with this sage advice: Whatever you drink with the medication, make sure it’s not your favorite, because you’ll never be able to swallow it again. I haven’t had to speak with another person from New Zealand yet.

The vet holds up a carrot-shaped catnip toy, softened by beatings. I can’t compute how it got into her hand or what she’s going to do with it. Knowing a separation was imminent, I threw out the cat’s accessories before the vet arrived. I must have missed the carrot.

“Do you want to put this in?”

“What?” I ask, sniffling.

“It looks well loved,” the vet says, admiring this piece of crap. “Do you want to put it in?”

The snobbery is clarifying. It comes from deep inside and pushes my personality out from the cave where it’s been hiding.

“It’s a toy,” I say.

The snobbery is also maladjusted.

“I mean, I wouldn’t put a boxed set of ‘The Wire’ in your coffin.”

Comedy is tragedy plus time. That’s the rule. But you don’t have to add time if you don’t have any. I start telling the carrot story as soon as that evening. I am not sleeping. (I make attempts with my head at the foot of the bed.) I speak to maybe two people a day, and even those people are subjected to the bit: Like, what kind of show do you think I’m running here, lady ? This is a classy affair! Is it? Or am I making it classless by calcifying it before its time? Stories can be bad habits. I use this one to deflect condolences. I am not great with them regarding human beings, so these ones are extra indigestible, tinged with pity. It’s ludicrous to expect anyone to miss a cat independent of the affection they feel for its owner, to recognize that this was not a cat but a person in a cat suit, to agree that the gap between what any cat would do and what your cat does is actually quite vast. If more than five people outside your household miss your cat, it wasn’t a household, it was a brothel. So I don’t want to talk about it. The problem is, I don’t want to talk about anything else.

Sometimes I add a bonus layer to the story, tossing in the coincidence that I put the cat down one day before her annual insurance policy renewed and the same week the company announced that, after forty-two years, it would cease offering many of its pet-insurance plans. What a gal. For all I know, the cat’s euthanasia claim is the last one the company paid out, especially since I had to submit the paperwork twice. The first time, “the invoice did not specify the name of the pet for which services were rendered.” I checked. I hadn’t left the box blank. I had put my name down instead.

In reality, the vet and I get along well. We move quickly past the coffin zinger. She offers to take a plaster paw-print mold but suspects I might not want that.

“What do people do with them?”

“I don’t know,” she says, as if she’s never given it any thought, which she probably hasn’t. “Keep it in their desk drawer? Maybe ornaments.”

To each her own. During the call with my college friend, he told me about the time an owner dropped off her cat for surgery and explained that the cat slept between her legs. So could he please put a pair of her underwear in the cage? The owner then produced a thong in a plastic bag, slapping it on the counter before she left. My reaction upon hearing this story was not that it was unreasonable. My reaction was that it was unreasonable that she didn’t stay. But a plaster paw print? I don’t think so.

I ask the vet to clip the cat’s two longest whiskers. Cats use their whiskers for balance and to know where they fit. I want a piece of her, but not in the fashion of one of our jokes, in which I hold her leg and say, “Rabbit’s foot.” The vet’s arms are full, so I open the door for her. I walk back into the torturously empty space of my apartment while my boyfriend waits in the hall. I put the whiskers in a box and touch the furniture that I have kept for too long. The walls look different. I curl up with my head on her spot until I feel only my own warmth.

I keep adding jokes to my repertoire: The only thing keeping me from burning down my apartment is I’m not a hundred per cent sure where to buy a can of gasoline. One night, I stay with a fancy friend who has a guest bedroom. Her espresso machine looks complicated. The four-dollar charge on my credit-card bill, from a coffee shop near her place, is one of many traces of a bad week. I hire a housecleaner who shows up in a baseball cap that reads “Wifey” in pink script. She surveys the situation and sighs.

“So dirty,” Wifey says, shaking her head at the floorboards.

It’s like a doctor telling you you’re overweight.

“When was the last time you had it cleaned?”

I raise an eyebrow. She doesn’t want to know, I don’t want to say.

“Years,” Wifey mumbles. “Ground in.”

Indeed, the years are ground in. Now whom will I ask, as I frantically lift piles of paper, “What did you do with my keys?” My “boss,” as my boyfriend calls her, never permitted me to close my bedroom door, and so it remains open. Getting into bed at night, I pat the mattress, though I know she won’t come. Yes, it’s all very sad. But how many stories does one get where one can say one did everything right?

A gift in life can be a problem in storytelling, especially when the story is about a pet. This is why I keep adding jokes. For texture. I’m trying to take my own advice. When I teach, I encourage students to find the second story. Tear up the floorboards of the first story and see what treasure lies beneath. This part they already know. They were not born yesterday, an administrative impossibility. But another tactic is to imagine the first story searching for its mate, for a wall off which to bounce. Fear not the unlikely clash. I’ve read solid essays that weave together, say, diabetes and tree bark. This second story will bring forth the larger story. It’s why people tell cat owners, “You want the first cat to be happy? Get a second cat.”

But I did not get a second cat. I got one cat.

There’s a way to view these additional stories as a premature apology. As if to say: A single strain of your life has no inherent value, but perhaps you could persuade people with two. Part of this is because the more we analyze a topic like pets, the more we fawn or protest, the less trustworthy we seem as thinkers. A cat essay? In this economy?

Just this once, I want to tell the story as a dog would. To tell it straight, for her. To make her the only story. Maybe I can leave the jokes in the grass, swim naked in the pool of a hard sell. Your pet dies; it feels like a secret you’ve been keeping might die with her. It feels serious. Who will know everything now? Who has the keys?

Lately, I have been trying to claw some of her back, piecing together a sensory collage. This can’t be healthy. Most people in my position avoid it. I have a half-dozen recordings of her purr. They are labelled “purr” for my own edification or “I live with a large hairy dove” for someone else’s. Whether I knew it or not, I have been preparing, taking note of the faint snapping sound of her blinking, the weight of her head in my palm, the fur that lifted and collapsed with each stroke as she plastered herself to my lap, the height of her back so I could remember where my hand used to rest after she vanished. I have no idea what her story was about me in return. But she knew she was safe. She knew her name. ♦

New Yorker Favorites

As he rose in politics, Robert Moses discovered that decisions about New York City’s future would not be based on democracy .

The Muslim tamale king of the Old West .

Wendy Wasserstein on the baby who arrived too soon .

An Oscar-winning filmmaker takes on the Church of Scientology .

The young stowaways thrown overboard at sea .

Fiction by Jhumpa Lahiri: “ A Temporary Matter .”

Sign up for our daily newsletter to receive the best stories from The New Yorker .

Bangladesh’s Leader Resigns and Flees Country After Protests

The country’s army chief said an interim government would be formed, as demonstrators successfully challenged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s harsh rule.

• Share full article
• Protesters storm and loot the official residence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. By Reuters
• Protesters display Bangladesh's national flag atop the prime minister's palace in Dhaka. K M Asad/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
• Protesters damage a statue of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's father outside Parliament. Reuters
• Protesters inside the prime minister's palace in Dhaka. K M Asad/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
• People greet soldiers in Dhaka. The army will oversee the formation of an interim government. Saif Hasnat for The New York Times
• People shake hands with soldiers in Dhaka after the prime minister's resignation. Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters
• Protesters march through the streets of Dhaka toward the prime minister's official residence. Reuters
• Protesters outside Parliament. Munir Uz Zaman/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
• Protesters cheer as they climb atop a monument in Dhaka. Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters
• A burned truck in Dhaka. Monirul Alam/EPA, via Shutterstock
• Celebrating the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Rajib Dhar/Associated Press
• Security forces at an intersection in Dhaka before the prime minister's resignation. Munir Uz Zaman/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
• Security forces blocking traffic and standing guard. By Reuters

Saif Hasnat Mujib Mashal and Matthew Mpoke Bigg

The resignation came after a violent day of protests that left almost 100 dead.

Jubilant crowds thronged the streets of Bangladesh’s capital on Monday after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country. The army chief said in a statement to the nation that the army would oversee the formation of an interim government.

Ms. Hasina, 76, had ruled Bangladesh since 2009. She was forced out by weeks of protests that began peacefully and then transformed into deadly clashes with security forces. She was spotted at the airport in the capital, Dhaka, but hours after her resignation, her exact location was not clear.

The student-led protests grew into a broader movement seeking the removal of Ms. Hasina, who was seen as an increasingly authoritarian leader. On Sunday, the deadliest day of the protests, almost 100 people were reported killed in clashes between security forces and demonstrators across Bangladesh.

Ms. Hasina, one of the world’s longest-ruling female leaders, had blamed the violence on her political opponents and called for “resisting anarchists with iron hands.”

Here’s what to know:

Ms. Hasina played a pivotal role in the politics of Bangladesh, a nation of around 170 million people that proclaimed its independence in 1971. She won re-election to a fourth consecutive term in January. She is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s charismatic founding leader, who was killed in a military coup in 1975, when Ms. Hasina was 28. She served as prime minister from 1996 to 2001 and regained power in 2009.

Under her leadership, the economy, helped by investment in the garment export industry, grew quickly, and average income levels at one point surpassed those in neighboring India. Bangladesh also experienced rapid development in education, health, female participation in the labor force and preparedness against climate disasters, including flooding — a national priority in a delta nation .

But her critics said that she tried to turn the country into a one-party state, and the protests that began last month reflected broader discontent against her rule.

Eve Sampson

Crowds swarm the prime minister’s residence after Bangladesh's leader flees.

Exuberant looters made off with furniture, bedding and potted plants as they swarmed the Bangladesh residence of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, after she resigned her office and fled the country, according to local broadcast footage.

People scaled the residence’s black gates, the videos showed, throwing items against walls inside, bashing portraits and helping themselves to a spread of food in catering dishes.

The footage showed many people with hands and fists raised in celebration and some jumping for joy on the street. Many in the crowd appeared to be filming the event on their own cellphones.

Social media posts and live television footage also showed people taking animals from the residence, including chickens, ducks and rabbits, and some people posing with the animals.

Monsur Ali, a garment worker, said he was among the thousands of people who entered the prime minister’s residence, many of them taking away objects. He grabbed a plate.

“We went there out of anger,” he said. “Nothing is left there.”

Ms. Hasina, 76, was driven out of office by weeks of protests — initially about coveted government jobs and who is entitled to them — that began without conflict but turned deadly when government security forces cracked down. Nearly 300 people are reported to have died in those clashes.

Many in the country also oppose Ms. Hasina’s increasing authoritarianism after 15 years in power.

The country’s army chief confirmed Ms. Hasina’s resignation in a statement to the nation and said an interim government would be formed.

Matthew Mpoke Bigg

Protesters defied the risk of fresh violence to drive Hasina from power.

Hours after almost 100 people were reported killed on Sunday in clashes between security forces and demonstrators across Bangladesh, the protest leaders made a decision that may have been pivotal in the downfall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

They had planned to hold a mass march to Ms. Hasina’s official residence, known as the Ganabhaban, on Tuesday. But responding to Sunday’s violence, they moved up their march by a day to increase the pressure on Ms. Hasina, whose resignation they were now demanding.

Ms. Hasina had ruled for years through fear. But the protests had swelled to such large numbers, persisting even after days of deadly crackdown, that the demonstrators’ fear of Ms. Hasina did not keep them off the streets. Instead of backing down in the face of a new curfew and other restrictions, the protesters planned a march that would take them straight back into the maw of the security forces.

Their determination carried the risk of another blood bath. What followed instead, from the perspective of the protesters, was victory. Ms. Hasina fled in a helicopter, a crowd stormed her residence and the army announced that, after more than 15 years in power, she had resigned.

In the aftermath, tens of thousands of people, many shaking their fists in celebration, marched through the center of the capital, Dhaka, and what had been shaping up to be another day of street battles turned into a street party.

That atmosphere of jubilation may be short-lived, however. Bangladesh’s politics have long been violent, and the animosities between Ms. Hasina’s party and the opposition are unlikely to fade soon. Before Bangladesh settles into its next chapter, revenge for years of harsh suppression under Ms. Hasina will be on the minds of many.

Mujib Mashal

How the prime minister’s crackdown weakened her grip on power.

For those watching from outside, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh presented a compelling story. She was among the world’s longest-serving female heads of government, a secular Muslim in colorful saris who fought Islamist militancy, lifted millions out of poverty and deftly kept both India and China at her side.

But this seeming success came at a heavy cost. Over the past 15 years, Ms. Hasina deeply entrenched her authority and divided the nation. Those who kissed the ring were rewarded with patronage, power and impunity. Dissenters were met with crackdowns, endless legal entanglement and imprisonment.

The sustained protests that convulsed Bangladesh in recent weeks were a backlash against Ms. Hasina’s formula for power: absolute, disconnected and entitled. She cracked down hard, and the resulting challenge to her rule was a crisis largely of her own making, analysts said. The student-led protests started as a peaceful expression of opposition to quotas that reserve sought-after government jobs for specific groups. The violent response by government security forces and vigilantes from Ms. Hasina’s party sent the country to the verge of anarchy.

Ms. Hasina, 76, deployed every force at her service onto the streets, including a feared paramilitary unit whose leaders have in the past faced international sanctions over accusations of torture, extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances.

Saif Hasnat

Monsur Ali, a garment worker, said he was among the thousands of people who entered the prime minister’s residence, many of them taking objects away with them. He grabbed a plate.

People were pouring into the streets across Dhaka late into the afternoon, and the mood was jubilant. Some came with their families, others beat drums and booed Hasina. “It is the victory of the students, the victory of the people. After a long time, we are happy to be out of a dictatorial regime,” said Towfiqur Rahman, who said he was preparing for an entrance exam for a government job. “You can suppress anger for a while, but it erupts — today is proof of that.”

Hours after her resignation, Hasina’s exact whereabouts was not clear. Diplomatic officials said she was possibly on her way to London, transiting through India. The former prime minister has family both in Britain, where her sister and her family live, and the United States, where her son lives.

Hasina’s resignation and departure from Bangladesh after 15 years at the helm does not necessarily mean easy days ahead for a deeply troubled nation. She has long crushed her political opposition and put many of its leaders in prison, so they will be relieved to see her go. But the process of agreeing on an interim government could be bumpy. Interparty animosity and anger is widespread and deep-rooted, even at the local level.

Shayeza Walid

Wild with glee over news of Hasina’s departure, protesters who had stormed her official residence caused pandemonium within. Social media posts and live TV footage showed people removing furniture, bedding, potted plants — and even pets. Demonstrators posed for pictures with the prime minister’s menagerie, including chickens, ducks and rabbits.

Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman said the army would request the formation of an interim government. The army chief said he had consulted with representatives of the country’s political parties and civil society before his statement.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh has resigned, the country’s army chief confirmed in a statement to the nation. He said an interim government would be formed.

Andrés R. Martínez

After nearly a day without access to the internet in Bangladesh, connectivity appears to have been mostly restored, according to NetBlocks , an internet watchdog.

ℹ️ Update: Internet connectivity remains available in #Bangladesh amid reports Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has fled the country, bringing an end to her combined total of 20 years in power; hundreds of killings at student protests were masked by telecoms blackouts in recent weeks https://t.co/0SkwO2q6uR — NetBlocks (@netblocks) August 5, 2024

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been spotted at an airport in Dhaka awaiting departure, diplomatic officials said. The army chief has said a statement was coming soon, fueling speculation that her time in office might be over.

Large numbers of protesters have entered the official residence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, footage on local television channels shows. She appears to be on her way out of the country, with diplomatic sources saying she has been spotted at an airport in Dhaka.

Mujib Mashal and Shayeza Walid

As the unrest intensifies, all eyes are on Bangladesh’s army.

With Bangladesh’s security forces seemingly on a deadly collision course with angry protesters after a crackdown on Sunday, eyes were turning to the country’s powerful military establishment to see how it might respond.

Protesters are demanding that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leave office, after 15 years of rule that have turned increasingly authoritarian. If the violence on the street leads to instability and chaos, the military — which has sought to distance itself from the violent police reaction through weeks of unrest — would certainly be a central player.

It has been before. Bangladesh’s army has a history of staging coups and counter coups. But over the past couple decades, the military has taken a less overt role in public affairs, choosing more often to exercise influence from behind the scenes.

Part of that shift has been attributed to Ms. Hasina. Her father, Bangladesh’s first leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as well as much of her family, was killed in a deadly military coup in 1975. In her time in office, she has stacked its leadership ranks with loyalists, and allowed them access to lucrative government contracts and other businesses.

There are international incentives for the military, as well, which has been a major contributor to United Nations peacekeeping missions that have given it another important side business. Any involvement in a coup would subject the army to criticism — or ostracism — from the United Nations, whose human rights chief responded to the recent killings by calling for restraint and accountability from those with “command responsibility.”

While the army was deployed on the streets during the crackdown to clear the protesters late last month, there have been reports of discomfort in the ranks over it. Dozens of former senior officers also issued a statement calling on the military not “to rescue those who have created this current situation” — a statement seen by some as referring to the police and paramilitaries, and possibly even to Sheikh Hasina herself.

On Sunday, the army’s chief, Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman, gathered senior officers for a meeting that was seen as an attempt to allay concerns. In a statement after the meeting, the army said its chief had reiterated that “the Bangladesh Army will always stand by the people in the interest of the public and in any need of the state.”

If Ms. Hasina’s power becomes untenable, analysts said the army would be unlikely to opt for a takeover. It might, though, try to aid some transition period from the sidelines with a caretaker government — something that happened in 2007.

“There are major international ramifications to a military coup. And more than leaders it is the younger officers who are hesitant to go ahead with anything of the sort,” said M. N. Khan, a retired general of the Bangladeshi Army.

Television channels in Bangladesh are showing live footage of crowds of thousands of people streaming toward the city center. The earlier police blockades stopping them appear to have been lifted.

Restrictions on the internet appear to be easing. The address by the army chief has been pushed back by an hour, with the army asking for “patience” until 3 p.m. local time.

Clashes have been reported in different parts of Dhaka, as thousands of people try to push through security barricades to make it to Shaheed Minar — the gathering point for the protests. At least six people have been killed in the clashes today, according to police officials.

Local television channels in Bangladesh are reporting that the country’s army chief, Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman, will address the nation in the next hour. The contents of his address remain unclear, and information flow remains heavily restricted by the communication blackout.

By noon, protesters who had set off for Dhaka were being blocked from entering the city center. There is a heavy deployment of security forces at all the intersections leading to Shaheed Minar, the gathering point for the protesters. Witnesses said the police had used force to try to disperse the hundreds of protesters who had managed to make it to the spot.

The streets of Dhaka were quiet this morning, with garment factories, the largest driver of Bangladesh’s economy, closed in Mirpur, one of the busiest neighborhoods. The intersections leading to the Shaheed Minar, where protesters are supposed to gather before their declared march on the prime minister’s residence, were blocked by the police, army and paramilitary forces.

The government appeared to heavily limit internet connectivity on Monday, a move that it used last month as protests grew. The latest blackout started on Sunday, according to NetBlocks, an internet watchdog.

Sunday's violence prompted the U.N. human rights chief to make a pointed statement. Volker Türk warned that Monday's march, and the ruling party's call for counter-action from its youth wing, could lead to further loss of life. He singled out those "with superior and command responsibility" in his call for accountability for the “shocking violence.”

The crackdown has brought the country into a particularly dangerous phase, as the protest and anger is no longer concentrated in one area. The clashes have spread across the country, making them difficult to contain. The growing clashes have fueled concerns of a return to past periods of political violence, that have included assassinations, coups and counter-coups.

It is setting up to be a tense day in Bangladesh. This march on the residence of the prime minister was initially planned for Tuesday. But protest leaders have moved it forward a day in anger over the deaths of nearly 100 people on Sunday, the deadliest day since the protests began last month.

Saif Hasnat and Mujib Mashal

Saif Hasnat reported from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Mujib Mashal from New Delhi

The government’s lethal response brings new risks.

Almost 100 people were reported killed in clashes between security forces and protesters on Sunday across Bangladesh, as the country’s leaders imposed a new curfew and internet restrictions to try to quell a growing antigovernment movement.

The revival of student protests after a deadly government crackdown late last month, as well as a call by the governing party for its own supporters to take to the streets, has plunged the country of over 170 million into a particularly dangerous phase.

The exact number of deaths on Sunday was unclear, but it appeared to be the deadliest day since the protests began in July. At least 13 of the dead were police officers, the country’s Police Headquarters said in a statement.

Over the weekend, the tensions flared into the kind of localized clashes across the country that appeared difficult to contain. With the public already angry at the police forces, seeing them as an overzealous extension of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s entrenched authority, attention focused on Bangladesh’s powerful military.

Ms. Hasina has worked to bring the military to heel. But it has a history of staging coups and was being watched for how it positions itself in the escalating crisis.

Here’s what we know about the deadly crackdown on Sunday .

Shayeza Walid contributed reporting from Dhaka.

Saif Hasnat and Andrés R. Martínez

Saif Hasnat reported from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

What we know about the ouster of the prime minister.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh resigned on Monday as protests that began as peaceful demonstrations by students grew into a broader movement calling for an end to her increasingly authoritarian leadership of the nation.

Ms. Hasina deployed the police and paramilitary forces against the students late last month, a crackdown that set off broader public anger against her. The protests became increasingly violent as more students as well as other citizens joined, clashing with pro-government supporters and the authorities.

More than 300 people have been killed. After a curfew and communication blackout eased, the revival of the protests over the weekend, in addition to a call by Ms. Hasina’s party for its own supporters to take to the streets, plunged Bangladesh into a particularly dangerous phase.

On Monday, the army chief announced the resignation and said an interim government would be formed.

Here’s what to know about the protests.

What were the protests about?

Students at the University of Dhaka, the country’s top institution, started the demonstrations on July 1, and they later spread to other elite universities, and then to the general public. The protests turned violent when some members of student wing of the governing party, the Awami League, began attacking the protesters.

Besides sending the police and paramilitaries into the streets, the government locked down schools and colleges. Officials said they slowed down internet connectivity to stop the spread of rumors and protect citizens, making it harder for protesters to organize and make plans via social media platforms.

The protests were initially about coveted government jobs and who is entitled to them. An old quota system, reinstated recently by the courts, reserves more than half of those jobs for various groups, including the families of those who fought for independence from Pakistan. The students said that the system is unfair and that most of the positions should be filled based on merit.

In the past couple of weeks, however, the movement grew massively and become centered on calling for accountability for Ms. Hasina’s increasingly harsh governance.

How did the protests evolve?

The crackdown in late July, which saw over 200 people killed and 10,000 arrested, temporarily dispersed the protesters. However, the large number of deaths also fueled protesters’ anger.

Over the weekend, the tensions spread away from protests and into clashes across the country that appeared difficult to contain. On Saturday at a rally of tens of thousands, protesters called for the resignation of Ms. Hasina, who has been in power for the past 15 years.

In response, Ms. Hasina’s Awami League party called on its supporters to join counter protests, and she asked the country’s people “to curb anarchists with iron hands.”

The threat emboldened protesters, who called for a march on her residence in central Dhaka on Monday. The government once again imposed a curfew, effectively shutting the country down.

By midafternoon Monday in Dhaka, what appeared to be conditions for another deadly day of protests had eased. Police officers let protesters cross barricades into the center of the city, and the army said they would make a statement.

Shortly after, the army chief announced that Ms. Hasina had left the country.

What will happen to Bangladesh after her ouster?

Ms. Hasina was among the world’s longest-serving female heads of government, a secular Muslim who fought Islamic militancy, helped lift millions out of poverty and deftly kept both India and China at her side.

Over the past 15 years, Ms. Hasina entrenched her authority and divided Bangladesh, a nation of 170 million people. Those who were loyal were rewarded with patronage, power and impunity. Dissenters were met with crackdowns, endless legal entanglement and imprisonment.

The army has asked the president, who holds a ceremonial role, to form a new government. Bangladesh’s army has a history of staging coups and counter coups. But over the past couple decades, the military has taken a less overt role in public affairs, choosing more often to exercise influence from behind the scenes.

Advertisement