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My blog posts rarely ever make the ideal 250 word count mark.
I read somewhere that the perfect blog contains just that amount for readability and the average attention span.
I try, really I do, but my posts seem to hover around 320 words no matter how I shave and trim. When editing, I habitually wince before checking out the word count total at the end of the page. I slowly drag the scroller thing and catch a glimpse at just how off the mark I am. Oops, failed again.
So, I can relate to all those teens trying to squeeze meaning out of every word so their essay meets the new 500 word upper limit for the Common Application, as reported in the NY Times .
What would you write about in under 500 words that would get you into college? Really, think about it.
What experience would you share that would set you apart from the crowd? What would you say that would deliver just the right amount of punch and pizzazz? They have a daunting assignment.
We held a program for our students on how to navigate through the college application process. The college consultant recommended that they not write about the obvious: trips to exotic locations, family drama, emotional trips to Israel, or Jewish camping stories. That gives you a clue as to how competitive topic choices have gotten.
My undergraduate college essays were not that inspired. I think I wrote about why I wanted to attend that school. What I really did was to purposefully pore over enough promotional material so I could figure out how to tell them what they just told me, only more convincingly.
That seems quite lame when I compare it to the essays students have shared with me. Most have amazing and life changing stories to tell.
So, what would you write about?
Me? I’m glad I’m just posting and not putting my future on the line every time I hit ‘publish’.
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