500 word college essay

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How to Write a Great 500 Word Essay

David Feb 14, 2018

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During your scholarship applications, you may need to submit a 500-word essay answering a specific question. The theme of the essay can range from personal achievements to political controversies. This means you can adjust your writing style to fit the message of the prompt. This guide will explain how to write a 500-word scholarship essay. We will also provide an example for inspiration.

How to Format a 500-Word Scholarship Essay

The format of a 500-word scholarship essay is similar to a shorter essay. Each paragraph is about 75-125 words, and it consists of 3-5 well-written sentences. If you are writing a story or personal anecdote, the formatting can be more like a novel than a news article.

The main components of a 500-word essay include:

Introduction paragraph that engages the reader and establishes the thesis. The thesis may be a question that you will later answer in the essay content, or it can be a statement that you support in the body paragraphs. If you are writing a story, your “thesis” may not be as apparent.

4-6 body paragraphs that provide evidence to back up your thesis. Each paragraph should be a cohesive element with an intro and conclusion. The body paragraphs should flow well from one point to the next.

A conclusion paragraph that reminds the reader of the thesis and highlights key points from the body text. The conclusion should answer the question or complete the statement made in the introduction. It should give the reader a sense of closure and resolution

500-word essays do not have to be exactly 500 words, but they should be as close as possible. The essay prompt may say “in under 500 words” or “in at least 500 words,” which would state whether 500 is the minimum or maximum word count. If that information is not specified, write as much as you need to comprehensively address the prompt without frivolous content.

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500-Word Essay vs. 250-Word Essay

500-word scholarship essays offer more writing flexibility than 250-word essays . With a shorter word count, you are often forced to summarize long-winded thoughts into quick to-the-point snippets. 500 words give you more room to express your opinion. Yet, it is still short enough that it does not need footnotes and cited resources, usually.

500-Word Essay vs. 1000+ Word Essay

Another scholarship essay length you may encounter is 1,000 words. With a 1,000-word scholarship essay, you will need to cite sources and provide detailed references to support your claims. 1,000+ word essay prompts are often used for writing competitions, where you may be asked to create a fictional story. The extra length gives room for extra creativity, but it also requires more time to put the perfect piece together.

You should approach all essays with the same mentality, regardless of their length. Your goal is to compose a piece that clearly guides the reader through your thoughts and reasoning. You may have to adjust how you convey those thoughts based on the length. Your essay should always have a beginning, middle, and end.

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A Step-by-Step 500-Word Essay Example

To help you see how to write a 500-word scholarship essay, we want to show you each section of the essay step-by-step. Use this as a general guide when you write your essay. However, feel free to add your own spin to it. Our writing sample will be in green, and the commentary will be in plain text. So…let’s begin!

TOPIC: Should cell phone usage be controlled in college classrooms?

Step 1 – Create a Thesis

Everything in your essay revolves around your thesis. This is the big point you are trying to make, which is usually an answer to a question in the essay prompt. You will use the rest of the essay to support this thesis.

For the topic Should cell phone usage be controlled in college classrooms? our thesis will be:

“Cell phone usage should be controlled in college classrooms, as long as it does not hinder students’ rights.”

Step 2 – Write the Introduction

The introduction should grab your reader’s attention and prepare for an explanation of the thesis. It usually starts with a general statement related to the topic at hand, followed by supplementary sentences that lead into the thesis. Here is a sample introduction for our essay, including the thesis at the end of the paragraph:

Cell phones have gone from a sought-after luxury to a daily necessity. While these devices provide convenient access to the outside world, they can be problematic for educators. High school teachers can tell children in their classes to put their phones away, but should professors have the same control over adult men and women? The key is to create cell phone usage policies that limit distractions without hindering student rights.

Word count: an Intro paragraph, 70 words.

Step 3 – Write the Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs should provide support for the thesis. Why do you think this way, and what evidence do you have to support those beliefs? The paragraphs should flow from one to the next like a constant stream of thought. Each paragraph should conclude the statement made at the beginning of the paragraph.

Building on the thesis “Cell phone usage should be controlled in college classrooms, as long as it does not hinder students’ rights,” we will now explain how colleges can control cell phones in class while preserving student rights. If our thesis was that cell phones should NOT be controlled in college, we would explain the dangers of not having access to cell phones.

No matter which side of the argument you choose, you should acknowledge the other angle and negate those statements. As you will see below, we remark on why some students may not want cell phone usage policies. We will also suggest how to get around those concerns. Doing this provides the best possible support for your thesis because it shows you have taken every angle into consideration.

Here is the body for our 500-word essay sample:

The primary argument supporting cell phone control in the classroom is the fact that phones can be distracting. Not only do cell phones distract instructors, but they may also distract students trying to pay attention to the lecture. This is the same effect as a moviegoer looking at his phone in a theater. Even if the phone makes no noise, the light from the screen is enough to catch someone’s attention. Arguments against cell phone control typically focus on safety concerns. Should a crisis occurs in the classroom, students should have their phones on hand to make a call. If a student has a child, he or she may need a phone in case of a medical emergency. If the student is on call for work, he or she will need access to a phone. The list of exception-worthy scenarios is endless. The best solution is to create cell phone usage rules that allow devices to be accessible without disturbing other students’ educational opportunities. Students should be permitted to keep their phones in their bags, pockets, or other belongings as long as the phones are on silent in class. Vibrate settings may be permitted if the instructor does not believe it will distract him or her, since the noise of the vibration may not be noticeable in a large classroom. If a student needs to answer the phone during an emergency, he or she can step out of the classroom to do so. This setup would give the students and the instructor peace of mind. Cell phone restrictions in classrooms should also include specific disciplinary actions for breaking the rules. If a student is caught using the phone in class, he or she should be excused for the rest of the day. Professors should refrain from physically taking possession of a student’s phone because of liability conflicts. If the phone is damaged while in the professor’s possession, the school or the instructor could be held responsible for the repairs. It is safer to ask the student to leave the classroom than it is to take the phone away completely.

Word count: Body paragraphs, 349 words. Total essay is now 419 words.

Step 4 – Wrap It up with a Conclusion

Once you have covered all your points, you should summarize the essay’s contents in the conclusion. This is your last opportunity to convince the reader of your thesis. Touch on the most important aspects of your essay then leave the reader with something to think about. Here is an example of how to conclude our essay:

Each school, professor and student body is different. Colleges must adapt their rules and discipline efforts to reflect the current needs of their students. Eliminating cell phones in college classrooms is an overstretch, but there are ways to balance students’ rights and instructors’ rights. With the right amount of control and flexibility, colleges can create a pleasant learning environment with maximum safety and minimal interruptions.

Notice how our conclusion was definitive but optimistic. We explain that colleges need to adapt their rules to fit the needs of their students. Yet still, confirm that cell phone use policies should be enforced.

Word count: Conclusion paragraph, 65 words. Total essay is now 484 words.

But wait! You’re 16 words short! We know that. The essay covered everything we wanted to without the need for extra words. If the prompt asked for at least 500 words, we would add another sentence to support one of the paragraphs. Since that was not a requirement though, we kept the essay as-is to avoid sounding wordy or repetitive.

The Complete 500-Word Essay Example

Cell phones have gone from a sought-after luxury to a daily necessity. While these devices provide convenient access to the outside world, they can be problematic for educators. High school teachers can tell children in their classes to put their phones away, but should professors have the same control over grown men and women? The key is to create cell phone usage policies that limit distractions without hindering student rights. The primary argument supporting cell phone control in the classroom is the fact that phones can be distracting. Not only do cell phones distract instructors, but they may also distract students trying to pay attention to the lecture. This is the same effect as a moviegoer looking at his phone in a theater. Even if the phone makes no noise, the light from the screen is enough to catch someone’s attention. Arguments against cell phone control typically focus on safety concerns. Should a crisis occurs in the classroom, students should have their phones on hand to make a call. If a student has a child, he or she may need a phone in case of a medical emergency. If the student is on call for work, he or she will need access to a phone. The list of exception-worthy scenarios is endless. The best solution is to create cell phone usage rules that allow devices to be accessible without disturbing other students’ educational opportunities. Students should be permitted to keep their phones in their bags, pockets, or other belongings as long as the phones are on silent in class. Vibrate settings may be permitted if the instructor does not believe it will distract him or her, since the noise of the vibration may not be noticeable in a large classroom. If a student needs to answer the phone during an emergency, he or she can step out of the classroom to do so. This setup would give the students and the instructor peace of mind. Cell phone restrictions in classrooms should also include specific disciplinary actions for breaking the rules. If a student is caught using the phone in class, he or she should be excused for the rest of the day. Professors should refrain from physically taking possession of a student’s phone because of liability conflicts. If the phone is damaged while in the professor’s possession, the school or the instructor could be held responsible for the repairs. It is safer to ask the student to leave the classroom than it is to take the phone away completely. Each school, professor and student body is different. Colleges must adapt their rules and discipline efforts to reflect the current needs of their students. Eliminating cell phones in college classrooms is an overstretch, but there are ways to balance students’ rights and instructors’ rights. With the right amount of control and flexibility, colleges can create a pleasant learning environment with maximum safety and minimal interruptions.

Tips for Writing a Great 500-Word Essay

Here are some tips to help you write a great 500-word scholarship essay:

Give yourself at least two full days to write the essay. You can use the first day to write a draft and do some minor editing. Then on the second day, you can look at the essay with fresh eyes to do your final edits.

If you have a chance to show your essay to your English instructor or academic adviser, do so. You can use the feedback to improve the essay before submitting it.

Don’t focus on the word count as you write. Get all your thoughts on paper, and you can extend or shorten the essay during the editing process.

Write the first draft from start to finish, even if you know your thoughts are out of order. You can re-arrange them at a later time, but the initial run through will be as fluid as possible.

Re-read the prompt several times before writing. You don’t want to write an entire essay only to find out you were completely off topic.

Always think about your audience when writing a scholarship essay. What organization is issuing the scholarship, and how can you tie that into your writing? What is the underlying information they want to learn from your essay? Write in a way that shows you are the best candidate for the scholarship.

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Essay Writing Guide

500 Word Essay

A Complete 500 Word Essay Writing Guide

11 min read

What is 500 word Essay?

A 500-word essay is a type of academic writing typically assigned in schools and colleges. This type of essay format requires the writer to express their thoughts, ideas, or arguments within a concise word limit.

A typical 500-word essay generally follows 4 to 5 paragraphs essay structure, with each paragraph containing approximately 75 to 200 words. The specific number and length of paragraphs can vary based on the type and structure of the essay.

A 500-word essay can be the easiest and the most difficult one to write, at the same time. It all depends on two things; the Topic and the Writer’s Abilities . Teachers often assign 500-word essay assignments as it can help them quickly assess the student’s critical, analytical, and writing skills.

500 Words Essay Format

Here is the format and structure of a well-crafted 500-word essay.

Introduction (Approximately 50-75 words)
Body Paragraphs (2-3 paragraphs, Approximately 150-200 words)
Counterargument (Optional, Approximately 50-75 words)
Conclusion (Approximately 50-75 words)

Let's take a closer look at how a 500-word essay is set up and what each part does to make the writing strong and clear.

that introduces the main point of the paragraph. between paragraphs to maintain the essay's coherence.

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How Long is a 500 Word Essay?

A 500-word essay is typically one to two pages long, depending on formatting and spacing. For APA style , use a 12-point font for serif (e.g., Times New Roman) and 11-point for sans-serif (e.g., Arial). With double spacing, it will extend to approximately 2 pages, while with single spacing, it usually fits onto 1 page.

How Long Should a 500 Word Essay Take?

Typically, for an average writer, composing a 500-word essay might take around 1 to 2 hours. However, this estimate can vary significantly based on individual factors such as familiarity with the topic, writing experience, and the need for extensive research or revision.

How Many Paragraphs is a 500 Word Essay?

A typical 500-word essay generally comprises 4 to 6 paragraphs. Each paragraph contains roughly 75 to 200 words. However, the exact number and length of paragraphs may vary depending on the essay's type and structure.

Word count is important in short essays. So, it’s best to aim for an introduction under 100 words, body paragraphs around 300 words each, and conclude within 100 words.

500-Word Essay vs. 250-Word Essay

A 500-word essay offers more depth than a 250-word one, allowing for additional detail and evidence. This extra content strengthens arguments or supports viewpoints, making the essay more effective.

500-Word Essay vs. 1000+ Word Essay

A 500-word essay is shorter than a 1000+ word essay. The 500-word one usually fits on one to two pages, while the longer essay can span several pages. With more words, the longer essay allows for a deeper exploration of topics and more detailed arguments. However, both essays require clear organization and effective communication of ideas.

How to Write a 500-word Essay?

Writing a 500-word essay is the same as classic essay writing. Here are some steps to keep in mind while writing a 500-word essay.

Create an Outline
Write a Strong Introduction
Composing The Body Paragraphs
Write an Impressive Conclusion

Below is a detailed description of each step.

Step 1: Create An Outline

First, make a clear and detailed essay outline , and do not miss anything at this point. It will serve as a backbone for your entire paper.

The purpose of this outline is to break down the ideas in a logical and structured manner.

Step 2: Write A Strong Introduction

The opening paragraph of an essay serves as the reader's initial window into the topic. Grab your reader from the start of this paragraph with an attention-grabbing hook . Make it as interesting and creative as you can so that they don't put down the essay before reading it all!

For writing an essay introduction , you need to introduce your main topic. And give an idea of what the reader may encounter in the rest of the essay. At the end of this paragraph pin your thesis statement .

For Example:

In our increasingly inactive world, where many of us spend long hours sitting in front of screens, the value of regular exercise becomes ever more apparent. Not only does exercise benefit us physically, but it also plays a significant role in promoting mental well-being. This essay aims to explore the various ways in which exercise positively impacts both our bodies and our minds. By shedding light on the transformative effects of exercise on our overall health and vitality, we hope to underscore its importance in maintaining a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.

Step 3: Composing The Body Paragraphs

The body section of the essay is mostly divided into 3 paragraphs as discussed above in the format section. It is the point where you need to explain the different types of arguments you make in the essay. Support these arguments with relevant examples, facts, or personal interpretations.

Regular physical activity strengthens muscles and bones, reduces the risk of chronic diseases, and enhances overall physical well-being. For instance, cardiovascular exercises, like jogging or swimming, improve heart health by increasing circulation and reducing the risk of heart disease. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that individuals who engaged in regular cardiovascular exercise had a significantly lower risk of developing cardiovascular ailments compared to those leading sedentary lifestyles.

Exercise is not only good for the body but also the mind. Engaging in activities like yoga or aerobics triggers the release of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. This can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and even symptoms of depression. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that regular exercise can be as effective as medication in treating mild to moderate depression.

Furthermore, regular exercise enhances cognitive function by promoting neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to adapt and form new connections. It boosts memory, focus, and overall mental performance. Exercise also increases the production of mood-regulating neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, benefiting both mental acuity and emotional well-being.

In a 500-word essay, it's best to stick to one main argument with supporting evidence. Longer essays, such as 1000-word essays , can explore multiple arguments as long as they're connected and contribute to a unified thesis.

Step 4: Write an Impressive Conclusion

Conclusion is the last part of the essay where you need to summarise the main argument of the essay. When writing the conclusion of your essay, begin by restating the thesis statement and explaining it with some strong points analyzed in the body section.

Make sure it does not completely iterate the introduction. Focus on providing critical insight into the main subject of discussion.

For Example:

In conclusion, regular exercise is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. It promotes physical well-being, reduces the risk of diseases, and enhances mental health. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine, even in small doses, can lead to a happier and healthier life.

Always proofread your essay for mistakes and inconsistencies. Also, make sure the writing convention checklist is followed, as it will give you a clearer idea of what needs to be improved before submitting!

If you still need some guidance, here is a video on how to write a 500-word essay!

500 Word Essay Examples

All 500-word essays follow a different style and structure, making it difficult for a student to understand what their instructor expects. In such scenarios, 500-word essay examples can be of great help.

Below you can find some 500-word essay examples on different topics to better understand the various style formats.

500 Word Essay On Honesty

A 500-word essay on honesty is a commonly assigned task to high school and college students. It simply involves writing on how to develop a practice of speaking the truth always.

Here is an example 500-word essay on honesty that you can refer to for your understanding.

500 Word Essay on Honesty

500 Word Essay On Integrity

Below, you can find a great 500-word essay on integrity written by one of our expert writers for your help.

500 Word Essay On Leadership

Leadership essay discusses the quality of leading people. Get help from the following leadership essay example and learn how you can write on one of the important aspects of life.

500 Word Essay On Punctuality

Punctuality is an important trait that everyone should strive to possess. Take help from this punctual example essay and make your writing even more powerful.

500 Word Essay On Punctuality

500 Word Essay On Responsibility

Responsibility is an important value that everyone should possess. It dictates the way we interact with others and how we carry out our daily lives. Take a look at our example of an essay on responsibility to understand what it means to be responsible.

500 Word Essay On Responsibility

500 Word Essay On Why I Deserve a Scholarship

Writing an essay explaining why you deserve a scholarship can be a challenging experience since students often feel like they’re bragging about themselves. Learn how to write a 500-word essay for scholarship that will make a strong case for your academic excellence with our sample!

500 Word Essay On Why I Deserve a Scholarship Pdf

500 Word Essay on Respect

Respect is a very important concept in today's society. It is an essential component of any successful relationship, both personal and professional. Check out our essay example on Respect to begin learning more about this topic.

500 Word Essay On Respect

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Teacher

Writing essays about something you are passionate about is never an easy task. When it comes to writing about why someone wants to be a teacher, you can always get help from some great sample essays.

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Teacher

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Nurse

Nursing is a passion for a lot of people. If you want to write an essay on why you want to be a nurse, you must look at our sample essay.

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Nurse

500 Word Essay on Global Warming

Global warming is not just an environmental concern but a moral obligation for the well-being of our planet. Write a 500 word essay on global warming with the help of our sample.

Here are some more 500-word essay pdf samples on important topics for your understanding:

500 word essay about myself

500 word essay on corruption

500 word essay on social media

500 word essay on pollution

500 word essay about Islam

500 Word Essay Topics

Here are some topics that you may find interesting.

Describe your favorite trip.
Is it possible to earn on the Internet?
What are the challenges of people living with disabilities?
How to avoid problems at college.
What is honesty?
Abstract art and its impact on people.
Causes of racism.
The best day of your life.
What is the objective of your life?
What do you mean by punctuality?

If you want to look at more topics, feel free to choose from our interesting list of essay topics .

Wrapping it Up!

Writing essays in a concise 500-word format may seem straightforward, but the process can often be challenging for students. The biggest hurdle? Squeezing in all the essential details while staying within the limit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many sentences is a 500-word essay.

A 500-word essay typically contains around 5 to 10 sentences per paragraph, spread across 4 to 6 paragraphs.

Can a 500-word essay have 4 paragraphs?

Yes, a 500-word essay can have 4 paragraphs, though it's more commonly structured with 5 or 6 paragraphs.

How many references are needed for a 500-word essay?

The number of references needed for a 500-word essay can vary depending on the topic and requirements, but generally, 2 to 4 references are sufficient for supporting arguments and providing evidence.

Does a 500-word essay have to be exactly 500 words?

Yes, that’s because the general rule for any academic essay is to not exceed the given word count by more than 10%. So applying the same rule, your 500 word essay length should ideally not exceed 10%, that is 550 words, so you should try to wrap up your thoughts within that word count or otherwise risk a negative marking by the professor.

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Essay Writing Guide

500 Word Essay

Last updated on: Jun 28, 2024

Writing a 500 Word Essay - Easy Guide

By: Nova A.

Reviewed By: Chris H.

Published on: Jan 8, 2019

Are you staring at a blank page, trying to write a 500-word essay? Don't worry, you're not alone!

Many students face this challenge when tasked with writing a concise yet impactful piece. A 500-word essay is a common task often assigned to high school and college students.

Writing a 500-word essay can be quite difficult as you have to cover all the important points in a few words. However, this is where you can show all your potential.

Read on to learn how to write a perfect 500-word essay with this step by step guide. You will also get to read some good example essays to help you out.

Let’s dive into it!

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500 Word Essay Definition

A 500-word essay is a short length academic essay. It provides a writer’s perspective on a particular topic. It is usually assigned to high school and college students to teach them necessary essay writing skills.

Every type of essay can follow the 500-word essay format, including:

Persuasive essay
Descriptive essay
Argumentative essay
Expository essay
Narrative essay

This means that you can write any type of essay in the 500-word format.

How to Write a 500 Word Essay

A 500-word essay is an opportunity to show and improve your writing skills. Here are the steps you need to follow to write your essay:

Make an Essay Outline

An outline is a roadmap that guides you through the different sections of your essay. It is important to make an outline before you start writing. This ensures a well-structured and coherent piece.

A 500-word essay is usually composed of five paragraphs. Here’s what you need to create an outline:

The main topic of the essay
The central thesis statement
The main point or topic sentence for each body paragraph
Supporting points for body paragraphs

This is what your outline will look like:

Write a Good Introduction

An introduction plays an important role in making an impression on the reader’s mind. The readers decide on the basis of the introduction, whether they want to read the rest of the essay or not.

Here is how you can compose the introduction paragraph:

It should start with a strong hook that grabs the reader’s attention immediately.
Provide a little background information that helps the reader understand the topic
Conclude the intro with a compelling thesis statement that you will support in the body.

Here is an example:

With its potential to revolutionize industries, reshape our daily lives, and challenge traditional notions of human capabilities, AI has become a topic of immense significance and intrigue. From self-driving cars and virtual assistants to deep learning algorithms and autonomous robots, AI has permeated nearly every aspect of our modern world, promising a future that was once confined to the realms of science fiction.

As we stand at the precipice of this transformative era,

Compose the Body Paragraphs

The body section is intended to provide a detailed description of the topic. It gives complete information about the essay topic and presents the writer’s point of view in detail. Following are the elements of the body section:.

Topic sentence

The first sentence of the body paragraph. It presents the main point that will be discussed in the paragraph.

Supporting evidence

It could be any points or evidence that support your main thesis.

Transition statement

This statement relates the body paragraph back to the thesis, and also connects it with the subsequent paragraph.

One of the most visible manifestations of AI's progress is in the domain of autonomous vehicles.

Companies such as Tesla, Waymo, and Uber have made significant strides in developing self-driving cars, harnessing AI technologies to navigate complex roadways, interpret real-time data, and make split-second decisions. These advancements promise not only enhanced safety and efficiency on the roads but also a paradigm shift in our transportation systems. Similarly, AI-powered virtual assistants like Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, and Google Assistant have become ubiquitous in our homes, providing personalized recommendations, answering queries, and performing various tasks with natural language processing and machine learning capabilities.

These examples underscore the increasing integration of AI into our everyday lives, blurring the line between human and machine interaction.

Draft a Compelling Conclusion

The conclusion paragraph summarizes the whole essay and presents the final thoughts on the topic. It is as important as the introduction paragraph. Below are the things you include in the conclusion paragraphs:

Restate the thesis statement
Summarize the essay
Provide final thoughts or a call to action

In conclusion,

the rise of artificial intelligence presents a watershed moment in human history, with its far-reaching implications extending into every aspect of our lives.

While AI holds immense promise in revolutionizing industries, improving efficiency, and enhancing our daily experiences, it also brings forth complex ethical, societal, and economic challenges that must be carefully navigated. As we forge ahead into this AI-driven future, it is crucial to embrace interdisciplinary collaboration, establish robust ethical guidelines, and foster transparent governance to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared equitably while mitigating its potential risks. By approaching AI with a balanced and informed perspective, we can harness its transformative potential while safeguarding the values and aspirations of humanity.

Want to become a master at writing essays? Check out our essay writing guide to become an excellent writer who can craft all types of essays!

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500 Word Essay Format

Here is how you format a 500 word essay in general:

A common font style like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman
1” margins on both sides
Line spacing: double-spaced
Alignment: Left

Remember, these are general guidelines. Always follow the specific page formatting guidelines provided by your instructor.

Frequently Asked Questions about Writing a 500 Word Essay

Many things come up in your mind when you get to write a 500-word essay. You might want to know the length, outline, time required to write the essay, and many more things.

Below are some common questions that you may ask yourself while writing a short essay.

How Long is a 500 Word Essay?

“How many pages is a 500-word essay?”

An essay length of a 500-word essay is usually 1 to 2 pages. If it is single-spaced, it covers just 1-page. When double-spaced, it covers 2 pages.

When it comes to spacing, stick to the instructions given by your professor.

How Many Paragraphs is a 500 Word Essay?

The standard 500-word essay template has 5 paragraphs. It has one introduction, three body paragraphs, and one conclusion paragraph.

The word count is divided into 5 paragraphs evenly. The introduction and conclusion are 100 words long each. While the body paragraphs need to be 300 words long.

How Long Does it Take to Write a 500 Word Essay?

It would take no more than an hour or two to write a complete 500-word essay. Especially if you have enough information about the topic, you can easily write your essay within an hour.

What is the difference between 500 words essay vs 250 words essay

The word count of an essay plays a significant role in shaping its structure, content, and depth of analysis. A 500-word essay is a bit more detailed and longer than a 250-word essay. A 250-word essay is composed of three paragraphs maximum. Meanwhile a 500-word essay should contain at least five paragraphs.

What is the difference between 500 words essay vs 1000 words essay

Here is a major difference between 500-word essay and a 1000-word essay:

With a 500-word essay, you have a limited word count, which necessitates a concise and focused approach. You must carefully select your arguments, provide succinct evidence, and present a coherent analysis.

On the other hand, a 1000-word essay allows for a more extensive exploration of the topic. It provides the opportunity to delve into multiple subtopics and offer more supporting evidence.

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500 Word Essay Topics

Below are some interesting topics to help you get started on your essay.

Should gun ownership be restricted
My Favorite Place
Should healthcare be free?
The benefits of volunteering in the local community
Is hunting for food moral?
The importance of personal responsibility
How I spent my summer vacation
Describe an ideal personality
What is Climate Change?
The importance of sports for teenagers

Need more ideas? We’ve got you covered! Check out 100+ amazing essay topics to help you out!

500 Word Essay Example

Now you have a guide for writing a 500-word essay, have a look at the following example to have a more clear understanding.

500 WORD ESSAY ON COVID-19 (PDF)

500 WORD ESSAY ON WHY I WANT TO BE A NURSE (PDF)

500 Words Essay on Why I Deserve a Scholarship

500 WORD ESSAY ON PUNCTUALITY (PDF)

500 WORD ESSAY ON LEADERSHIP (PDF)

500 WORD ESSAY ON HONESTY (PDF)

FREE 500 WORD ESSAY ON RESPONSIBILITY (PDF)

500 WORD ESSAY EXAMPLE FOR COLLEGE (PDF)

With the help of this step by step guide and essay examples, you can easily craft a perfect essay. However, if you need more help, you can contact us anytime.

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How to Write a 500 Word Essay

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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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.

Red pen rests on a paper after making edits to a 500 word essay

With only about a page and a half to get your point across, every word counts in a 500 word essay. A succinct response packed with impactful examples can easily put you ahead of the crowd!

Follow our concise step-by-step guide to write an effective 500 word essay:

Start with an outline

Applying the outline to an example.

Deciding on how many examples to use
Don’t worry about the word count in your first draft

Don’t forget to proofread!

Keep reading to learn how to write the best 500 word essay you have ever written!

Don’t miss: Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool

Writing essays with word limits can be a balancing act. You may have a lot you want to say, but not enough space to sufficiently explain each point that you want to make. That’s why it is a great idea to start by outlining the 3-4 main ideas you’d like to address in your essay. Trying to pack any more than four main ideas into a 500-word essay could prevent you from effectively explaining your examples.

We suggest making a bullet point list for your outline, which could look something like this:

Hook the reader with an engaging first line and introduce your response.
Expand on your first point or example
Elaborate on your second point or example
Expand on your third point or example
Expand on your fourth point or example
Tie your examples together and conclude your essay with a meaningful last line

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Let’s try using this outline to respond to a prompt: Please describe your commitment to working within your community . With a prompt like this, you could hook your reader with a sentence emphasizing what community work means to you on a personal or emotional level, or how you first started working with your community.

Each body paragraph would be a description of different experiences you’ve had working in your community, and what they taught you. And you could use your conclusion to point out a common thread between these experiences; now that the reader has read all about your involvement in the community, you can use this opportunity to describe how the experiences have come together to reshape your relationship with community work.

See more : How to write a winning scholarship essay

Comparing essay lengths

As you sit down to write your essay, you might wonder how you should adjust your approach to a 500 word essay as opposed to a 250 or 1000 word essay. 250 word essays are expected to be extremely brief, with only minimal elaboration on each point, and 1,000 word essays are expected to be more thorough, and might even include citations. A 500 word essay falls in a grey area between these two; it gives you the freedom to elaborate on the details you find to be the most important.

Will an admissions officer keep reading my essay if I go over?

You might be wondering “what happens if I go over the word limit? Will an admissions officer still read my essay?”

As with many topics related to the admissions process, it depends. If you have gone way over and wrote 2,000 words, it is possible that the admissions officer will not continue to read your essay or may just skim it. Remember, admissions officers and scholarship essay readers are busy people who have to get through many applications and essays.

So if you go over by a few words or sentences, you are probably fine and the admissions officer will likely not even notice. However, if you go over the word count in an obvious, noticeable way, this is something that is unlikely to help you (even if the writing is excellent).

Also see: How to write a 250 word essay

Deciding on how many examples you should use

A common question for writing a 500 word essay is whether or not you should include a fourth example. If your examples require a lot of thorough explanation in order to be impactful, it might be best to only include three. It’s better to have three impactful examples than four examples that don’t resonate with the reader. However, if the prompt is straightforward and you can explain your examples quickly, go ahead and add that fourth body paragraph!

Recommended: Wondering how to format your essay? Scholarships360’s guide will tell you all that you need to know!

Don’t worry about the word count in your first draft!

Try writing out a first draft without worrying about your 500 word limit! This is a great way to get all your thoughts down on paper. It’s easier to cut the extra content down at the end than it is to keep interrupting your writing to edit it as you go. This can take you out of your writing flow, and make the essay take longer

A 500 word essay requires a lot of editing in order to make a point effectively in a limited number of words. It’s a great idea to ask a friend or family member to proofread your final copy. They can catch simple mistakes that you have been glossing over, or come up with new ways to reword your essay and slim it down to fit the word limit.

With this said, it’s important for you to maintain ownership over the voice of your essay. The job of the proofreader or editor is to catch mistakes and give general feedback–it is not to rewrite the entire essay.

A few more resources

Learn how to effectively conclude your scholarship essay by reading our guide on how to end scholarship essays . Many scholarships want to know more about you, so it’s important to know how to write an essay about yourself . If you are looking for additional scholarship opportunities that involve writing, check out our list of top writing & essay scholarships .

Remember, writing scholarship essays is an opportunity to show exactly why you are deserving of a scholarship. Learn to write in a way that puts your best self forward, and win all the awards that you qualify for!

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How to Write a 500-Word Essay (With Examples)

A 500-word essay is a common assignment in many academic settings. It is a concise piece of writing that requires students to express their thoughts and ideas on a specific topic within a limited word count or essay length.

Knowing how to write a 500-word essay is important because it helps students develop their writing skills and learn how to communicate their ideas concisely and effectively. In this article, we will discuss what a 500-word essay is, provide some great topics for such essays, and offer tips on planning, organizing, and writing a solid essay.

What is a 500-Word Essay?

A 500-word essay is a short piece of writing typically consisting of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. It is used in various academic disciplines and is often assigned as a writing task to test students’ understanding of a particular topic or their ability to present an argument or analysis within a limited word count . The purpose of a 500-word essay is to provide a concise and focused discussion on a specific topic.

The typical structure of a 500-word essay includes an introduction that presents the topic and provides background information, body paragraphs that explain the main arguments or points, and a conclusion that summarizes the main points and provides a final thought or reflection on the topic. The word count of each section may vary depending on the assignment’s specific requirements, but it is important to keep the overall word count within the limit.

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Great 500 Word Essay Topics

When choosing a topic for a 500-word essay, selecting something exciting and relevant is important. Here are some great topics that can be used for a 500-word paper

The impact of social media on society
The benefits of exercise for physical and mental health
The importance of education in today’s world
The role of technology in our daily lives
The effects of climate change on the environment
The pros and cons of globalization
The significance of cultural diversity in society
The challenges and opportunities of remote work
The impact of artificial intelligence on the job market
The role of government in addressing income inequality

When choosing a topic, it is important to consider your own interests and knowledge on the subject. Select a topic you are passionate about and have enough information to support your arguments or analysis. Additionally, choose a topic that is narrow enough to be covered within the word count but broad enough to provide room for discussion and analysis.

Planning Your 500-Word Essay: Outlining and Organizing Your Thoughts

Planning and organizing your thoughts is important before writing your 500-word essay. This will help you stay focused and ensure your essay has a clear and logical structure. Here are some tips on how to create an outline for a 500-word essay:

Start by brainstorming ideas and jotting down key points or arguments related to your topic.
Once you have a list of ideas, organize them into main categories or themes.
Determine the main points or arguments you want to discuss in each body paragraph.
Create a thesis statement clearly stating your essay’s main argument or point.
Use your outline as a guide to write your introduction , body paragraphs, and conclusion.

By creating an outline, you can ensure that your essay has a clear and logical flow. It will also help you stay on track and avoid going off-topic. Remember to revise and refine your outline as you go along, as new ideas may arise, or you may find that specific points are better suited for different sections of your essay.

Writing a Strong Introduction for Your 500-Word Essay

The introduction is an important part of a 500-word essay as it sets the tone for the rest and grabs the reader’s attention. Here are some tips on how to write a solid and engaging introduction for a 500-word essay:

Start with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention. This can be a thought-provoking question, a surprising fact or statistic, or a relevant quote.
Provide some background information on the topic to give the reader context and help them understand the importance or relevance of the topic.
State your thesis statement and your essay’s main argument or point. Make sure it is clear and concise.
Preview the main points or arguments you will discuss in the body paragraphs.

By following these tips, you can create an introduction that engages the reader and sets the stage for the rest of your essay.

Crafting a Compelling Body Paragraph for Your 500-Word Essay

The body paragraphs are where you present your main arguments or points and provide evidence or examples to support them. Here are some tips on how to write a compelling body paragraph for a 500-word essay:

Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main point or argument of the paragraph.
Provide evidence or examples to support your main point. This can include facts, statistics, expert opinions, or personal anecdotes.
Analyze and explain the significance of the evidence or examples. Show how they support your main point and contribute to your overall argument.
Use transitional words and phrases to connect your ideas and create a smooth flow between paragraphs.

Following these tips ensures that your body paragraphs are clear, focused, and well-supported.

Using Evidence and Examples to Support Your Arguments

Using evidence and examples is crucial in a 500-word essay as it helps strengthen your arguments and make your writing more persuasive. Here are some tips on how to find and use relevant evidence and examples in a 500-word essay:

Research to find credible sources that support your arguments or provide relevant information on your topic.
Use a mix of primary and secondary sources to provide a well-rounded perspective.
Choose evidence or examples that are specific and relevant to your main points. Avoid using vague or general statements.
Cite your sources properly using the appropriate citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).

By using evidence and examples effectively, you can enhance the credibility and persuasiveness of your essay.

Writing a Clear and Concise Conclusion for Your 500-Word Essay

The conclusion is the final part of your 500-word essay, and it should summarize your main points and leave the reader with a final thought or reflection on the topic. Here are some tips on how to write a clear and concise conclusion for a 500-word essay:

Restate your thesis statement differently to remind the reader of your main argument or point.
Summarize the main points or arguments you discussed in the body paragraphs.
Provide a final thought or reflection on the topic. This can be a call to action, a prediction, or a recommendation for further research or discussion.

By following these tips, you can create a conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Editing and Proofreading Your 500 Word Essay: Tips and Tricks

Editing and proofreading are essential steps in writing as they help improve your essay’s clarity, coherence, and overall quality. Here are some tips on how to effectively edit and proofread a 500-word essay:

Take a break before editing and proofreading to distance yourself from your essay.
Read your essay out loud to catch any awkward or unclear sentences.
Check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Use grammar and spell-check tools and manually review your essay for mistakes.
Ensure that your essay flows smoothly and that your ideas are presented logically.
Ask a friend or family member to read your essay and provide feedback.

By editing and proofreading your essay, you can ensure it is polished and error-free.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a 500-Word Essay

When writing a 500-word essay, writers make some common mistakes. Here are some tips on how to avoid these mistakes and improve the quality of your writing:

Avoid using vague or general statements. Be specific and provide concrete examples or evidence to support your arguments.
Don’t exceed the word count limit. Keep your essay concise and focused.
Avoid using excessive jargon or technical terms that may confuse the reader. Use clear and straightforward language.
Don’t rely too heavily on quotes or paraphrases. Use them sparingly, and make sure to provide your analysis or interpretation.
Avoid plagiarism by properly citing your sources and crediting the original authors.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can improve the clarity, coherence, and overall quality of your 500-word essay.

Successful 500-Word Essay Examples: Inspiration for Your Writing

To gain inspiration for your 500-word essay, reading examples of successful essays can be helpful. Here are some examples of successful 500-word essays:

Mental Health, Mental Illness, Risk, & Resilience
Schizophrenia: Physiological Basis of a Mental Illness
The Teaching Plan for Mental Illness

These examples demonstrate how to effectively structure and present arguments or analysis within a limited word count. They also showcase evidence and examples to support the main points.

Conclusion on Writing a Great 500-Word Essay

Knowing how to write a 500-word essay is important for students as it helps develop their writing skills and ability to communicate their ideas concisely. In this article, we discussed what a 500-word essay is, provided some great topics for such essays, and offered tips on planning, organizing, and writing a solid essay. We also discussed the importance of using evidence and examples to support arguments, as well as the importance of editing and proofreading. By following the tips and advice provided in this article, students can improve their 500-word essay writing skills and effectively express their thoughts and ideas on a specific topic.

FAQs on 500-Word Essays

What is a 500-word essay.

A 500-word essay is a type of academic writing typically consisting of 500 words. It is often assigned as a requirement for assignments, exams, or scholarship applications.

How long is a 500-word essay?

A 500-word essay is precisely 500 words in length. It usually includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The word count is crucial in meeting the essay’s requirements.

How many pages is a 500-word essay?

The number of pages in a 500-word essay depends on various factors, including font size, line spacing, and margins. However, it is typically around one page if formatted with standard settings like Times New Roman, 12-point font, and double spacing .

What is the format of a 500-word essay?

A 500-word essay follows a standard format, including an introduction with a clear thesis statement, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. It is important to adhere to the designated essay format required by your instructor or academic institution.

How do I write a 500-word essay?

To write a 500-word essay, follow these steps:

Start by understanding and researching the assigned topic .
Create a clear thesis statement that presents your main argument.
Outline your essay with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
Write an engaging introduction to grab the reader’s attention.
Develop each body paragraph with relevant information and supporting evidence.
Ensure your essay has a logical flow and coherence.
Conclude your essay by summarizing your main points and reiterating your thesis statement.
Proofread and edit your essay for grammar, spelling, and clarity.

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How to Write a 500 Word Essay: Structure, Format, and Tips

Table of contents

1 What is a 500 Word Essay?
2.1 How Many Paragraphs is a 500 Word Essay?
2.2 How Many Pages Is A 500-word Essay?
3.1 Create An Outline
3.2 Write A Strong Introduction
3.3 Composing The Body Paragraphs
3.4 Write An Impressive Conclusion
4 500-Word Essay Examples
5 500-Word Essay Topics
6 Tips for Writing a Great 500-Word Essay

We can say that a 500-word essay length is the best of both worlds. It is longer than a 250-word essay, so you have more space to express yourself, but it is shorter than 1000 words essay, so you don't have to provide tons of details and research. On the other hand, writing 500 words is not as simple or easy as you may believe. You still need to know all about the 500-word essay format, important guidelines, use of proper details, and so much more.

In general, this is an important and even essential piece of writing. Hence you need to know all the basics and even less-known facts in order to produce a paper that will get you the grade you deserve. Add the fact you will probably have to write one on a regular basis, and you can see why this page is just perfect for you. Papers Owl is here to explain all the things you need to know about these papers and also add all the facts you need to incorporate into your next paper.

What is a 500 Word Essay?

It is precise, as the name suggests. This is 500 words essay. As we have mentioned, it is the most appealing type because it can be relatively easy to complete, and it is not too long, so you have to invest countless hours into research and writing. How easy or hard you will write a paper of this kind depends on your abilities and the topic.

As always, choosing the best topic should be the mandatory first step, and you need to choose one that you like. If you are left with the one you don't like, or you find repelling, you can always use " write my essay " help and get the paper delivered to you within hours! This has been one thing many students have been using for a long time, and many more will use it due to obvious reasons.

You can write 500 words essay that you like and not all of the assigned ones. Writing 500 content will depend on many factors. One of the first things to know is that there are several types of these papers . A 500-word essay example can help you understand this issue more.

Depending on the goal of your writing, you may have to write:

Argumentative 500-word essay
Critical word paper
Analytical essay
Reflective paper
Narrative words paper

In most cases, you will have to explain a specific idea or a topic that is assigned to you. You have 500 characters to use, but you can go a few words more. It is important to add that you cannot write 1000 words in this case scenario. This is a different type of paper, and it is reserved for a different purpose. We also have 250-word (sort) essays that are much shorter but can be problematic. You usually don't have enough room to cover the topic you want. Hence you are left with generic and not very interesting content.

Teachers love these essays, and they consider them extremely important. The main reason for that is the fact these papers can be written in the class, and a teacher can check your writing capabilities and the details. These contents are essential because they can check your critical thinking, your opinion, and most commonly, how well you have understood a specific topic.

For example, you may have to write a 500 character essay related to the book you had to read for the class. This will depend on numerous factors, but usually, you have to write detailed and focused content. There is no room here to write about countless things and elements. You need to focus on one and stick to it.

How to Format a 500-Word Essay?

One of the main steps and one of the essential pieces of guideline here is to format the paper. The structure is not something you can affect significantly and something you can change at any given moment. Yes, you need to complete five hundred words, but you need to know how to divide these. This is a well-known fact and something a quick essay writer can do with his eyes closed.

Now we will teach you how to do it as well. Pay close attention to details here. There are a lot of simple things that are mandatory, so don't skip them and don't try to be better than the professor. Use your own structure or something similar.

How Many Paragraphs is a 500 Word Essay?

The main thing here is to remember that these papers always have 5 paragraphs. One of them is the introduction, and it goes first. Then you have 3 body paragraphs and the conclusion paragraph . It is also important to divide the word count. The introduction part of an essay must be 100 words. Each paragraph must be 100 characters as well.

Lastly, we can see that conclusion is 100 characters as well. Of course, it doesn't have to be precisely 100 characters! Better said, the range should be between 90 and 110 characters per paragraph. Don't try to add too many sentences, or you will have problems and you won't write a well-structured paper.

How Many Pages Is A 500-word Essay?

In order to format a 500 word essay, you need to pay close attention to the pages as well. If you use single spaces, you will have 1 page of content. If you use double spacing, something that some students prefer, you will have 1.5 pages.

Try to remember that your academic writing should use 12-size font and also Times New Roman or Arial font style. These are the most common, and usually, professors will tell you to use them. Every single time when you are writing 500 words, you will have to use these elements. They are important and even mandatory.

How to Write a 500 Word Essay?

How easy you can complete this assignment will depend on your writing skills. However, you can use this small guide to get the help you need and complete the paper in less time and get 500 characters ideally organized and suitable for your purpose. Examples or better said, samples are very beneficial here and important due to so many reasons. Anyway, here we will reveal how to write a narrative essay like a professional and always be ready to impress the readers. Keep in mind that readers are professors, your colleagues, and many others.

Create An Outline

The first step is actually to start with the outline . The outline is the plan you will use for writing. It has to start with a thesis statement , which is a summary of your idea and the goal. Then, you need to make the plan. Use bullet points to make all of this organized and simple. Any essay example will have this before it was written!

The outline will contain points for the introduction, body paragraphs, and the conclusion. Each one will contain several points in which you should explain what you want to say or what you will say in the paper. Once you are done, you can continue to the next step or, better said to the actual writing.

Write A Strong Introduction

Once you have the thesis statement and the outline, you will have to start writing. The introduction is the first thing you will have to write. Always start with the string intro that has the main idea you want to reveal in the paper, and you want to share. This should be the point of view you have and what you want to present.

In addition, this section must be strong, to the point, and should intrigue the reader. You need to reveal just enough so he will want to read the whole paper. You can see the example later on and get a better idea about what you need to do.

Composing The Body Paragraphs

The definition here is simple. Each body paragraph needs to present one idea . Each idea must be accurate, simple, and detailed. You will have to make a clear and simple transition between paragraphs and make a reader want to continue reading. The samples below will help you more. This is also the hardest part of the content.

You can always pay for essay writing if you want to get the content in no time and professionally completed. All your ideas should be backed by the actual facts that must be accurate and detailed as you can imagine. In addition, never present opposite or strange facts in the sections. It will confuse the reader.

Write An Impressive Conclusion

The last thing you will have to do is to complete the conclusion. It must be strong and must reexamine the beginning and tell one point to the readers. In a nutshell, this is a very important section, and it can make a massive difference. You can get a better grade or a lower one if you make a mistake. There are complete guides related to this section only, so you can imagine how important it is. The conclusion should be completely focused on the main idea of your content.

500-Word Essay Examples

Here you can see a sample 500 characters that will help you understand the topic in detail and, at the same time, get the job done in less time and with better accuracy. Each 500 word essay example is written by an expert, so you can be positive that you will learn from the best.

Roosevelt, The Great Depression, And The Economics Of Recovery
Globalization in Business
LGBD Community in the United States
An Eye for an Eye Makes the Whole World Blind
“Snow” by Julia Alvarez: Unveiling Symbolism and Resilience

Each one is detailed and has been approved by actual college professors. Many of them are written by college professors, so once again, you can see the appeal. These are ideal for all beginners, students who are not proficient in this task, and who need help.

500-Word Essay Topics

Here are 10 topics that are very common and very appealing. You will probably want to choose one or two. Keep in mind that you should always choose the one you like and you are interested in writing on. Don't try to complete one that you don't like or you don't want to learn about.

This is a simple secret that has a huge role overall.

Your best journey explained
Explain honesty
Explain racism
Can you make money on the internet?
Define the main objective of your life
Can you and how avoid problems while at college?
Challenges people with disabilities encounter every single day
What is punctuality?
Which effect does art has on people?
Explain the best day in this year that happened to you

Tips for Writing a Great 500-Word Essay

Now when you have your sample 500, and you have all the details that you are going to need, we can reveal one section more. Here we will explain the tips you need to use in order to complete this assignment in less time and with better success. Keep your mind focused and try to use all of these tips just so you can expect the best grade. These may sound ordinary or obvious, but they do affect your content and your presentation.

Have two days to complete the task All native English professional writers know that this process takes time. In general, you will use the first day to draft the whole content. On the second day, you will read it and make needed changes, edit and proofread it. This is mandatory. You will look at the content with fresh eyes, and you can easily see any mistakes or make changes that have a huge effect.
Get help if possible Seeking assistance to help you with your work is a great way to ensure that your content is accurate and of the highest quality. You can get help from your professor, friend, or even a cheap essay writing service . The goal here is to be aware of any mistakes or get any insights into your content. Knowing the details of your work will make it easier to make changes, and you can get these from other readers. With their help, you can make sure that your work looks better and is of the highest quality.
Don't worry about the word count Just start and enjoy. Don't worry about the characters or anything like that. You can always make the content longer or shorter if you have to. If you worry about the length, you will be limited, and you can't end up with an excellent copy.
Proofread several times It is mandatory and the most obvious fact here. All the things you write will have to be proofread, and there is no other way. You can even hire a professional, or you can ask your friend. This is of huge importance.
Consider who will read your content Try to adjust the content for your reader. Think of what they want to see and want to know. Then, focus on these things most of the time and try to optimize your content as much as you can. The results are amazing, and you can see that all writers have been doing this for ages.

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500 Word Essay Examples + Topic Ideas

Quality management for organizational excellence.

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“Brain Plasticity and Behavior” by Bryan Kolb, Robbin Gibb, and Terry E. Robinson

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Journal Entry, Hermaphrodite or Intersex

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Okrent, Daniel. Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. Scribner (May 11, 2010)

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Sexual Harassment at the Workplace

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Principles of Bauhaus production

Subjects: Design Urban Planning in Architecture

Gambling in Four Perspectives

Subjects: Psychological Issues Psychology

Case of Ski Pro Corporation

Subjects: Business Company Missions

Geography Is One of the Essential Disciplines in School

Subjects: Geography Sciences

Dishonest GOP, Exempts ACA from Budget Rules

Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthcare Financing

Computer Crimes Defense and Prevention

Subjects: Cyber Security Tech & Engineering

Social Work as a Profession

Subjects: Sociological Issues Sociology

September 11: Terror Attack and Huge Casualties

Subjects: Terrorism Warfare

The Relationships Between Advertising Appeals, Spending Tendency, Perceived Social Status and Materialism on Perfume Purchasing Behaviour

Subjects: Advertising Entertainment & Media

Poem – ‘Life’, by Emily Dickinson

Subjects: Literature Poems

Annotation Of: Hispanics and the Death Penalty

Subjects: Judicial Process on Criminals Law

“Just Say No? The Use of Conversation Analysis in Developing a Feminist Perspective on Sexual Refusal” by Kitzinger and Frith: Summary

Subjects: Gender Identity Sociology

Canadian Stereotypes

Subjects: Culture Worldwide Cultures

Political Interference in Texas’ Judicial System

Subjects: Government Politics & Government

Statistics as Evidence: Scaring Us Senseless

Subjects: Behavior Psychology

To Believe or Not to Believe with Insufficient Evidence

Subjects: Philosophical Theories Philosophy

A Response to the Article “Inequality and the American Dream”

Subjects: Economic Systems & Principles Economics

Why Foreign Education is worth the Price

Subjects: Education Education Abroad

Case for political risk

Difference between uk, usa and australia.

Subjects: Political Culture Politics & Government

Factors that Cause International Migration Flows

Subjects: Immigration Sociology

Immigration Admissions and Control Policies

The role of marketing trends in business.

Subjects: Business Financial Marketing

Play With a Purpose

Subjects: Developmental Theories Psychology

Healthcare Information needs at Presbyterian Hospital

Subjects: Administration and Regulation Health & Medicine

Raft of the Medusa by Theodore Gericault

Subjects: Art Art Movement

The Cold War: Global Prosperity and Human Rights

Subjects: History United States

American Pragmatism and Analytic Philosophy

Subjects: Philosophical Concept Philosophy

About the B’nai Bagels

Giving an overview of music education.

Subjects: Cardiology Health & Medicine

Introduction to System Thinking

Subjects: Cognition and Perception Psychology

Mrs. Hale: Different but Equal – Legitimate Gender Differences

Subjects: Literature Plays

The Emperor of Ice Cream

Functionalist approach to deviance and crime, metaphysics as branch of philosophy, “introduction to manufacturing lipke, david. “american apparel focuses on fundamentals”. wwd issue.”.

Subjects: Business Case Study

Challenges of the Grant Administration

Concepts of match on recruitment, what is education for.

Subjects: Rhetoric Sociology

Analysis of the Article: Importance-Performance Analysis as a New Attempt to Satisfy Citizens’ Needs

Death, dying and bereavement, valuable leadership experience, are all instincts random and arbitrary, the stages of the creative process.

Subjects: Applications of Psychology Psychology

Environmental and Animal Ethics

Subjects: Environment Environmental Studies

Disclosing the Aspects of Female Authorship as Presented in Woolf’s Professions for Women and Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Right of Woman

Subjects: British Literature Literature

Tuscaloosa County School District Emergency Operations Plan in Alabama

Subjects: Education Education Theories

Does Social Class Make a Difference?

World with no advertising, no promotion, no marketing.

Subjects: Business Marketing

What is Applied Management Science?

Virginia teacher holds mock slave auction.

Subjects: Education Pedagogy

Setting up a Private Business: Optometry Business

A summary of “what the dog saw”.

Subjects: Concepts in American Novels Literature

America Does Not Celebrate Its Real Heroes

Special places to relax & find inspiration.

Subjects: Psychological Principles Psychology

Philosophical Analysis on the Death of Osama Bin Laden

The impact of immigration on the economy of the usa, fantasies of the master race.

Subjects: Cultural Studies Culture

Design, size and facilities

Subjects: Architecture Design

What a manager should know about control systems?

Subjects: Business Organizational Management

The Role of Popular Culture in the United States of America

The king’s speech.

Subjects: Art Historical Drama

Strategic Management Process

Labor economics: child labor, developmental psychology theories of piaget and vygotsky, human freedom and personal identity, gary okihiro’s arguments regarding the writing of american history, the value of a product.

Subjects: Education Education Issues

The Impact of Immigration on the American Society and Culture

Elementary children’s literature: infancy through age 13.

Subjects: Literature World Literature

How Jacob, as a Complex Character, Often Appears to have Opposing Aspects/Parts to his Personality

Subjects: Aspects of American Novels Literature

London during the Roman Age: A Critical Overview

Subjects: History Medieval History

How to Prepare the Students to Travel to a Foreign Country?

History of the united states to 1816.

Subjects: History Native Americans History

The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy

Subjects: Dramatic Literature Literature

Critical Analysis: The Peter Principle as an Explanation of Problem of Career Development

The era of liberal consensus, johnson, e. patrick. “performing blackness down under: the café of the gate of salvation.”.

Subjects: Culture Ethnicity Studies

Syntagmatics and Paradigmatics

Subjects: Art Theater

Strange Fruit’ Music and Social Consciousness

Subjects: Art Film Studies

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Franchise Agreement

What were pilgrims, puritans, separatists, antinomians, and quakers how did these groups come together in the formation of new england, a social interaction problem in the usa, confrontation: employee and customer.

Subjects: Business Business Ethics

White Wines vs. Red Wines

Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthy Nutrition

The Influence of Social Media on Communication

Online education and pragmatism.

Subjects: Aspects of Education Education

Taking Credit for Writing

The revolutionary struggle in european countries and america.

Subjects: History World History

Dubai Aluminum: Opening a Branch in Saudi Arabia

Subjects: Business Industry

The Mass Media is Harmful to Society

Subjects: Entertainment & Media Media and Society

The Force Field Analysis for Leadership Team Effectiveness

Subjects: Business Leadership Styles

Information Technology: Computer Software

Subjects: Computer Science Tech & Engineering

Relationship between Indirect and Physical Aggression on Television and in Real Life

Quality gurus and their philosophies, is hick right that the project of soul-making explains how a perfect god might allow evil.

Subjects: Philosophy Philosophy of Religion

Slavery and the Old South

Course outcomes: vietnamese culture and experiences, why are we afraid of poetry, summary and comparison of articles; “hiding in plain sight” by heather rogers and, “on dumpster diving” by lans eighner.

Subjects: Environment Recycling

Abuse in Childhood Common Among Alcohol Addicts

The hollow men by t. s. eliot, critical analysis of the plays: the three sisters and happy days, negative opinion towards immigrants is not justified.

Subjects: Behavior Management Psychology

Economic Consequences of Immigration

“rumi’s world: the life and work of the great sufi poet”.

Subjects: Religion Theology

Is Public Shaming a Viable and Appropriate Punishment for Criminal Behavior

Subjects: Criminal Law Law

Immigrants, Their Ethnicity and Culture

Analyzing the differences between utilitarianism and libertarianism: ethical issues and moral judgments.

Subjects: Ethics Sociology

Business issues and the context of human resource

Subjects: Business Business Critique

Teamwork and Collaboration

Subjects: Health & Medicine Nursing

Do Vaccines Cause Autism?

Subjects: Health & Medicine Pharmacology

The O.J. Verdict Video

The secrets of management: acquiring the necessary information, management information systems and enterprise resource planning.

Subjects: Data Tech & Engineering

Writing a 500-word essay may seem like a piece of cake. But don’t get fooled by it! Although a paper of this length is short and takes only one page, its writing process has its pitfalls. And the most complicated aspect is finding a balance between the small size and the depth of argumentation.

A typical 500-word paper can be:

a traditional 5-paragraph essay
a college admission essay
a personal statement
a book report
a critical analysis essay, and many other types of written works.

If you need to write one of these, then definitely check out this article. Our simple explanations and inspirational topics will help you craft an exceptional 500-word paper. And make sure to check out our free essay examples for even more ideas!

🎓 Personal Statement Examples
📜 500-Word Memoir Topics
✨ My Values Essay Examples
✊🏿 Rosa Parks Essay Topics
💬 Narrative Essay Examples

✍️ How to Write a 500-Word Essay

😱 Stress Impact on Health Essay Samples
🚀 Sample Essays on Accountability
💡 Essay Topics on Respect
🎯 Example Essays on Career Goals
📚 Topics on the Importance of Education
🩺 Alzheimer’s Disease Topics
❤️ Romeo and Juliet Essay Examples
🏫 College Essay Topics

🎓 500-Word Personal Statement Examples

Personal Statement for a Major in Geography and Planning From my perspective, geography is a prominent professional field that has incredible potential, and I want to contribute to the advancement of this area to improve the lives of societies and organizations.
APRN Program Applicant Personal Statement While studying to be a nurse, I discovered the function of nurse practitioners and felt it was exactly what I was searching for.
Personal Statement on My Most Effective Learning Style Thus I believe my mode of learning is the best to use when studying. Through the use of this method, I have found learning to be more exciting and captivating.
Personal Teaching Philosophy Statement: Encouraging Lifelong and Individual Learning Thus, the learners will more easily relate to music, and as a result, necessary prerequisites for active engagement in the studies, and an enthusiasm for the required material, can be expected.

📜 500-Word Memoir Topics to Write About

Describe your most exciting adventure.
Share a story of a volunteer experience that changed your life.
How you rediscovered your passion for an old hobby.
Write about a lesson you’ve learned from a unique friendship.
What life events had the most significant impact on your personality?
Discuss your experiences in competitive sports.
Explore and discuss your heritage and cultural roots.
Write about the situation when you had to step out of your comfort zone.
Reveal your path to forgiveness and reconciliation.
What is your favorite childhood memory? Why is it significant?

✨ My Values Essay: 500 Words Examples

Nursing Values and Responsibilities Some of the legal responsibilities of a nurse include preventing malpractice cases and respecting a patient’s confidentiality. The legal responsibilities of a nurse involve preventing malpractice and respecting a patient’s confidentiality.
Social Work: Values, Experience, and Educational Goals First of all, I would like to start with the fact that people, as phenomena, have always attracted me, and also aroused a desire to help, if necessary.
Values in Caring for Dying Patients Therefore, medical professionals’ main task is to provide the most satisfying life for patients and peace of mind for loved ones. In conclusion, the care and treatment of dying patients imply adherence to certain professional […]
The Importance of Values and Virtues To further illustrate this concept in a more detailed manner, I will refer to a couple of the values I follow, while depicting a situation when I have broken them.
Businessperson’s Vision, Mission, and Values Statement In addition, I intend to use my skills and knowledge in finance to mitigate the risks that the company is facing.
Personality and Values in Human Services Practice In order to overcome this problem, I plan to find a colleague who can help me review the plans and assessments of current situations to ensure that I cover all the basic issues.

✊🏿 Rosa Parks Essay: 500 Words Topics

What were the early years of Rosa Parks and her upbringing?
Describe Rosa Parks’ involvement in the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Explore Rosa Parks’ collaboration with Martin Luther King Jr.
Write about Parks’ later years and continued activism.
What was Rosa Parks’ personal philosophy?
The cultural depictions of Rosa Parks in literature, film, and art.
Analyze Parks’ contribution to the fight for racial equality.
Study the cultural and historical context of Parks’ actions.
Discuss the legacy of Rosa Parks’ writings and speeches.
What is the significance of the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, Alabama?

💬 Narrative Essay Examples: 500 Words

Blog Response: Developing Different Kinds of Narratives I get the news set that makes her keep asking “is this journalism” and feel relaxed as she makes me realize am reading and not in the situation.
A Horrible Walk in the Wilderness Upon some reflection, Ashley concluded that she should have asked someone to meet her at the bus stop when she arrived at 10 o’clock and guide her to the picnic site.”One would have thought that […]
Counseling and Social Work Challenges Also, it may be important to try to work with different people and assess the impact that individual differences have on the work results.
Walking Tour: Irving Street in San Francisco The first place, which you can see is the Baskin Robbins store at the corner of the 24th avenue. The fine restaurant is located nearby the intersection of the Irving Street and the 23rd avenue.
Architectural Design of the Autostadt Roof This is one of the main attributes of this architectural design. It should be kept in mind that this work is located on the territory of Autostadt, the museum of Volkswagen.

Writing 500 words is not much work. If the topic is simple, you can easily finish everything in a couple of hours. However, writing essays on more complex issues is an entirely different process. It is essential to structure everything well and cover the topic fully within the tight word limit. Not sure how to do it? Have a look at the guide below.

500-Word Essay Structure

If you want to write an excellent 500-word essay, then make sure to outline it first. A standard 5-paragraph piece will have the following structure:

1 intro paragraph that provides the necessary background and states your thesis
3 body paragraph with a detailed presentation of all evidence and arguments
1 conclusion paragraph that sums everything up.

Each paragraph should contain about 100 words. Such length is enough to cover almost any topic.

An explanation of a 500-word essay structure.

Did you know you can use the power of AI to create an excellent essay plan? Our outline generator can make you a perfect one in no time.

500-Word Essay Introduction

In a 500-word paper, an introduction is usually 50—100 words long, which takes up about 10—20% of the general word count. The size may vary depending on the complexity of the topic.

Here are a few helpful tips on writing a good introduction:

Start with an arresting hook. It can be a thought-provoking question, a quote, or an intriguing piece of statistics. Need some inspiration? Try our essay hook generator !
Provide enough background. That’s a tricky part. The context you give should be sufficient for understanding your topic and arguments but not overly detailed.
Present a well-formulated thesis statement. It’s the most critical part of your intro. To create it quickly and painlessly, you can use our thesis statement generator .
Remember to use transition sentences. They will make your writing smoother and more logical. We recommend using them in body paragraphs as well.

500-Words Essay Conclusion

The conclusion of a 500-word paper is about the same size as an introduction. It wraps up all you’ve been discussing before and gives a sense of closure to your readers.

Follow these tips to write a striking conclusion:

Restate your thesis statement. Try paraphrasing your thesis to showcase a fresh understanding you’ve developed throughout your essay.
Sum up the main points you’ve used to support your opinion. Try to introduce them in a way that clearly shows how they are connected.
Finish with a memorable final thought. Our closing sentence generator will help you ensure perfect results.

How Many References for 500-Word Essay Should You Include?

The number of references in a 500-word essay may differ depending on the assignment type, academic level, and your instructor’s specific requirements. Generally, an essay includes 8 to 12 citations for every 1000 words. So, if the number is not specified, you can safely use 4—6 references for your 500-word paper. Want to be sure that your citations are correctly formatted? Make them with our AI-based citation generator !

😱 Stress Impact on Health Essay: 500 Words Samples

Effects of Stress on Human Health There are numerous theories and researches on stress and health, they all agree that stress has an adverse effect on human health; the statement goes “a stressed man is an unhealthy man”.
The Relationship Between Stress and Health: Article Summary The implications of the study allow for stating that the increased exposure to stress at work leads to worsened health of the stressed individuals.
Coping with Stress and Physical Health Problems In this regard, Julie, first of all, needs to accept the situation as it is, to appreciate the things and the context that she is no longer able to change.
Coping with Stress: Stress and Health In terms of physical, emotional, and behavioral signs, Julia is experiencing severe stress, which requires the help of specialists and the introduction of various techniques that contribute to the normalization of all aspects of life.
Occupational Health: Workplace Stress To avoid noise-related stress, Ruth handles her job with a positive attitude and this makes it easy to enjoy work. In conclusion, work-related stress is a major cause of poor performance by employees due to […]
Health and Stress in College Students We may believe that stress has only psychological relevance, but the perspective of psychologists is that stress is the physiological and psychological reaction of an individual to a condition that poses a threat calling for […]
Minority Stress and Health: Societal Issues Due to the peculiarities of the LGBT people’s personal life, they might experience limited support and restricted access to medical services.

🚀 500-Word Essay on Accountability: Examples

Social Work Career, Professional Behavior and Accountability I have the desire to fight for human rights and social change, and I want to fight for justice in all corners to make society a better place.
Pursuing Professional Accountability and Just Culture It is suitable to combine the quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluate organizational culture since this ensures that the strength of the other adjusts for the shortcomings of one method.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act: Privacy and Security Rules Violation Most cases present with the use of malicious malware to access protected data without the consent of the insurers and inappropriate use of that information.
Civil Society and Political Accountability in Samoa Also, one of the priorities in the political life of Samoa is the attraction of local communities and governments to the state governance system to ensure progress in all aspects of the country’s life.
Accountability in Healthcare Organizations and Improving the Quality of Service This is true in view of the fact that the clients of a health care organization may not possess the knowledge to judge the technical quality of the healthcare service provided and the clients’ wellbeing […]
A Critical Reflection of “Accountability in the Shadow of Hierarchy” by Thomas Schillemans The article by Schillemans addresses the emergence of the phenomenon of horizontal accountability in response to the accountability deficit of agencies.
Wise Judgment: Ethics, Accountability, and Human Conscience The man, now in a state of dilemma, does not know whether to blow the whistle and lose his job or just maintain a blind eye to his manager’s unethical acts.

💡 Topics for a 500-Word Essay on Respect

The significance of respect for building healthy relationships.
Is self-respect a necessary condition for a happy life?
The unseen power of silent respect in non-verbal communication.
Discuss the importance of respecting and understanding different religious beliefs.
Write about the role of respect for older people in different cultures.
Should society show respect to criminals? In what way?
Explain the importance of politeness and open-mindedness in online communication.
Why is the ethical treatment of animals important?
Analyze how disrespect in the workplace affects productivity and motivation.
Recognition and respect towards indigenous cultures and traditions.

🎯 500-Word Essay on Career Goals Examples

Short and Long-Term Goals for Nursing Career For one to fulfill long-term goals, it takes him or her a lot of time while short-term goal is a part of the several steps involved in the long-term goal.
Family Nurse Practitioner Career Goals As I plan to deal with children, I will be involved with planning the care of children with their parents and treating childhood illnesses.
A Degree in Social Work: Reasons for Seeking, Career Goals and Aspirations I would like to pursue a degree in social work at this because I am in a position to accommodate the strict nature of the study being fresh from school, young and energetic at the […]
How the DTC Major Supports Your Career Goals Digital technology and culture ensures that the knowledge people have in art is updated depending on the modern technology and everyone for communication to be effective understands the language used.
Reaching the Career Goals: In Search for a Place Under the Sun Quicksilver Nespresso Fastsing Narrowing the Choice Down to Three Options While the list provided above offers a fairly detailed account of the career options that I can possibly use in order to achieve success in […]
Career Goals in Educational Technology The University offers the Master of Arts and the doctor of Philosophy degrees in Educational Technology. One of the spread and reasonable career goal for an applicant is to achieve success in the field of […]

📚 Topics for an Essay on Importance of Education in 500 Words

Importance of Higher Education Education creates awareness in the minds of individuals, a new sense of responsibility, openness to change and progress, all of which are important factors in the development of a nation.
Importance of Education to Student-Athletes Education enables student athletes to develop appropriate skills that they require to be independent and to succeed in academics. Although athletics forms a vital part of a student athletes’ life, it is vital to understand […]
The Importance of Education in the Global Society The role and the importance of education in the modern world is a subject of this essay. The elementary and secondary education is obligatory and free in the majority of them.
Importance of Sex Education for Teens One of the advantages of cohabitation in modern society is that it eliminates the obligations of marriage while providing sexual and emotional intimacy for couples. One of the disadvantages is that for most couples, cohabitation […]
Importance of Managing Students in the Education System This would not only benefit the students, but also the teachers who will be able to understand the capacity of the students they are admitting to the institution.

🩺 Alzheimer’s Disease Essay: 500 Words Topics

Describe early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.
How does Alzheimer’s impact caregivers?
Explain the importance of overcoming the stigma associated with dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease and gender differences: prevalence and effects.
Discuss the common misperceptions of Alzheimer’s disease.
Is there a connection between Alzheimer’s and one’s lifestyle?
Study the role of music and art therapy in treating Alzheimer’s patients.
Write about the significance of inclusive clinical research of dementia.
Alzheimer’s disease and the importance of physical activity.
Explore non-pharmacological interventions for Alzheimer’s patients.

❤️ Romeo and Juliet Essay: 500 Words Example Texts

Analysis of the Play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Another interesting scene of the production that makes it real understanding of the authors work is the casting of the romantic love between Romeo and Juliet, the physical love of the nurse and the contractual […]
Romeo and Juliet: Analysis of Play Being a tragedy, the story narrates the challenges two lovers, Romeo and Juliet, go through due to the enmity between their respective families. For example, the story of Juliet and Romeo presents a romantic and […]
Analysis of “Romeo and Juliet” Directed by Simon Godwin The actors played in the theater without an audience, and the shooting itself took two and a half weeks, but also due to the director’s attempt to combine the action on the theater stage and […]
Nurse and Friar Laurence in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” The way Friar Laurence supported Romeo and Juliet to get Married, The way the Nurse is opposing in her regards of Romeo and Paris, When Friar Laurence clandestinely married them, the way the Nurse is […]
“Analysis of Causes of Tragic Fate in Romeo and Juliet Based on Shakespeare’s View of Fate” by Jie Li The article is easy to read and makes a compelling case for the reasons that precipitated the tragedy in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

🏫 500-Word College Essay Topics

Describe a book or movie that made a profound impact on you.
What academic achievement influenced your career choice?
Share the life lesson you’ve learned from a memorable mistake.
Write about the impact of a mentor on your academic or personal growth.
Describe a life-changing act of kindness.
How did participation in a community service project influence you?
Tell about a project or initiative you’ve started and its impact.
Talk about the time when you stood up for your beliefs.
What is your vision of a better world? How do you plan to contribute?
How did you discover your passion for a particular field of study?

📌 500 Word Essay: Answers to the Most Pressing Questions

📌 500 word essay is how many pages.

How many pages is 500 words of academic text? According to the guidelines of all the key citation styles, one page should contain approximately 250 words (12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced). If you follow these guidelines, your 500-word essay will be 2 pages. If you make it single-spaced, it will take one page.

📌 How Much Is 500 Words in Paragraphs?

How many paragraphs is a 500-word essay? Since a typical paragraph in academic writing contains 50-100 words, an essay of 500 words will consist of 5 to 7 paragraphs.

📌 How Many Sentences Is 500 Words?

How many sentences is a 500-word essay? A typical sentence in academic writing consists of 15-20 words. So, 500 words are not less than 25-28 sentences.

📌 How to Outline a 500-Word Essay?

A 500-word essay outline usually follows a standard five-paragraph structure. Start your paper with a short introduction that includes an attention-grabber, some background information, and a thesis. Then add three body paragraphs that focus on your arguments. Finish your 500-word paper with a conclusion that contains a restated thesis and a summary of your ideas.

📌 How Long Does It Take to Write 500 Words?

How long does it take to write a 500-word essay? It will take you 10-20 minutes to type 500 words on your keyboard (the total time will depend on your typing speed). Writing an academic paper will take more time because you’ll have to research, make an outline, write, format, and edit your text. It would be best if you planned to spend not less than 1 hour and 40 minutes for a 500-word paper.

📌 How Many Body Paragraphs Are in a 500 Word Essay?

A typical 500 words essay consists of 4 to 6 paragraphs. Each of the paragraphs should contain 75-150 words.

How to Write a 500-word essay-Advice by Experts

Whether it is a scholarship application, an admission essay, an in-class essay, an exam essay, a standard essay assignment, or a college essay, sometimes you are required to submit a 500-word essay. It can also be a current event essay .

College students often find it hard to write a 500-word essay. While it is indeed a short essay , it is comparatively challenging to put together compared to long essays. Thus, this article on how to write a 500-word essay will help.

In this article, we demystify your concerns about how much a 500-word essay is. What is a 500-word essay? And how many paragraphs should a 500-word essay have? Plus, many more complex questions on 500-word essays.

What is a 500-word essay?

As the name suggests, a 500-word essay is a short essay comprising an introduction paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph as its three main sections where the writer discusses, describes, analyzes, and writes about a topic. It is just a paper written in 500 words, either as one single-spaced paper or two double-spaced pages.

It is a common format preferred for short exam essay-based questions, college essays, descriptive essays , persuasive essays, argumentative essays, or personal essays. If you have come across a short essay about yourself, friendship, family, or a prolific person, you would agree that most of them are written in 500 words.

A 500-word essay is nearly the same as a two-page essay. It is mostly assigned in college, university, and high school.

From its name, it is clear that a 500-word essay is an essay that requires you to follow the 5-paragraph essay format. It involves writing on a topic, an issue, or a question in five hundred words. So naturally, the word count is usually 500 words.

How long is a 500-word essay?

How Many Pages are 500 Words? This is a common question. Well, we have an answer to it.

A page is approximately 500 to 550 words single-spaced. On the other hand, when considering a double-spaced page, the word count is 250-275 words. Therefore, a 500-word essay can either be one single-spaced page or two double-spaced pages.

And you might be interested in the number of paragraphs that make a 500-word essay. Well, given the understanding of the pages and the word count, a 500-word essay follows the classic five-paragraph essay format.

Thus, it has an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. You could have approximately 100-word paragraphs of 6-7 short sentences. Some of the prompts allow either plus or minus 10% of the indicated word count.

The time it takes to complete a 500-word essay.

You probably wonder how long it might take to complete this variant of a short essay. Assuming that you are familiar with the topic and are researching and writing, it could take 1-3 hours to write an excellent 500-word essay.

If you are a professional, expert essay writer, you can write 500-word essays in 30 minutes to 1 hour. Of course, they are mavens in essay writing. Besides, they work with the best essay writing service .

Format of a 500-word Essay

A 500-word essay follows the conventions of five-paragraph writing in terms of structure. You are expected to follow an appropriate essay format to present your ideas. When writing a 500-words essay, consider the following structure.

It differs depending on the formatting style chosen, e.g., MLA, APA, Havard, or Chicago styles.
It consists of your credentials, university name, professor's name, and date of submission.
It also entails the title of your essay
A hook statement that grabs the attention of the readers
Background information that expounds on the topic
A roadmap that explains how you explore the topics
The thesis statement that is the controlling idea for your essay
Body paragraph 1 : Topic sentence (your first main point or idea), evidence (facts, examples, illustrations, explanations, and interpretations), closing sentence, and transition to the next paragraph.
Body paragraph 2 : Topic sentence (your second main point or idea), evidence (facts, examples, illustrations, explanations, and interpretations), closing sentence, and transition to next paragraph.
Body paragraph 1 : Topic sentence (your last main point or idea), evidence (facts, examples, illustrations, explanations, and interpretations), closing sentence, and transition to the conclusion.
Summary of your claims, arguments, and discussions.
Rephrased thesis statement
Your final account on the essay: recommendation, observation, or suggestion.
If you have used references, list them alphabetically (A-Z) depending on the citation format, such as APA, MLA, Chicago, or Havard formats.

Seven Steps to Write a 500-word Essay

You can simply follow the steps of classic essay writing to complete your 500-word essay. As long as your essay has solid arguments supporting your claim, you are good to go. Writing a 500-word essay should take less time than, say, a 1000-word essay , considering that it is short. Here are some steps you can use to craft a 500-word essay successfully.

1. Read the Requirements

Although most students either ignore this or do it lightly, reading the essay prompt prepares you to write the essay and sets you up for success. Therefore, read and comprehend the requirements, including the topic, preferred approach, paragraphing rules, citation style and format, and the deadline.

2. Brainstorm for ideas

You can either use your computer or pen and paper to brainstorm and record your ideas based on the instructions. You can highlight some of the most exciting ideas that come to mind. Doing so also helps to use your creativity and critical thinking, which essay writing tests. Your rough list comes in handy during research and when writing the essay.

3. Select a good topic

With everything held in place, it is now time to choose a topic. You can either do this from the list provided by your professor or choose an independent but relevant and interesting topic. Select a topic that you find exciting and has not been overdone. You can focus on controversial social issues, current affairs, and debatable areas related to your interests or field of study.

A topic for a 500-word essay should be exciting and narrow so that you share your insights and concepts briefly but exhaustively. The topic you choose should have enough content. You can gauge this by looking for evidence from scholarly articles.

4. Conduct a thorough research

If you are running short of time, you can combine research and writing. However, if you have adequate time, spend more time researching for resources that you can use to support your claims in the paper.

Consolidating the information you need to explore your chosen topic reduces time wastage during the writing process. Assuming that you organize the sources, you can write as you cite to avoid plagiarism .

5. Create an outline

You can then create a detailed outline to envision the structure of your essay. Remember, you only have 500 words to convince or inform your readers. Therefore, adequate planning is necessary. An outline is your essay plan or roadmap. It is the backbone upon which your essay rests.

Break down the main points for each section of your essay to ensure a logical and structured flow of information. Then, ensure that you refine the content to have an essay that is coherent, competent, clear, and classy.

Your outline will help you stay on course when writing.

6. Write the essay beginning with body paragraphs

Break the monotony of beginning your essay with an introduction during the writing process. Instead, start your 500-word essay by writing the body paragraphs first now that you have an outline. This approach is better because you can write the body paragraphs that support the thesis. And suppose there are changes in the paragraphs. In that case, you can tweak the thesis statement to reflect the change instead of cumbersomely doing it otherwise.

The body paragraphs comprise 80% of your word count. So, you have 400 words to spread the content of three body paragraphs, meaning you have to have short paragraphs. The paragraphs should each have at least 133 words. Remember you have a + or–10% word count allowance. So, a paragraph of 4-6 short sentences would suffice. The body paragraphs should have a topic sentence highlighting the main idea, examples and evidence, and a concluding sentence.

Related: Paragraph writing rules

Once you are done with the body paragraphs, write your introduction. Your introduction should be strong as it is a selling point to your readers. Convince your readers by including attention grabbers. Introduce the topic and give some background information. Finally, have a strong thesis statement to wrap up your introduction. For this, you have 100 words, which means you need not include irrelevant words and sentences.

Finally, write an impressive conclusion for your essay. It would help to summarize your main argument and then restate the thesis statement.

When writing, use relevant transition words for smooth flow and quality arguments.

7. Revise, edit, Proofread, and Polish

Finally, because you focused on writing first and editing last, revise and polish your essay as a final step.

Read the essay aloud to yourself and correct the spelling, grammatical, punctuation, and stylistic errors you can identify. As well, check your paper through a plagiarism checker to ensure it is devoid of plagiarism.

Proofread your essay well, and if you need help, especially for critical essays such as personal essays, SOPs, and scholarship essays, hire a professional proofreader.

Helpful Tips When Writing a 500-Word Essay

Everybody looks forward to writing an essay that earns them good grades. Writing an essay in just 500 words means packing your arguments and never wasting any words. To do so, you can use these tips used mainly by top students when writing short essays.

Always read instructions . Reading the instructions helps you comprehend what your instructor will be looking for as they mark your paper.
Take a break before proofreading . Before you edit and proofread your 500-word essay, ensure that you take a break. Doing so helps you develop an objective mind, making it easier to spot mistakes.
Use academic phrases . Avoid using cliché words when writing your essay. Instead, use academic writing phrases that will entice grades from your professor. Instead of overloading your 500-word essay with complicated vocabulary, maintain simplicity and express your ideas directly. Keep your content pristine, organized, and 100% non-plagiarized.
Use strong verbs . You are writing an essay in just 500 words. Therefore, structure your arguments and use strong verbs to avoid wasting words. Always use simple language. Avoid jargon and complicated vocabulary, as well as synonyms.
Use active voice . Like any other academic paper, ensure that you use active voice unless the passive voice is unavoidable. Check out our guide on using active voice .
Each paragraph has one idea . As you structure your paragraphs, ensure that each body paragraph focuses on a single idea. As well, ensure that you use transition words to connect your paragraphs. Your body should have topic sentences, supporting facts (well-cited), and concluding sentences.
Confirm your instruction vs. your paper before submitting it . Reread the essay prompt and then your paper before submitting it. When writing, editing, and proofreading the essay, always have the audience in mind.
Research widely . Research online to get credible sources of information. We recommend starting on a Google search to understand your topic. You can also get scholarly articles online to supplement your arguments. Research is invaluable as you write or familiarize yourself with the topic.

Essay Topics Suitable for a 500-Words Essay

Below are some suggestions or topic ideas for your upcoming 500-word essay.

The Importance of Names
Is diversity a good thing within a team, and why?
Is living longer necessarily a good thing?
Is it fair to use children in television advertisements?
Why Housing Mentally Ill Offenders in Prisons is Wrong
High school doesn't prepare you for life
Should students work part-time while studying?
Should student debt be discharged in the face of bankruptcy?
The Wrongs of Polygamy
Is the US HealthCare System Broken?
Dogs are better friends than humans
Keeping pets is beneficial
Benefits of stem cell technology
Emotional impacts of HIV and Aids
Benefits of being earnest
Causes and consequences of wars
Role of ethics in business
Benefits of CSR activities
The American Dream
Video games and violence
Impact of covid on marriages
Impact of social media on relationships
Does social media promote promiscuity?
Why I want to be a nurse
The best leadership styles
Profile essay on Putin
Benefits of punctuality
Benefits of integrity in the workplace
Role of code of ethics
Why people should have respect for others
Time management strategies for students
How to score the best grade in math
Is a college education worth it?
Rising student loan debts
Essay on responsibility
Education should be free
How social media enables human trafficking
Ethics of human trafficking
How to spend summer vacation
How to revise for exams
A perfect day
An ideal society
Teenagers should be educated on sex
Suicide rates among teenagers
Impacts of driving when texting
Rape victims should not be questioned
Happiness is a choice
Importance of sleep on human growth
Animal testing should be prohibited
Impacts of covid 19 on education

Final Remarks

Understanding how to write a 500-word essay is integral to your academic journey. Students taking English courses would agree that writing essays and research papers is mandatory.

For your English 102 essay , you might be required to write a 500-word essay. Whichever subject you are pursuing and you need to write such an essay, do everything we have highlighted and set yourself up for success.

Now, if you are pressed for time, have thought about your essay at the last minute, and all you need is help with writing the 500-word essay, we can help. Our last-minute essay writers can craft your 500-word essay in less than 2 hours. Again, we are talking about you getting a 100% unique, custom-written, and plagiarism-free essay.

If this sounds like what you are after, do not hesitate to place an order through the order form on our homepage. Consider some of these benefits:

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College essay
College Essay Examples | What Works and What Doesn’t

College Essay Examples | What Works and What Doesn't

Published on November 8, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on August 14, 2023.

One effective method for improving your college essay is to read example essays . Here are three sample essays, each with a bad and good version to help you improve your own essay.

Essay 1: sharing an identity or background through a montage, essay 2: overcoming a challenge, a sports injury narrative, essay 3: showing the influence of an important person or thing, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

This essay uses a montage structure to show snapshots of a student’s identity and background. The writer builds her essay around the theme of the five senses, sharing memories she associates with sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.

In the weak rough draft, there is little connection between the individual anecdotes, and they do not robustly demonstrate the student’s qualities.

In the final version, the student uses an extended metaphor of a museum to create a strong connection among her stories, each showcasing a different part of her identity. She draws a specific personal insight from each memory and uses the stories to demonstrate her qualities and values.

How My Five Senses Record My Life

Throughout my life, I have kept a record of my life’s journey with my five senses. This collection of memories matters a great deal because I experience life every day through the lens of my identity.

“Chinese! Japanese!”

My classmate pulls one eye up and the other down.

“Look what my parents did to me!”

No matter how many times he repeats it, the other kids keep laughing. I focus my almond-shaped eyes on the ground, careful not to attract attention to my discomfort, anger, and shame. How could he say such a mean thing about me? What did I do to him? Joseph’s words would engrave themselves into my memory, making me question my appearance every time I saw my eyes in the mirror.

Soaking in overflowing bubble baths with Andrew Lloyd Webber belting from the boombox.

Listening to “Cell Block Tango” with my grandparents while eating filet mignon at a dine-in show in Ashland.

Singing “The Worst Pies in London” at a Korean karaoke club while laughing hysterically with my brother, who can do an eerily spot-on rendition of Sweeney Todd.

Taking car rides with Mom in the Toyota Sequoia as we compete to hit the high note in “Think of Me” from The Phantom of the Opera . Neither of us stands a chance!

The sweet scent of vegetables, Chinese noodles, and sushi wafts through the room as we sit around the table. My grandma presents a good-smelling mixture of international cuisine for our Thanksgiving feast. My favorite is the Chinese food that she cooks. Only the family prayer stands between me and the chance to indulge in these delicious morsels, comforting me with their familiar savory scents.

I rinse a faded plastic plate decorated by my younger sister at the Waterworks Art Center. I wear yellow rubber gloves to protect my hands at Mom’s insistence, but I can still feel the warm water that offers a bit of comfort as I finish the task at hand. The crusted casserole dish with stubborn remnants from my dad’s five-layer lasagna requires extra effort, so I fill it with Dawn and scalding water, setting it aside to soak. I actually don’t mind this daily chore.

I taste sweat on my upper lip as I fight to continue pedaling on a stationary bike. Ava’s next to me and tells me to go up a level. We’re biking buddies, dieting buddies, and Saturday morning carbo-load buddies. After the bike display hits 30 minutes, we do a five-minute cool down, drink Gatorade, and put our legs up to rest.

My five senses are always gathering new memories of my identity. I’m excited to expand my collection.

Word count: 455

College essay checklist

Topic and structure

I’ve selected a topic that’s meaningful to me.
My essay reveals something different from the rest of my application.
I have a clear and well-structured narrative.
I’ve concluded with an insight or a creative ending.

Writing style and tone

I’ve crafted an introduction containing vivid imagery or an intriguing hook that grabs the reader’s attention.
I’ve written my essay in a way that shows instead of tells.
I’ve used appropriate style and tone for a college essay.
I’ve used specific, vivid personal stories that would be hard to replicate.
I’ve demonstrated my positive traits and values in my essay.
My essay is focused on me, not another person or thing.
I’ve included self-reflection and insight in my essay.
I’ve respected the word count , remaining within 10% of the upper word limit.

Making Sense of My Identity

Welcome to The Rose Arimoto Museum. You are about to enter the “Making Sense of My Identity” collection. Allow me to guide you through select exhibits, carefully curated memories from Rose’s sensory experiences.

First, the Sight Exhibit.

“Chinese! Japanese!”

“Look what my parents did to me!”

No matter how many times he repeats it, the other kids keep laughing. I focus my almond-shaped eyes on the ground, careful not to attract attention as my lip trembles and palms sweat. Joseph couldn’t have known how his words would engrave themselves into my memory, making me question my appearance every time I saw my eyes in the mirror.

Ten years later, these same eyes now fixate on an InDesign layout sheet, searching for grammar errors while my friend Selena proofreads our feature piece on racial discrimination in our hometown. As we’re the school newspaper editors, our journalism teacher Ms. Riley allows us to stay until midnight to meet tomorrow’s deadline. She commends our work ethic, which for me is fueled by writing一my new weapon of choice.

Next, you’ll encounter the Sound Exhibit.

Still, the world is my Broadway as I find my voice on stage.

Just below, enter the Smell Exhibit.

While I help my Pau Pau prepare dinner, she divulges her recipe for cha siu bau, with its soft, pillowy white exterior hiding the fragrant filling of braised barbecue pork inside. The sweet scent of candied yams, fun see , and Spam musubi wafts through the room as we gather around our Thankgsiving feast. After our family prayer, we indulge in these delicious morsels until our bellies say stop. These savory scents of my family’s cultural heritage linger long after I’ve finished the last bite.

Next up, the Touch Exhibit.

I rinse a handmade mug that I had painstakingly molded and painted in ceramics class. I wear yellow rubber gloves to protect my hands at Mom’s insistence, but I can still feel the warm water that offers a bit of comfort as I finish the task at hand. The crusted casserole dish with stubborn remnants from my dad’s five-layer lasagna requires extra effort, so I fill it with Dawn and scalding water, setting it aside to soak. For a few fleeting moments, as I continue my nightly chore, the pressure of my weekend job, tomorrow’s calculus exam, and next week’s track meet are washed away.

Finally, we end with the Taste Exhibit.

My legs fight to keep pace with the stationary bike as the salty taste of sweat seeps into corners of my mouth. Ava challenges me to take it up a level. We always train together一even keeping each other accountable on our strict protein diet of chicken breasts, broccoli, and Muscle Milk. We occasionally splurge on Saturday mornings after interval training, relishing the decadence of everything bagels smeared with raspberry walnut cream cheese. But this is Wednesday, so I push myself. I know that once the digital display hits 30:00, we’ll allow our legs to relax into a five-minute cool down, followed by the fiery tang of Fruit Punch Gatorade to rehydrate.

Thank you for your attention. This completes our tour. I invite you to rejoin us for next fall’s College Experience collection, which will exhibit Rose’s continual search for identity and learning.

Word count: 649

I’ve crafted an essay introduction containing vivid imagery or an intriguing hook that grabs the reader’s attention.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

This essay uses a narrative structure to recount how a student overcame a challenge, specifically a sports injury. Since this topic is often overused, the essay requires vivid description, a memorable introduction and conclusion , and interesting insight.

The weak rough draft contains an interesting narrative, insight, and vivid imagery, but it has an overly formal tone that distracts the reader from the story. The student’s use of elaborate vocabulary in every sentence makes the essay sound inauthentic and stilted.

The final essay uses a more natural, conversational tone and chooses words that are vivid and specific without being pretentious. This allows the reader to focus on the narrative and appreciate the student’s unique insight.

One fateful evening some months ago, a defensive linebacker mauled me, his 212 pounds indisputably alighting upon my ankle. Ergo, an abhorrent cracking of calcified tissue. At first light the next day, I awoke cognizant of a new paradigm—one sans football—promulgated by a stabbing sensation that would continue to haunt me every morning of this semester.

It’s been an exceedingly taxing semester not being able to engage in football, but I am nonetheless excelling in school. That twist of fate never would have come to pass if I hadn’t broken my ankle. I still limp down the halls at school, but I’m feeling less maudlin these days. My friends don’t steer clear anymore, and I have a lot more of them. My teachers, emboldened by my newfound interest in learning, continually invite me to learn more and do my best. Football is still on hold, but I feel like I’m finally playing a game that matters.

Five months ago, right after my ill-fated injury, my friends’ demeanor became icy and remote, although I couldn’t fathom why. My teachers, in contrast, beckoned me close and invited me on a new learning journey. But despite their indubitably kind advances, even they recoiled when I drew near.

A few weeks later, I started to change my attitude vis-à-vis my newfound situation and determined to put my energy toward productive ends (i.e., homework). I wasn’t enamored with school. I never had been. Nevertheless, I didn’t abhor it either. I just preferred football.

My true turn of fate came when I started studying more and participating in class. I started to enjoy history class, and I grew interested in reading more. I discovered a volume of poems written by a fellow adventurer on the road of life, and I loved it. I ravenously devoured everything in the writer’s oeuvre .

As the weeks flitted past, I found myself spending my time with a group of people who were quite different from me. They participated in theater and played instruments in marching band. They raised their hands in class when the teacher posed a question. Because of their auspicious influence, I started raising my hand too. I am no longer vapid, and I now have something to say.

I am certain that your school would benefit from my miraculous academic transformation, and I entreat you to consider my application to your fine institution. Accepting me to your university would be an unequivocally righteous decision.

Word count: 408

I’ve chosen a college essay topic that’s meaningful to me.
I’ve respected the essay word count , remaining within 10% of the upper word limit.

As I step out of bed, the pain shoots through my foot and up my leg like it has every morning since “the game.” That night, a defensive linebacker tackled me, his 212 pounds landing decidedly on my ankle. I heard the sound before I felt it. The next morning, I awoke to a new reality—one without football—announced by a stabbing sensation that would continue to haunt me every morning of this semester.

My broken ankle broke my spirit.

My friends steered clear of me as I hobbled down the halls at school. My teachers tried to find the delicate balance between giving me space and offering me help. I was as unsure how to deal with myself as they were.

In time, I figured out how to redirect some of my frustration, anger, and pent-up energy toward my studies. I had never not liked school, but I had never really liked it either. In my mind, football practice was my real-life classroom, where I could learn all I ever needed to know.

Then there was that day in Mrs. Brady’s history class. We sang a ridiculous-sounding mnemonic song to memorize all the Chinese dynasties from Shang to Qing. I mumbled the words at first, but I got caught up in the middle of the laughter and began singing along. Starting that day, I began browsing YouTube videos about history, curious to learn more. I had started learning something new, and, to my surprise, I liked it.

With my afternoons free from burpees and scrimmages, I dared to crack open a few more of my books to see what was in them. That’s when my English poetry book, Paint Me Like I Am , caught my attention. It was full of poems written by students my age from WritersCorps. I couldn’t get enough.

I wasn’t the only one who was taken with the poems. Previously, I’d only been vaguely aware of Christina as one of the weird kids I avoided. Crammed in the margins of her high-top Chuck Taylors were scribbled lines of her own poetry and infinite doodles. Beyond her punk rock persona was a sensitive artist, puppy-lover, and environmental activist that a wide receiver like me would have never noticed before.

With Christina, I started making friends with people who once would have been invisible to me: drama geeks, teachers’ pets, band nerds. Most were college bound but not to play a sport. They were smart and talented, and they cared about people and politics and all sorts of issues that I hadn’t considered before. Strangely, they also seemed to care about me.

I still limp down the halls at school, but I don’t seem to mind as much these days. My friends don’t steer clear anymore, and I have a lot more of them. My teachers, excited by my newfound interest in learning, continually invite me to learn more and do my best. Football is still on hold, but I feel like I’m finally playing a game that matters.

My broken ankle broke my spirit. Then, it broke my ignorance.

Word count: 512

This essay uses a narrative structure to show how a pet positively influenced the student’s values and character.

In the weak draft, the student doesn’t focus on himself, instead delving into too much detail about his dog’s positive traits and his grandma’s illness. The essay’s structure is meandering, with tangents and details that don’t communicate any specific insight.

In the improved version, the student keeps the focus on himself, not his pet. He chooses the most relevant stories to demonstrate specific qualities, and the structure more clearly builds up to an insightful conclusion.

Man’s Best Friend

I desperately wanted a cat. I begged my parents for one, but once again, my sisters overruled me, so we drove up the Thompson Valley Canyon from Loveland to Estes Park to meet our newest family member. My sisters had already hatched their master plan, complete with a Finding Nemo blanket to entice the pups. The blanket was a hit with all of them, except for one—the one who walked over and sat in my lap. That was the day that Francisco became a Villanova.

Maybe I should say he was mine because I got stuck with all the chores. As expected, my dog-loving sisters were nowhere to be found! My mom was “extra” with all the doggy gear. Cisco even had to wear these silly little puppy shoes outside so that when he came back in, he wouldn’t get the carpets dirty. If it was raining, my mother insisted I dress Cisco in a ridiculous yellow raincoat, but, in my opinion, it was an unnecessary source of humiliation for poor Cisco. It didn’t take long for Cisco to decide that his outerwear could be used as toys in a game of Keep Away. As soon as I took off one of his shoes, he would run away with it, hiding under the bed where I couldn’t reach him. But, he seemed to appreciate his ensemble more when we had to walk through snowdrifts to get his job done.

When my abuela was dying from cancer, we went in the middle of the night to see her before she passed. I was sad and scared. But, my dad let me take Cisco in the car, so Cisco cuddled with me and made me feel much better. It’s like he could read my mind. Once we arrived at the hospital, the fluorescent lighting made the entire scene seem unreal, as if I was watching the scene unfold through someone else’s eyes. My grandma lay calmly on her bed, smiling at us even through her last moments of pain. I disliked seeing the tubes and machines hooked up to her. It was unnatural to see her like this一it was so unlike the way I usually saw her beautiful in her flowery dress, whistling a Billie Holiday tune and baking snickerdoodle cookies in the kitchen. The hospital didn’t usually allow dogs, but they made a special exception to respect my grandma’s last wishes that the whole family be together. Cisco remained at the foot of the bed, intently watching abuela with a silence that seemed more effective at communicating comfort and compassion than the rest of us who attempted to offer up words of comfort that just seemed hollow and insincere. It was then that I truly appreciated Cisco’s empathy for others.

As I accompanied my dad to pick up our dry cleaner’s from Ms. Chapman, a family friend asked, “How’s Cisco?” before even asking about my sisters or me. Cisco is the Villanova family mascot, a Goldendoodle better recognized by strangers throughout Loveland than the individual members of my family.

On our summer trip to Boyd Lake State Park, we stayed at the Cottonwood campground for a breathtaking view of the lake. Cisco was allowed to come, but we had to keep him on a leash at all times. After a satisfying meal of fish, our entire family walked along the beach. Cisco and I led the way while my mom and sisters shuffled behind. Cisco always stopped and refused to move, looking back to make sure the others were still following. Once satisfied that everyone was together, he would turn back around and continue prancing with his golden boy curly locks waving in the chilly wind.

On the beach, Cisco “accidentally” got let off his leash and went running maniacally around the sand, unfettered and free. His pure joy as he raced through the sand made me forget about my AP Chem exam or my student council responsibilities. He brings a smile not only to my family members but everyone around him.

Cisco won’t live forever, but without words, he has impressed upon me life lessons of responsibility, compassion, loyalty, and joy. I can’t imagine life without him.

Word count: 701

I quickly figured out that as “the chosen one,” I had been enlisted by Cisco to oversee all aspects of his “business.” I learned to put on Cisco’s doggie shoes to keep the carpet clean before taking him out一no matter the weather. Soon after, Cisco decided that his shoes could be used as toys in a game of Keep Away. As soon as I removed one of his shoes, he would run away with it, hiding under the bed where I couldn’t reach him. But, he seemed to appreciate his footwear more after I’d gear him up and we’d tread through the snow for his daily walks.

One morning, it was 7:15 a.m., and Alejandro was late again to pick me up. “Cisco, you don’t think he overslept again, do you?” Cisco barked, as if saying, “Of course he did!” A text message would never do, so I called his dad, even if it was going to get him in trouble. There was no use in both of us getting another tardy during our first-period class, especially since I was ready on time after taking Cisco for his morning outing. Alejandro was mad at me but not too much. He knew I had helped him out, even if he had to endure his dad’s lecture on punctuality.

Another early morning, I heard my sister yell, “Mom! Where are my good ballet flats? I can’t find them anywhere!” I hesitated and then confessed, “I moved them.” She shrieked at me in disbelief, but I continued, “I put them in your closet, so Cisco wouldn’t chew them up.” More disbelief. However, this time, there was silence instead of shrieking.

Last spring, Cisco and I were fast asleep when the phone rang at midnight. Abuela would not make it through the night after a long year of chemo, but she was in Pueblo, almost three hours away. Sitting next to me for that long car ride on I-25 in pitch-black darkness, Cisco knew exactly what I needed and snuggled right next to me as I petted his coat in a rhythm while tears streamed down my face. The hospital didn’t usually allow dogs, but they made a special exception to respect my grandma’s last wishes that the whole family be together. Cisco remained sitting at the foot of the hospital bed, intently watching abuela with a silence that communicated more comfort than our hollow words. Since then, whenever I sense someone is upset, I sit in silence with them or listen to their words, just like Cisco did.

The other day, one of my friends told me, “You’re a strange one, Josue. You’re not like everybody else but in a good way.” I didn’t know what he meant at first. “You know, you’re super responsible and grown-up. You look out for us instead of yourself. Nobody else does that.” I was a bit surprised because I wasn’t trying to do anything different. I was just being me. But then I realized who had taught me: a fluffy little puppy who I had wished was a cat! I didn’t choose Cisco, but he certainly chose me and, unexpectedly, became my teacher, mentor, and friend.

Word count: 617

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

Writing process
Transition words
Passive voice
Paraphrasing

Communication

How to end an email
Ms, mrs, miss
How to start an email
I hope this email finds you well
Hope you are doing well

Parts of speech

Personal pronouns
Conjunctions

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

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.

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.

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 message, flow, tone, style , and clarity. Then, focus on eliminating grammar and punctuation errors.

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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.

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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 !

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download them for free now:

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College Essay 500 Word Limit: 5 Simple Ways to Pare it Down

July 6, 2012 by Sharon Epstein 6 Comments

It can be tough to write an interesting, creative essay and keep it short, but if you know a few simple tips you can deliver an essay that will impress .

Here are 5 Ways to Succeed with the 500 Word Limit:

1. Think Small Instead of Big . Don’t try to tackle a big topic like world peace or what you did for your entire summer vacation. Choose a shorter span of time and a topic that’s not too broad.

2. Write About a Moment. A moment is a brief period of time when you learned something meaningful to you. Moments can make powerful essays.

Here’s an Example of a Moment:

A student working in a store noticed that a customer had dropped some change. It wasn’t a lot and he almost didn’t stop to pick it up, but then he did. The customer was extremely grateful and told him she was counting on that money. The student wrote about how he’d never forget that something insignificant to him could make such a big difference to someone else.

3. Begin in the Middle of Your Story, Where the Action or Conflict Starts. This technique will not only save you words but it’s also a great way to draw the reader into your story. Here are two examples of introductions that were changed to start with action:

Example #1: Before: “I spent my summer vacation interning in the emergency room of a hospital.” Changed: “The bloody gurney wheeled past me. I closed my eyes and prayed for the strength not to pass out.

Example #2: Before: “I always wanted to climb a mountain, so that’s what I decided to do my freshman year.” Changed: “Hurry up!” my dad yelled, as I scrambled to collect myself for another day of mountain climbing.

4 . Use Adjectives and Adverbs Wisely. If your essay is too long try to edit out some of your adjectives and adverbs. Here are two examples of edits and the reasons behind them:

Example #1: Before: As Andrew walked his large legs made heavy, thumping sounds. He turned to stare at the dawning sunrise. Changed: As Andrew walked his legs made heavy, thumping sounds. He turned to stare at the sunrise. Why the Change? 1. Size adjectives, like “large,” are often too general. “Heavy” and “thumping” are specific and convey the idea of being large. 2. “Sunrise” is dawn. Look for these kinds of redundancies.

Example #2: Before: “He walked convincingly . ” After: “He strode.” Why the Change? One word conveys the same idea.

5. Edit Your Essay . Here are 4 ways to eliminate words:

Eliminate any details or explanations that don’t move you toward your conclusion.
Don’t repeat your ideas.
Pare down adjectives and adverbs (see tip #4).
Ask someone else to read you essay. Sometimes, as writers, we get attached to our material and it becomes difficult to know what to cut. Ask one or more people who know you to give you suggestions.

Can you submit an essay that’s over the limit? Check with the admissions office at the college(s). They’ll be able to guide you.

related posts: How to Succeed with the Common App Essay Word Limit: Pt 1 (7 Tips to Remember) How to Succeed with the Common App Essay Word Limit: Pt 2 (Think Small and Still Tell a Big Story) How to Succeed with the Common App Essay Word Limit: Pt 3 (Essay Samples ) How to Succeed with the Common App Essay Word Limit: Pt 4 (Ideas that Work)

Read Time.com on the Common App Essay Word Limit

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Author: Sharon Epstein

College consultant, teaching students how to write memorable college application essays, grad school and prep school essays, and succeed at job and college interviews.

6 thoughts on “ College Essay 500 Word Limit: 5 Simple Ways to Pare it Down ”

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How the Internet Challenges Families

Nowadays, it is hard to imagine an ordinary day without the Internet. People find it normal to use social technologies for different purposes. In 2019, there are more than 4.39 billion people who use the Internet regularly (Kemp, 2019). Regarding such a considerable spread of opportunities, social media may challenge...

Susan Cain and the Art of Quoting

Introduction The ultimate goal of writing is to introduce new ideas and information into the discussion, not to produce derivative content. Nevertheless, using statements and suggestions proposed by others is an essential strategy to enhance the credibility of a paper. Quotations are a particularly useful tool to that end, as...

American Politics

Archetypes in Cheever’s “The Swimmer” Story

Finding a balance between acting reasonably and daring to go on dangerous quests, despite a mature age, may be challenging. In his short story “The Swimmer,” Cheever portrays an upper-class man’s unusual night journey home, wherein he decides to swim back instead of walking. From one perspective, the man’s quest...

Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King”: To See or to Hide

Introduction Sophocles’ work Oedipus the King belongs to the genre of ancient tragedy. This literary style is characterized by personal conflicts, as a result of which the main character comes to the loss of personal values that are necessary for life. The contrast of happiness and unhappiness is often shown...

How Media Helps Promote Terrorists’ Agenda

Terrorism is one of the social stigmas of the modern world. The rise of violent actions peculiar to the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century is associated with the instability in various regions and the clash of different states’ interests. However, there is an idea...

Quantitative Research: Methodology and Main Focus

The strategy uses for this study is going to be quantitative. In quantitative research, your aim is to determine the relationship between one thing (an independent variable) and another (a dependent or outcome variable) in a population. Quantitative research designs are either descriptive (subjects usually measured once) or experimental (subjects...

Developing as an Effective HRM

The practice of a Human Resource Manager (HRM) or a Learning and Development (L&D) Practitioner requires individuals to acquire a comprehensive set of skills, behaviours, as well as knowledge that would facilitate increased levels of effectiveness. HRMs are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating the administrative aspects of an organisation...

The Perspectives of Protestantism

Introduction The evaluation of the same religion from two different positions makes it possible to assess the perception of individual concepts and dogmas and describe specific approaches to the interpretation of relevant opinions. As a background for analysis, Protestantism as a branch of Christianity will be used, and etic and...

Modern Energy Technologies Introduction to Developing Countries

The significance of modern energy sources for the economic development of any country can hardly be overestimated. However, it is a daunting task to find easily implemented ways to transition developing countries to clean and cheap sources of energy. Energy consumption in developing communities is steadily increasing, which poses serious...

An Effective Communication With Adult Patients

Introduction Patient satisfaction with the quality of services provided and the degree of care taken by the medical staff towards the patient is cited as a problem that was selected for analysis. Improving patient satisfaction with medical care is the most important task of the modern healthcare system in general...

Strategic Management and Organizational Structure

Examples of management structures include functional division Product division Matrix methods Geographical division International division The importance of organizational structure is that it facilitates teamwork and enhances communication across all levels of organizations ((Dess et al 2004, p.354). Strength and weaknesses of organization’s structure Functional structure The advantages of the...

Probability and Statistics. Random Sampling

Random sampling is defined as a sampling method whereby several subjects are selected for a study from a population. Each member of the population is merely chosen by chance and therefore each member of the population has an equal probability chance for being chosen for the study. On the other...

Corporation

Practices to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Introduction The evidence-based project entails the implementation of bundled practices to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia, which is a common occurrence in intensive care settings (Sedwick, Lance-Smith, Reeder, & Nardi, 2012). Readiness Level Survey results show that the readiness level is high because the organization views EBP as central to the realization...

What Does It Mean to Be a Pacific Islander Today and in the Future?

Introduction The Pacific Islands or Oceania region is an area with rich cultural heritage and history, representing a plethora of indigenous peoples, each one of which obtains unique cultural traditions. I identify myself and the community of Nauru as a part of the detached group of cultures, nevertheless heading to...

The Cultural Differences Analysis

Every single individual is a member of a specific culture that influences their worldview, opinions about different phenomena, behaviors, and daily activities. Additionally, the technological advancements and traveling give people a possibility to interact with others from all around the world, establish strong personal relationships with them, and enrich knowledge....

A New Clinical Solution System Implementation

Introduction From wearables and telemedicine to People’s Health Movement (PHM) and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) platforms, technology proceeds to transform the healthcare sector. However, communication and collaboration are needed to successfully implement health information technology. Often, the staff is not involved in the selection and review process when healthcare institutions...

Oil Industry: Scandals and Crises

Biezma, M. V., Andrés, M. A., Agudo, D., & Briz, E. (2020). Most fatal oil & gas pipeline accidents through history: A lessons learned approach. Engineering Failure Analysis, 110, 104446. Web. This source is a scholarly research conducted by Biezma et al. (2020) and posted in the Engineering Failure Analysis...

Relationships and Christian Morality

The presence of adultery is a precursor or symptom of a crisis in the relationship. That this is a difficult situation in terms of the psychological state of people, no one can feel at ease knowing or suspecting a partner of sexual intercourse outside marriage. A cheating person is constantly...

Risk Assessments: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Introduction Although the qualitative and quantitative approaches have a similar objective, their modes of application are slightly different. According to Mahdiyar et al. (2020, p. 472), the qualitative risk assessment is responsible for risk prioritization, especially on those occurring during the life cycle of a project. According to Züst (2021,...

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Role of Leisure

Introduction The international health catastrophe triggered by the emergence of COVID-19 has led to the implementation of mechanisms to restrict the epidemic’s transmission. Care for others, such as bringing a loved one to dinner, and care for oneself, such as exercising at a fitness facility, and enjoyment like watching movies,...

Setting in John Updike’s Short Story “A&P”

Updike’s “A&P” can be read fast but the understanding does not come unless one learns to read such texts deeply. On the first scanning, “A&P” seems to offer simple symbolism of freedom and bondage, class, and power through the characters, their looks, and actions. However, the setting itself is a...

“The Clash of Civilizations?” by S. P. Huntington

Wars are an inevitable part of human existence; they have significantly transformed throughout time. In Huntington’s (1993) article The Clash of Civilizations? the author argues that differences between civilizations might become causes of future violent wars. Fox (2005) argues that Huntington’s (1993) arguments are wrong even within the war on...

Discrimination

The Impact of Public Consultation in Australia

Summary The impact of public consultation in Australia is scrutinized by Kerley and Starr (2000). The authors acknowledge that the new concept of public consultation is an overseas trend as implied by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). There are six benefits or values of implementing public consultation...

Religious Studies: Israel in Canaan

The book of Joshua is one of the most important scriptures that describe the final journey of the children of Israel into the Promised Land from Egypt. After the death of Moses who had led the Israelites out of Egypt, Joshua took over the leadership. He was given the mandate...

Lean Philosophy: Remote Check-In in Airports

Introduction In the context of increasing global competitiveness, lean philosophy presents solutions that are appropriate for both companies and customers. The paramount idea of lean philosophy is to add more value to customer experience and avoid unnecessary waste. In their study, Al-Dhaheri and Kang (2015) examine the most important principles...

The Role of Psychology in Understanding Political Violence

Political violence, as well as any other kind of violence, has various causes at its core. Some people or groups resort to rampage when they want to reach equality. Others behave destructively when they desire to gain more power than they already have. Research shows that individuals are often motivated...

International vs. Financial Accounting Standards Board

The Financial Standard Accounting Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (FASB) are the two worldly recognized authorities that determine the field of financial reporting for organizations as well as various regulatory bodies (Hlaciuc, Grosu, Socoliuc, & Maciuca, 2014). A single, unified system of international accounting standards is necessary...

The Role of Managers in the Workplace

The role of managers in the workplace is one of the most significant when it comes to influencing organizational performance and meeting corporate goals. They have a direct impact on the employees they manage while are also expected to carry our various responsibilities targeted at aligning their department’s performance with...

Tectonic Forces Originating Deep within the Earth

Introduction Tectonic force are those kinds of forces that originate from beneath the surface and alter the surface configuration of the earth due to lithospheric plate movement. (Marko, 2002) Plate tectonic movement is the movement of the continental plates. It is believed that the earth was once a continuos land...

Mura’s “An Argument: On 1942”: An Interpretation

David Mura is a third-generation Japanese-American writer. “An argument” is a poem written by him depicting the traumatic experience of the Japanese living in America during the days of the Second World War. The situation then was something similar to the one the Muslim population in America (though not so...

Sharks Characteristics Analysis: Danger of Extinction

Sharks have always been the misunderstood “monsters” of the sea. Up till very recently, very little was known about these aquatic animals aside from the perception that they are man-eaters. Such images were helped along by movies such as the Jaws series. We also have the misconception that they are...

Child Custody Evaluations in Divorce Proceedings

Case study 5 indicates clear instances where the guidelines for child custody as well as evaluation during divorce proceedings can be applicable. The child described in this case study is born from a troubled family. The parents have had a long history of domestic violence and fights that have rendered...

Accountability

Treatment Compliance Among African American Women With HIV

Introduction HIV has been a topic discussed in the closet, especially in the early 90s. With the evolution of technology and science, HIV has become a disease like any other but only requires serious medical attention. Women living with HIV from the African American community ultimately disregard the HIV medication...

The Focus of the Healthcare Reform Program

Introduction. The healthcare reform program enhances the improvement of the current healthcare process. The article focuses on the government’s healthcare reform. The article focuses on the nurses’ healthcare reform contribution. The partnership between the government and the nurses increases the success of the United States healthcare reform program. Summary. The...

Urban Vision of Antonio Sant’Elia vs. the Built Unite d’habitation of Le Corbusier

Antonio Sant’Elia’s style and its impact on Charles-Édouard Jeanneret’s urban vision When speaking about urban vision of Antonio Sant’Elia, some important components of the architect’s futuristic perception must be highlighted. First of all, it should be pointed out that the peculiar feature of Sant’Elia’s design is the so-called autonomy of...

Cyber Security Management and Policy

Cybersecurity threats should be a concern for any company and especially for businesses that employ a large number of people and collect substantial quantities of data. The ability of a company to ensure the security of the information they store is an essential component of the brand image and its...

Development of New Lands by Americans in the First Half of the 19th Century

The first half of the 19th century was marked by the intense development of industry and production. In turn, this process prompted more and more Americans to move to towns, the population of which was growing rapidly. The increase in production in factories required a large number of workers, which...

Four Components of Information Systems

Any company which values effectiveness and aims at developing an efficient infrastructure to facilitate its operations creates its information system. The term information system refers to a set of organizational procedures which generate vital data for supporting decisions made by management (Sahid et al., 2020). Every information system relies on...

“How to Be a Success”: Article by Michael Gladwell

Summary In his 2008 article, “How to Be a Success,” Michael Gladwell contemplates on the essential attributes of a successful person in the 21st century. Pursuing success, both in social interactions and in business is currently seen as one of the main goals for an individual to achieve. According to...

McDonald’s Sustainability and Supply Chains

Ensuring business sustainability is a challenging task, especially for global companies that work with countries with different cultures and regulations. Some countries have incentives for companies to sort and recycle waste, while others do not have the resources to organize these processes. However, McDonald’s is committed to practicing sustainability packaging...

Alexander the Great: The World’s Greatest Military General

Introduction Alexander III of Macedon, known worldwide as Alexander the Great, is frequently regarded as one of the world’s greatest military generals of all time. During the eleven years of his rule and campaigning, Alexander the Great “never lost a major battle” creating a great empire with considerably small resources...

The Importance of Marine Spatial Planning

Introduction For territories in the Pacific, the sea represents a significant portion of the local authority. The preponderance of biodiversity and the significant cultural, social, and economic points may be found therein. However, local nations’ development and conservation plans are mostly concentrated on land, even though improvements in marine spatial...

Night by Elie Wiesel

The Coca-Cola Poland Firm’s Workplace Culture

Workplace culture is directly linked to employee stress, engagement and productivity. According to the 2016 Global Wellness Institute report, costs of health problems caused by work stress reached 12% of the GDP in the United States alone (as cited in Mazur & Mazur-Małek, 2018, p. 98). The problem of insufficient...

Events Devoted to Equality Challenges

Introduction In October, there were several different events concerning related topics. The organization of the events differs due to the various ways of presenting the information. However, all events have a common theme of equality between people and their challenges. For example, on October 19, there was an event devoted...

Health Insurance and the Affordable Care Act

Introduction The US Constitution protects the individual liberties of the American citizen by providing guidelines upon which further laws must conform. The Constitution establishes checks and balances for the three arms of the US government, especially the power limits that define operational scopes for each branch. Therefore, when a legal...

Fears of Public Speaking

Introduction It is important to note that fear of public speaking is an interesting topic for discussion. One of the most significant aspects that should not be disregarded is that numerous factors affect an ability of an individual to communicate with others. The assessment of self-esteem is critical most of...

World Fascism: A Historical Definition

The issue of fascism is considered to be quite berated and misinterpreted throughout the entire twentieth century. The fascism of pre-war period has been described trough the prism of the public democratic mass media and innumerable performances of political discussions. Nowadays the genesis of the fascism appears to be discounted;...

Why Authenticity Is Irrelevant?

In his TED (2004) Talk ‘What Consumers Want’ Joseph Pine questioned a common premise that modern technology will be able to provide an effective shift from mass to unique authentic experiences between the customer and the brand. Pine does not agree with the supposition that such experiences can be inauthentic,...

Silence in the Novels of Elie Wiesel

Introduction The relationship between Eliezer and his father is quite strong in the beginning. However, Eliezer’s love for God overwhelms love for his father. This is evident when he decides to study Kabbalah, against his father’s wish (Wiesel 5). Interestingly, Eliezer chooses to ignore his father’s advice concerning the religious...

Nursing Job, Skills and Capabilities

The job of a nurse requires much responsibility, and it is multi-faceted. It is necessary to obtain the relevant knowledge, skills, and capabilities to be able to perform health care provision effectively. The responsibilities of a nurse include monitoring the nutrition of patients, providing psychological support to patients and their...

Non-Therapeutic Interventions for Abused Children

Introduction Children and adolescents facing neglect, abuse, school or domestic violence, and even homelessness suffer from the consequences of complex trauma. People exposed to such trauma usually have difficulties with self-regulation, depression, trust issues, insecurity, and aggression. Education programs can help children become less accepting of harmful behavior and make...

The Internet and Interactive Media as a New Advertising Tool

The Internet and interactive media have become an integral part of each person’s life. This is why there is no wonder that they have infiltrated into every single sphere of human activity. Since at present advertising is one of the most active spheres of human activities, the use of the...

Intelligence
African American

Hybrid Cell Phones Affect on People’s Lives

The cell phone is the most effective and widespread piece of technology in the world today. This is despite the slow growth in the first years when it was introduced. It is a must-have gadget that keeps people connected to what is happening outside their environment all the time. Cell...

Modernization: Varied Strategies in Our Modern Society

The modernisation process has always had this important feature: it is not possible without constant efforts to assist it. During the history of humanity, such remedies as sport, music, and art have been effectively applied to aid this process. With the beginning of an industrial era, science and technology have...

The Short Story “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien

The short story “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien explores the emotional and psychological struggles which soldiers go through in the battlefield. This is evident from first person voice narration O’Brien, who relates the daily experiences of the soldiers in his Alpha Company in the jungles of Vietnam. Even...

Hispanic Community: Alcohol & Substance Abuse Among the Female Gender Population

The Hispanic community is one of the rapidly growing populations in the American community. Although they are non-natives in the country, their presence is slowly being recognized not only in democratic processes but also in the social order. One of the states with significant populations of the Hispanic community in...

Life, Struggles, and Social Activities of Frederick Douglass

Annotated Bibliography Assignment Wilson, K. H. (2018). Political paradoxes and the Black Jeremiad: Frederick Douglass’s immanent theory of rhetorical protest. Howard Journal of Communications, 29(3), 243-257. The article by Kirt H. Wilson analyzes the controversial nature of Frederick Douglass and his views on America and the long history of slavery...

How Cultural Norms in Indian Culture Influence Communication?

Introduction Attention-getter: “Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk said, “As many languages you know, as many times you are a human being.” The same goes for knowing other cultures.” Thesis statement: Indian cultural heritage is a fantastic source of spiritual and scientific knowledge. Moreover, Indian cultural communication patterns derive from their deep spirituality....

Radiation Effect and Human Disease Correlation

Radiation results from the decay of unstable nuclei to give out particles that could destroy normal tissues leading to diseases such as cancer. Radioactive elements are referred to as ionizing radiations that can impact the chemical and physical traits of the molecules they are exposed to. Radiation comprises high-energy particles,...

Uses and Adverse Effects of Psyllium

Psyllium belongs to plant genus known as plantago consisting of more than 200 species. Its seeds are used in making of mucilage. It is grown in Russia, Pakistan, India and European countries. It is used in: Reduction of body Cholesterol found in the body circulation system. If body Cholesterol is...

The Data-Driven Decisions in Business

The companies’ leaders are expected not only to be the professionals in their area but also to have the necessary characteristics to solve difficult situations and make data-driven decisions. For example, recently, my manager was making a decision about which of two employees to promote. The first worker, Mary, was...

Generating Pythagorean Triples

Introduction “Pythagorean triple, originated from the terminology referred to as Pythagorean Theorem, which states that each right-angled triangle has its sides that satisfy the formula x2+y2=z2 and thereby, the 3 sides of a right-angled triangle are actually described by a Pythagorean triple” (Stillwell, 2003, p.5). Fundamentally, three numerals that are...

American Revolution
Advertising
Web Technology

The McMaster University: Guidelines for Quantitative Studies

It goes without saying that medical researches deserve close attention and consideration. The medical researches which are made with the claim of their further applicability deserve far more consideration and interpretation, lots of preliminary work before the actual living out of the claims, found within a research book. There are...

Harari’s Views on Homo Sapiens vs. Other Species

According to Harari, the Cognitive revolution was what actually separated Homo Sapiens from other species. He defines it as the emergence of new ways of thinking and communicating (Harai, 25). In this sense, it became “the point when history declared its independence from biology,” meaning that humanity developed according to...

Plato, Confucius, and Han Fei: Definitions of Society

The idea of society as a community with a set hierarchy and philosophy is thousand years old, dating back to the primitive life. As a result, philosophers started pondering over the concepts of life and reality quite a while ago, making the issue quite contentions. Although there seems to be...

Impact of Negative Messages About Businesses

It seems that in this day and age it is meaningless to avoid using social media as a tool for business promotion and interaction with customers. However, there are still organizations that do not want to embrace social media and the opportunities it grants. One of the main reasons for...

Motivational Theories in the Workplace

Motivation may be defined as cognitive decision-making to initiate and monitor behaviour with the purpose of reaching a specific goal. At work, evaluations are conducted using appraisals, which have predetermined standards and whose conclusions decide whether the person is satisfied or unsatisfied. Motivation is critical in all enterprises, whether private...

Architecture: Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier

Introduction Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier contributed to the growth of architecture in America. Despite their differences in art styles, the architects significantly contributed to the buildings erected in America in the 1900s. The essay illustrates the two architects’ perceptions of architecture and gives an example of buildings created...

Mrs. Mallard in “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

Kate Chopin penned the short story “Story of an Hour” in 1891. The story’s protagonist is Mrs. Louise Mallard, diagnosed with heart illness after learning that her husband, Brently Mallard, perished in a train accident. Even though Mrs. Mallard finally dies from her sickness, her character growth throughout the narrative...

Analysis of “Room” by Emma Donoghue

Introduction Room by Emma Donoghue is a novel that reveals the essential aspects of child abuse, psychological trauma, and social adaptation through a child’s eyes. The events in this book are fictional, although the experiences that the author put in her work require a thorough examination and comprehension. Depicting such...

Assessing the Efficacy of the CONNECT App for Cardiovascular Disease Management

The study involved patients suffering from cardiovascular disease and people at risk. Participants had access to an app with all the necessary information about the disease. Online health risk calculators, incentive emails, and monitoring of behavioral lifestyle targets were provided. The average follow-up period was about 12 months. The control...

Ensuring Safety for Health Facility Personnel

Introduction Ensuring safety for health facility personnel is critical as they are at the forefront of disease control. In the context of epidemics and pandemics, the number of threats is growing, and administrations must take additional security measures. Nurse managers play a significant role in safety, as their responsibilities include...

Barack Obama
Martin Luther King
Photography
Healthcare Reform
Nursing Theory
Bill of Rights

Unix System Technology for Legal Company

Directories Since the internet was invented, several forms of directories have been applied in different areas to facilitate work. It entails the usage of the software that is mainly charged with the role of storing, organizing, and accessing information in case needed in a computer operating system. In the field...

Bullwhip Effect and Knowledge Sharing

Bullwhip Effect The bullwhip effect is a name used to describe situations in which a prediction negatively affects the efficiency of the supply chain. It was first described by Jay Forester in 1961. The amplitude of a bullwhip in motion often resembles the effect that forecasts can have on supply...

“Good Life” From an Ethical Perspective

What is a Good Life? The question of what constitutes a good life was pursuing humanity since the dawn of time. However, as humankind developed and formed societies, the definitions of a good life needed to be assessed, as definitions solely through materialistic possessions were not only inaccurate, but also...

Employee Subsidies, Benefits and Workplace Safety

Employee Compensation and Subsidies Governmental contractors and firms that receive subsidies from the state are often required to pay the so-called living wage to their workers. In some cases, this requirement can be applied to every firm operating in a particular jurisdiction (York 223). In this case, the term living...

Protagonist of “The Stranger” Novel by Albert Camus

Introduction Meursault is the name of the protagonist of Albert Camus’s novel “The Stranger.” He is a French Algerian man living and working in Algiers, and the book describes his life and his journey that eventually ends in his execution for murder. Meursault’s key trait is his detachment from the...

“Close” the Photography by Martin Stranka

“Close” by Martin Stranka The process of art creation is complicated due to the search for exciting ideas for a message an artist can convey. The present works of well-known photographers inspire other people to create pieces of art to show their perception of the original idea. Philosophical concepts are the...

Florence Nightingale’s and Personal Nursing Philosophy

Introduction My philosophy of nursing is associated with the assistance to people aimed at improving their health outcomes by providing treatment and also preventative measures. I believe that nursing is the sphere that requires the constant enhancement and evidence-based practices. The rapidly changing environment, innovations in treatment, development of new...

Employee Motivation: Self-Directed Work Teams

Introduction Self-managed or directed works teams are designed to achieve a common goal. Individuals assigned to such teamwork intensively to achieve this common goal and are assumed to have the skill set required to complete their job. Like any working group, there are positives and negatives. This paper focuses on...

Incidence of Diabetes in the United States

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), diabetes is a group of diseases characterized by high levels of blood glucose, due to defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. Being a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA, a study conducted...

The Security Management & Consultant Course

When I first joined the Security Management & Consultant Course, I expected to find it challenging, but what I had not given much thought to was that people from all over the world would be in it with me. It began slowly, with a few minor tasks. The class began...

Accountancy
Financial Management
Substance Abuse

Bullying in Schools: Anti-Bullying Programs

Introduction Bullying in schools is a growing concern all over the world. Violence and insults cause psychological harm not only to victims but also to bullies. Students who get abused often feel insecure at school and dream of a safe place to go. In turn, those who insult their classmates...

Disease Management: Therapeutic Education Research

Therapeutic education is a complex of essential actions to help patients manage their treatment and prevent possible sequela. This activity provides an additional therapeutic effect, along with pharmacological, physiotherapeutic measures. The education leads to an improvement in the quality and life expectancy of patients with chronic diseases, improves the quality...

Points for and Against Prayers

Introduction Praying is an essential ritualistic part of one’s faith, attested in the Bible and other religious texts. However, Thomas Aquinas, a renowned religious philosopher, doubted its necessity, along with God’s existence and other pillars of Christianity. Then, in his usual fashion, the thinker managed to reaffirm that praying had...

Integrated Water Strategies From Website Water Recycling

Integrated Water Strategies (IWS) has developed a design to recycle water to make it reusable. The website is a front-end of their company showing various services that the company offers in the field of water recycling. A basic theme that the company promotes is the education of the need for clean...

Nurse Turnover: Problem that Emerges

Introduction Nowadays, nurses are bothered with many problems and have to analyze their actions, responsibilities, and expectations to create a successful working environment. Among a variety of challenges and misunderstandings, the issue of nurse turnover remains to be one of the most crucial. Such urgency can be explained by the...

Business Endeavors Aligning With the School’s Mission

The key mission of Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management is to use the education that is global in orientation, ethical in focus, and entrepreneurial in spirit to advance responsible business practice. This is a rather significant goal that is oriented to taking business education to a new...

Brand Management: Tea and More

Introduction Global Tea was founded in 1985 in Los Angeles by three sisters who shared profound love for fine teas. Tea and More (TAM) outsourced the tea business and experienced challenges of unreliability and shipment sizes. Although the company registered success in the early periods, poor customer service, low brand...

Marketing Myopia: The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy

The term marketing myopia was proposed by economist Theodore Levitt, who indicated that some companies are not far-sighted and are focused on meeting the company’s needs and not on marketing to consumers. The main idea of the theory is that the company focuses on one specific aspect of marketing and...

Individual Responsibilities on Definirion of Social Justice Issues

Societies globally face diverse challenges surrounding the equitability of resources, opportunities, and privileges. Owing to inequality in the distribution of resources, treatment, rights, and responsibilities among societies resulting in the oppressors and oppressed in diverse societal ranks birthing social injustices, social justice as a dynamic movement traces back from the...

American History: Eleanor Roosevelt

Women have always been in the sidelines of men. Throughout the history of our world, men have been playing a key role in society. There is a great number of famous men whose names are familiar to every person. However, very often these men have a woman, who is not...

Free Essays by Words

College Application Essay Writing

College Application Essay Examples

College Application Essay Examples for 2024

21 min read

Published on: Feb 12, 2021

Last updated on: Jul 23, 2024

College Application Essay Example 250 Words

Some colleges require short essays of around 250 to 300 words. Writing these essays can be arduous as short essays need only important details about you, your objectives, and your accomplishments.

Carefully examine the example provided.

Sample College Application Essay 250 Words

College Application Essay Example 500 Words

If you are required to provide an essay of about 500 words, it means you have to share details about yourself. Sticking to the word count is as important as any part of your college essay.

For a 500-word college application or supplemental essay, a student can write about:

Intellectual challenge
Research query
Ethical dilemma

However, it depends on the essay prompt and personal preference.

Observe how a successful college application essay of 500 words is written effectively through the example provided.

Sample College Application Essay 500 Words

College Application Essay Example About Yourself

A college application essay can be written using different prompts. One very common college application essay prompt is writing about yourself. In this, an applicant is asked to shed light on his background identity, interest, or talent that is meaningful to them.

The committee wants to know the applicantâs real personality, thinking, objectives, and achievements. Therefore, drafting an essay about yourself will be a good idea.

Sample College Application Essay About Yourself

College Application Essay Example For Harvard

Every university has its criteria for granting admission to students. For this purpose, the application essays vary as well. If you wish for admission to Harvard University, observe the college essay presented below.

Sample College Application Essay for Harvard

College Application Essay Example for Johns Hopkins

To understand how to answer the essay prompt for Johns Hopkins, an example is provided. Carefully observe the sample to draft your personal statement in an effective way.

Johns Hopkins College Application Essay

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

âWhy Usâ College Application Essay Example

Another common prompt that colleges require their students to use in their application essay is âWhy Usâ. Just as the name suggests, this prompt attempts to know the writerâs reasons for âwhy that specific collegeâ.

Analyze how to accurately and appropriately answer the âWhy usâ prompt in your college essay in the example below.

Sample College Application Essay on 'Why Us'

Engineering College Application Essay Example

Apart from general personal statements , some colleges require application essays specific to the field. For example, if you are to pursue your dream of doing engineering, you will be writing an essay related to that.

Sample Engineering College Application Essay

Computer Sciences College Application Essay Example

If you apply to a college for a degree in computer sciences, below is the example provided. It will help you draft your application essay successfully.

Graduate College Application Essay Examples

The college application essay is a difficult part of the admissions process, and it can be tough to come up with something original. Luckily for you, we have compiled some great examples, so your essay will stand out!

College Application Essay Example 300 Words

Nursing College Application Essay Examples

The purpose of a nursing application essay is to show that you are the best candidate for the nursing program. We've collected some great examples that will help you write a great essay.

Nursing College Application Essay Example

Honors College Application Essay Examples

The following is an example of an honors application essay. You can use this as inspiration for your own project or just get an idea of what kind of thing might work best with the prompts that you're given.

Honors College Application Essay Example

College Application Essay Writing Tips

A college application essay or a personal statement is a writing drafted by a student when applying for a college education. Being the most important part of the admission process, the essay should be written professionally.

To help you draft your essay correctly, expert writers of CollegeEssay.org have presented some tips to follow.

Come up with compelling ideas for your essay. Think of catchy openers and a brilliant insight for the essay.
Think of an interesting topic idea that makes you lose all track of time
Write about the time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure that made you learn important life lessons.
Reflect if you ever challenged a belief, a question solved, or a problem resolved.
Share about your growth in personality as well as in your career to impress the audience.
Be specific and clear about the essay. No matter which approach you are using to write a college essay, be explicit, clear, and focused.
The committee officers want to know about the applicant and how he feels about different things. Do not go for monotonous resume descriptions and high school transcriptions.
You should seem real from the essay content. The material you use in the text should be accurate enough for the readers to believe and get inspired.
Before working, go through some existing examples to observe how winning documents are written. Moreover, the examples will let you decide on the structure and format for your essay.
Always proofread and revise your essay after writing it. Revision makes the essay flawless, making the document appealing to the audience.

These incredible tips can do wonders for your college essay. Follow them to get admission to fulfill your dream of studying in college.

Small elements can either make or break your essay. This essay type must be drafted correctly and professionally if you desire to study in a dream college. This essay requires a writer to be good at self-evaluation. Also, impress the committee with his personality and knowledge.

A college essay is your only chance to get admission, so get it right with an AI writing tool .

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Structure suggestions for a 500 word essay

By Fucsiya via EnvatoElements

By Amy Price DPhil (Oxon)

The main components of a 500-word essay include:

This first step is to write a topic sentence. This could be a question or statement that you will answer or explain in the balance of the essay. The other sentences in the first paragraph open up the topic and can be 3-4 sentences. (60-90 words)
Some people use the PEE principle (point, evidence , explanation). At the most use 1 point per paragraph.
Every paragraph should be able to stand on its own and also lead into the next paragraph. (You can test this by reading it back to yourself aloud).
The body of the essay will be about 290-360 words with paragraphs using (70-120 words).
Remind your reader about your key points and bring them together.
Answer the question with your solution, not something a system, government, or groups should do.
Share what you and readers might do about the points you raised or if it is about you how this changed you and how this helped.
Remember your reader is craving a sense of closure, something to think about or a resolution. If it is a position or placement you are applying for they want to say yes!

Some extra tips for short essay success

Some people like to use a mind mapping tool where they can organise their essay thoughts and many of these are free, simple and available on a phone.

Use an online dictionary to find connector words for writing help and to avoid repetition.

Tell your story/essay to someone and record this with your phone as the way you explain it to a living person may be clearer than what you have in writing.

Write your essay like an email or tell it to SIRI and record as an email and then improve by editing this.

Use a spell checker and read to make sure the essay edits your spell checker makes are correct.

Try Grammarly, the free version is all you need for a short essay

Do not worry about tenses and which person (first , second or third) to use on the first essay draft. Change it later instead.

Do your own work and have fun!

The views expressed here are the authors and they do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Stanford University School of Medicine. External websites are shared as a courtesy. They are not endorsed by the Stanford University School of Medicine.

The introductory paragraph is to get your reader's attention and lay a foundation for your essay.

Amy Price, DPhil (Oxon) Editor, The Mentor

Why This College Essay Sample

Why this college essay sample – introduction.

Not sure how to start a “why this college” essay? Looking for a why this college essay sample? You’re in luck. We’ve compiled a collection of standout why school essay examples from a variety of schools to help you prepare to write your own why this college essay.

Throughout the admissions process, you’ll likely write “why this college” essays for many schools on your list. These prompts ask you to cite specific reasons why you’d like to attend a given school. As you start writing these essays, it can be tough to know where to start.

In this guide, we’ve included a variety of “why school” essay examples. Our why school essay examples come from many different schools—ten, to be exact. We hope these essay examples can help you prepare to write your own why this college essay.

We’ll review a “why this college” essay sample from each of the following schools and explain what made it effective.

We’ll look at why school essay examples from:

University of Chicago
Georgia Institute of Technology
Wake Forest University
Tufts University
Lewis & Clark College
Loyola Marymount University
Duke University
Franklin & Marshall College
University of Florida
Lafayette College

What are examples of Why School essay prompts?

Before we take a look at our why this college essay examples, let’s start with the prompts. You’ll notice that our why this college essay examples have a lot in common. Namely, each why this college essay sample discusses specific details why a student belongs at a given school.

Still, you should note that each why this college essay sample is different. Each essay responds to their own why this college essay sample prompt. While these prompts have a lot in common, you’ll notice some key differences.

Essay prompts change

As you read our why college essay examples, you may notice that the prompts are slightly different from those below. That is because some schools change their prompts in different years.

At times, colleges will also eliminate prompts entirely. Certain schools, like Franklin & Marshall and Lewis & Clark , no longer require a why this college essay. However, we have still included why college essay examples for these schools. By reading these why this college essay samples, you can learn more about how to approach this type of prompt.

Now, let’s look at some prompts in the table of why this college essay examples below.


University of Chicago	How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.	1-2 pages
Georgia Institute of Technology	Why do you want to study your chosen major specifically at Georgia Tech?	300 words
Wake Forest University	Why have you decided to apply to Wake Forest? Share with us anything that has made you interested in our institution.	150 words
Tufts University	Which aspects of the Tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short, “Why Tufts?”	100-150 words
Loyola Marymount University	Please briefly state your reason for wishing to attend LMU and/or how you came to select your major.	500 words
Duke University	What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well.	250 words
University of Florida	Why is applying for the UF Honors Program important to you? Which aspects of the program’s three pillars of opportunity, community, and challenge pique your interests? How would you engage with the program to exemplify these pillars yourself? How does the program factor into your long-term goals?	400 words
Lafayette College	Students identify Lafayette as an excellent fit for countless reasons. In your response, be deliberate and specific about your motivation for applying to Lafayette.	20-200 words

As you can see from our why school essay examples prompts, not every prompt is as open-ended as “why this school.” So, compare each school’s why this college essay examples and prompt. Then, you’ll notice certain similarities and differences. You can apply this knowledge as you draft your own essays.

By reading through our “why college” essay examples, you’ll also familiarize yourself with the different prompts you might encounter. You can approach any prompt that references a school itself, either generally or specifically ( academics , curriculum, culture, etc.). You can see this in our why college essay examples prompts.

Different schools, different prompts

Some of the prompts are quite straightforward. They simply ask the question you’ll see answered in our why college essay examples: “Why this school?”

Other prompts, however, are a bit more leading. These might ask students about their chosen majors and how they align with a school’s values. They may also ask why a specific school will help them achieve their goals.

In all of our “why college” essay examples, you’ll notice that the prompts discuss each school by name. You’ll find questions like “why are you applying” and “how did you learn about us?” in these prompts. However, each of these boil down to the same essential question: why are you a good fit for our school?

Next, we’ll look at how our why college essay examples answer this question. But first, let’s take a look at a handful of schools and their essay prompts. This will help you understand how your why this college essay sample fits into your application strategy.

Which schools require a Why This College essay?

As you’ll see from our why school essay examples, many schools require a why this college essay sample. Our why this college essay examples include many schools, but this list isn’t exhaustive. So, do your own research to see if each school on your list requires a why this college essay.

The good news is many of our why school essay examples prompts are very similar. So, wherever you apply , our why college essay examples are great resources to reference as you write your own why school essay.

To get you started, here are some of the schools that require a why this college essay. You’ll find some why this college essay examples for these schools below. Others, you can check out in our school-specific essay guides :

Top Universities with a Why School Essay

Northwestern
American Unviersity

Why college essay examples for some of these schools didn’t make it into our list of college essays that worked. However, we still wanted to mention a few more schools that require a why this college essay.

More Why School Essay Examples Guides to Explore

Why northwestern.

Northwestern University has a two-part “why this college” essay sample prompt. They want to know what resources, opportunities, and/or communities you plan to engage with on campus. They also want to know how these offerings may enrich your time at Northwestern and beyond.

Why Barnard

The why this college essay sample prompt for Barnard College is a little more open-ended. Similar to other schools, Barnard asks what factors led you to apply at Barnard. They also ask you to share why you think Barnard will be a good match for you.

Yale University’s why this college essay sample prompt is similar to Barnard’s: “What is it about Yale that has led you to apply?” This is your opportunity to get specific about why Yale excites you. It also lets you share what you hope to take advantage of on campus.

Why Dartmouth

Dartmouth College’s why this college essay sample prompt asks students “Why Dartmouth?”—a classic why school prompt. Similar to Northwestern’s prompt, Dartmouth’s specifically asks what aspects of their academic program, community, or campus environment attract you.

Brown University asks students to describe their academic interests and how they might use Brown’s Open Curriculum to pursue them. In this instance, since the curriculum is specific to Brown, you can think of this prompt in two parts. First, what do you want to study, and second, why do you want to study it at Brown? In this way, this essay is a why this college essay, so should also be our list.

Why This College Essay Examples

You can use our why school essay examples to help you begin to write your why school essays. Each of our college essays that worked was chosen because it is a strong and compelling “why this college” essay sample.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to read a why this college essay sample, you’re in luck. Take some time to read some below from over ten schools. These include our UF supplemental essay examples, Tufts essays that worked, Georgia Tech essay examples, why Duke essay examples, and more.

Why this college essay sample #1- UChicago

The University of Chicago is well-known for its quirky supplemental essay requirements. Among those you can expect to find some kind of Why This College essay. Below is an example of how one student crafted their response.

Why UChicago Essay Examples

How does the university of chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to uchicago. (1-2 pages).

The best thing about the University of Chicago is its subtle inconspicuousness. The ivy leagues and big select schools all have a stereotype/reputation it holds in the public eye that is difficult to live up to. Go to Harvard? Oh, you must be the smartest person ever! Go to UC Berkeley, MIT? You must be the greatest genius the world has ever seen. But when U Chicago is mentioned, most people find it difficult to generalize the institution as anything outside of “top university” or “prestigious school.” This is because while universities at the forefront of media attention are some of the best in the United States, such overexposure lends itself to negative connotations that cannot be escaped.

I myself knew little about U Chicago, but soon came to realize how great knowing little could actually be in the grand scheme of things.

Everything starts with the amazing education system U Chicago prides itself on. Core Curriculum allows for students to really engage in critical thinking with an expanded view of the world and how it works. Students at U Chicago are not there for the perceived prestige or bonus points you get from attending a top university, they’re there to learn, and not just learn for the final exam and forget. They are there to learn and continue to use their gained knowledge as they expound upon it throughout their journey through schooling and life.

In high school and in my time taking community college courses, I haven’t been exposed to these types of students. People take courses just to put a check mark on the list, and I have been doing the same because it’s what required and it’s all I’ve ever known. There was never an opportunity to take specialized courses and as a result, my classmates’ zeal for knowledge acquisition has never been awakened. Though I try to satisfy my curiosities through articles and books, there was never anyone to discuss it with in depth without one of us leaving frustrated.

Though I plan to major in a Neuroscience-related program as a pre-medical student, I want to be able to learn new languages, Norwegian mythology, the situation of public health; anything that has piqued my interests for multiple years but remained untouched due to circumstances. I like that U Chicago forbids students from taking courses solely for their major and requires them to spend a large portion of their time in the Core Curriculum in order to make this happen.

Instead of dealing with constant pressure from society, students at U Chicago are free to pursue their passions without fear of judgment or stereotype. With the focus on education where it belongs, the overall atmosphere at the institution is laid-back and does not add stress to the rigorous course load.

A secret utopia of sorts, U Chicago sets an invincible foundation that will exponentially increase the vitality of a person in any field of work or practice and I want to be a part of that.

Explaining why this essay worked

This is one of our Why UChicago essay examples and one of our first college essays that worked. In it, the author reflects on UChicago’s academic values and culture. This “why this college” essay sample highlights the type of student that thrives at UChicago. It also shows how this student’s values align with UChicago’s.

As you’ll see in our other why school essay examples, this writer mentions specific qualities about UChicago’s Core Curriculum. They foreground how it will allow them to pursue all of their academic interests. In doing so, this student makes a strong case for why they belong at UChicago.

If you want to read another why this college essay sample, check out our guide . There, you’ll find more UChicago why school essay examples.

Why this college essay sample #2 – Georgia Tech

The second why this college essay sample we are sharing is Why School essay from Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech only requires one supplemental essay and it is a Why This College essay. Let’s look at how one student responded to the prompt below.

Georgia Tech Essay Examples

Why do you want to study your chosen major at georgia tech, and what opportunities at georgia tech will prepare you in that field after graduation (300 words).

March 29, 2019. 11 AM EST. GT Shadow Day. I remember it all so clearly: Descending the red-brick steps of the Old Civil Engineering Building. My friend and I, chatting up a storm, our minds blown by our newfound perspectives.

We had just walked out of ECON-4060: Money & Capital Markets. To say that it changed my life would be no exaggeration; within an hour, The professor had upended my perception of society and defined my future aspirations.

We had been asked to consider a popular commodity, diamonds. Hardly rare, fast-decaying, and intrinsically worthless. So why do we buy them? The professor had then illuminated the factors in our economic behavior that cause us to gift a ring in marriage rather than something with real value, say a treasury bond. These realizations were enough to rock me back on my heels, for I had never before noticed the large degree to which our everyday economic decision-making is irrational.

Craving more than that one splendid hour, I knew where and what I wanted to study for the next four years. I saw myself strolling through Bobby Dodd Way, bumping into old friends as I made my way to Midtown Atlanta. I saw myself exploring the realm of economics, probing questions ranging from price formation to income disparity. I saw myself at a place that felt familiar enough to call “home,” learning in a way that felt genuine enough to call “discovery.”

Educating myself on the mechanics of economics is just a glimpse of my great desires. Through the senior research project, I seek the one-on-one guidance of faculty in yielding a publishable journal paper. Someday, with the support of the program’s alumni network, I plan to pursue career and internship opportunities in the great company headquarters of Atlanta.

Why did this Georgia Tech essay work?

This is one of our favorite Georgia Tech essay examples because the writer drops us into a story that defines their interest in attending Georgia Tech. This “why this college” essay sample has a delightful and passionate tone. It communicates the writer’s interest in economics, passion for learning, and desire to explore these ideas at Georgia Tech.

Once again specificity is key (something you’ll continue to see in our other why school essay examples). This writer mentions Bobby Dodd Way, which is a street on campus. They also discuss opportunities for a senior research project and the specific professor and class that inspired them.

Why this college essay sample #3 – Wake Forest

Our next college essay that worked is from Wake Forest University.

Why Wake Forest Essay Examples

How did you become interested in wake forest university and why are you applying (150 words) .

Each time I return to campus, I see a true fit between myself and Wake Forest. I will dedicate myself to furthering the university motto, pro humanitate, by actively working with the Volunteer Service Corps and continuing my community service of providing for the basic needs of others. In addition, I will engage in the world around me and pursue a minor in Spanish while studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain; since I am currently taking AP Spanish, the language and cultural immersion would advance my fluency and expand my exposure to other cultures. In the diverse and intellectual community of Wake Forest, I will continue to pursue my goals with natural curiosity while growing as a leader in the service of others. Wake Forest is the window into the endless possibilities of my future.

Why this Wake Forest essay worked

This why this college essay sample shows how to successfully and succinctly write a why this college essay. Just like in our longer why school essay examples, this writer combines values, academics, and specificity. In doing so, they show how Wake Forest will impact their continued growth and future goals.

College essays that worked #4 – Tufts

Why tufts essay examples, “why tufts” (150 words).

I fell in love with Tufts immediately upon entering the Granoff Music Center. Standing in the lofty, sunlit atrium, I imagined being there with my enormous ekantha-veena gathered in my arms. Catching sight of the World Music Room, the glistening Indonesian gamelan housed inside—I knew that both my instrument and I would feel right at home at Tufts.

After all, Tufts is the type of school that embraces women who play instruments twice their size and, moreover, actually listens to their music.

Tufts provides women like me ample space in the music center, as well as on ground-breaking research teams such as the Sandler International Research Program; or access to intimate classroom settings with faculty such as one key professor whose dissertations are lauded by the American Sociological Association.

Tufts is a place where both the young woman and her ekantha-veena, her music and her ideas, will be heard.

This why this college essay sample prompt from Tufts admissions is extremely simple. In fact, this essay is one of our Tufts essays that worked because of its simplicity. We imagine Tufts admissions gravitated towards this essay because it reveals the writer’s passion for music. It also highlights the type of research and culture they’d like to engage with at Tufts.

Check out Tufts admissions page for more why Tufts essay examples and advice on Tufts essays that worked.

Why this college essay sample #5- Lewis and Clark

Lewis & clark supplemental essay example, lewis & clark college is a private college with a public conscience and a global reach. we celebrate our strengths in collaborative scholarship, international engagement, environmental understanding and entrepreneurial thinking. as we evaluate applications, we look for students who understand what we offer and are eager to contribute to our community. in one paragraph, please tell us why you are interested in attending lewis & clark and how you will impact our campus..

For the last eighteen years, my dad has repeated the phrase “curiosity killed the cat” at least once a week, attempting to satisfy my unrelenting curiosity. In response, I’ve adopted the mantra “but knowledge brought him back.” At Lewis and Clark College, I seek to fulfill my intense interest about the workings of society by conducting sociology research on issues in urban areas under one professor at Lewis and Clark. This research will also support my plans to perform an independent study on the aspects of criminal justice in urban environments, as the unique tensions in cities often affect the role of criminal justice.

I’ve read countless books on America’s legal system and wish to use sociology to analyze the factors that influence how justice is carried out. My unwavering curiosity also extends to my adoration of architecture, so the chance to explore my fascination with urban design through a self-designed major at Lewis and Clark deeply excites me. I know that creating my own course of study will enable me to explore my curiosity about urban history and planning. Furthermore, the chance to double major will allow me to combine architecture and social perspective and explore the connections between my majors.

The freedom to study both sociology and urban architecture at Lewis and Clark will give me a distinctive perspective on the artistic and social issues that are present in Portland and other major cities. Another opportunity that excites me is the chance to study abroad in Seville, Spain.

I am particularly enthusiastic about the ability to use my sociology and architecture education to explore a unique geographical area. Classes such as Art History of Spain will supplement my concentration on urban architecture, while Contemporary Issues of Spain will allow me to study the sociological aspects of a different culture. I also plan to study Spanish in college, so living with a host family gives me the unique ability to practice Spanish around the clock.

I believe that studying abroad in Seville, Spain through Lewis and Clark will enable me to engage in many unforgettable learning experiences. Finally, Lewis and Clark is bursting with non-traditional learning opportunities outside of the classroom. I can’t wait to learn a new skill by joining the sailing team and debating moral theories with the philosophy club.

I believe that there is no better place for me to study sociology and architecture because Lewis and Clark’s emphasis on diversity and international study are values that align perfectly with my interests.

Exploring the strengths of this essay

The Lewis and Clark College acceptance rate is higher than that of some other top schools. Still, you can tell how much thought and care this writer put into their “why this college” essay sample. Since the Lewis and Clark College acceptance rate is 79% , you might think crafting a strong supplemental essay would be easy. However, you can tell the writer of this “why this college” essay sample took their time time. In their essay, they weave a clear and compelling story about their interests and how Lewis & Clark will allow them to pursue those interests.

No matter a school’s acceptance rate, whether it is lower or higher than the Lewis and Clark College acceptance rate, make sure you take the time with every essay you write to make it the best it can be.

Why this college essay sample #6 – Loyola Marymount

Loyola marymount essay example, please briefly state your reason for wishing to attend lmu and/or how you came to select your major. (500 words).

Whether I’m bustling through people in the Metro station, taking a leisurely stroll on the beach, or studying at my local cafe, I embrace the sights, sounds, and people of Los Angeles. Though I was born in New York, I am a true L.A. native: the sunset is my muse, and my dreams are ambitious (I want to cure cancer, win a Pulitzer-Prize, and walk the red carpet, simultaneously).

Even if I don’t accomplish all of these things, I am encouraged by the fact that they are all possibilities at LMU. With a unique fusion of academic excellence, strong communal identity, and a faith-based education, LMU would prepare me to be an innovative and compassionate leader in the real world.

Reflective of L.A.’s rich cultural diversity, LMU offers students a wide array of resources. For one thing, the student to teacher ratio is 10:1, which enhances learning by fostering personal relationships with professors and peers. Furthermore, it creates a collaborative group environment, something I consider integral to my education. Secondly, as someone who is passionate about both Chicano/Latino studies and Biology, I was excited to discover that with LMU’s major and minor policy, I would be able to study both, even if they are located in different colleges.

Ultimately, I want to become a doctor, possibly a neurologist, hence my desire to major in biology. With a broad course list–encompassing everything from Immunology to Animal Behavior– and intensive, faculty-mentored research, LMU’s biology program will enable me to pursue my passion for science. At the same time, I wish to apply my medical studies to serving a greater purpose.

This is why I’ve chosen to minor in Chicano Studies. I have always taken great pride in my ethnicity, so being able to examine the Latino identity through political, historical, and cultural lenses would enrich how I understand myself and the entire Latino/a community.

The final and most important reason why I want to attend LMU is its emphasis on serving the community and the world at large. Being a practicing Catholic myself, it is important to me that faith be integrated in my education, not only because it is a part of my own identity, but because it nurtures both spiritual and personal growth. At my current high school, I have encountered and conversed with students of different faiths, or even no faith, who fully embrace the spirit of community service that characterizes Christianity.

This is what I admire most about LMU; regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or religion, LMU embraces everyone and teaches students to do the same. In short, LMU would not only augment my love of service, it would propel me forward in my mission: to be a woman of great heart and right conscience for others.

With a higher word count, this is one of our longer why school essay examples. This writer likely captured the attention of Loyola Marymount admissions with their eloquence and ambition.

While there’s no one right way to impress Loyola Marymount admissions, showcasing the school’s unique programs will help show them why attending Loyola is vital to your future. This why this college essay sample touches on LMU’s faith-based curriculum, and biology and chicano studies programs, and why they are important to this writer.

Why this college essay sample #7 – Duke

Duke University is another school that asks students Why This College as part of their supplemental essay requirements. Take a look at the essay that worked below for some ideas about how to write your Why Duke essay.

Why Duke Essay Examples

What is your sense of duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you if there’s something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 words).

At Duke University, I would get the opportunity to immerse myself in interests that I harbored but never had the opportunity to explore due to circumstances. With incredible resources from world-renowned professors, I would learn directly from the best in any subject, and be able to use this advantage to further myself in my future career plans and goals.

The quality of my education, though attributed to the institution, would be the most highly enriched from the students. Although from diverse backgrounds, all the students share the same thirst for knowledge and a drive to make a difference. With the focus on education where it belongs, the overall atmosphere at the institution is collaborative and does not add stress to the rigorous course load.

A secret utopia of sorts, Duke sets an invincible foundation that will exponentially increase the vitality of a person in any field of work or practice.

Why this essay worked

This is one of our favorite why Duke essay examples because it highlights the people this writer plans to learn from at Duke: their professors and their fellow students. Surprisingly, this is probably one of the least specific why school essay examples. However, this writer still successfully manages to capture their passion for learning and how excited they are to pursue these goals on Duke’s campus.

Want more why Duke essay examples and tips on how to approach this “why this college” essay sample prompt? Check out our Duke University Essay Guide .

Why this college essay sample #8 – University of Florida

Uf supplemental essay examples, the university of florida honors program is a “community of scholars” bound together by a shared interest in maximizing the undergraduate experience. why are you drawn to this type of community at uf, and how do you plan to contribute to it in and out of the classroom.

Anyone who’s ever played a high school sport can attest to the fact that every coach has his or her own catchphrase. For some coaches, it might be “always give 110%”. Others say, “You miss every shot you don’t take.”

My 10th grade basketball coach? His catchphrase was more like a repeated lecture. It would start off as “This team is made up of different personalities.” Pause. “80% of you are pulled either up or down by your teammates. 10% of you have negative energy and bring everyone down.” Pause and sigh. “And then there’s the last 10%. You guys are the ones who carry this team with positive energy. So what percent do you want to be tonight?”

His rhetorical questions seemed like another pep talk to the rest of my team but would always strike a chord within me. From that basketball season and on, I strived to be the 10% pulling everyone positively.

My reformed attitude taught me many things. I learned how productive and influential a positive force on a team can be. I learned something about myself too: wherever I went to college, I wanted to be in a team-like environment. A close-knit group of scholars full of diverse perspectives, but all striving towards the same common goal: gaining knowledge.

This is what I see in the UF Honors Program. The opportunity to be surrounded by like minded people. People who are all part of that 10% who pull you up. People who are genuinely interested in learning, research, and discussion. To be able to walk into a room with overlapping conversations about an intellectual topic like the current economic status of Dubai or the psychosocial issues in the United States is something I crave in my college experience.

Not only do I envision myself in a place like this, but I also see a platform which will give me great opportunities, beginning with peers who share the same academic drive as me and smaller class sizes, which result in profound discussions. I hope to be given an opportunity to walk onto this platform and show everyone just how high I can raise it.

Why this UF Honors Program essay worked

It’s important to note that a why this college essay sample is not necessarily a required portion of your UF application. You only need to submit a why this college essay with your UF application if you apply to the UF Honors Program.

However, we still included this “why this college” essay sample as part of our why school essay examples because this writer beautifully described the kind of student and community member they hope to be at UF. They highlight a personal story—a moment where they grew and learned a valuable lesson. Then, they combine it with what they hope to find in UF’s honors community.

Why this college essay sample #9 – Franklin & Marshall

Franklin & marshall essays.

A Franklin and Marshall education is in line with my commitment to stimulate and chronicle a more just world through health, justice, and activism for marginalized people locally and internationally in a way that giving a check never could.

I would be able to synthesize my fascination with medicine and people by seeking out experiences in biomedical research and patient care through the Quick Response Service organization as an EMT responder for the Lancaster community. Most importantly, I can investigate a breadth of topics to a much fuller extent than I can at any other institution.

With a Franklin and Marshall acceptance rate of 38% , this is considered a more selective school. However, the Franklin and Marshall acceptance rate should not affect your why this college essay. Also, as you craft your Franklin and Marshall application, note that the university no longer requires a Why School essay. Still, this essay provides a useful blueprint for other why school essay samples.

Rather than focusing on the Franklin and Marshall acceptance rate, you’ll want to review the supplemental essay requirements . Then, use the prompt to articulate the benefits of receiving an education from Franklin and Marshall. In order to gain acceptance to Franklin and Marshall, you should focus on what attending this particular college means to you.

Why this college essay sample #10- Lafayette College

Our final why this college essay sample, is from Lafayette College. A Why School essay is the cornerstone of Lafayette College’s supplemental essay requirements. Let’s take a look at an example from a student accepted to Lafayette.

Why Lafayette College Essay Examples

Students identify lafayette as an excellent fit for countless reasons. in your response, be deliberate and specific about your motivation for applying to lafayette. why do you see yourself at lafayette (200 words).

“If you were to be accepted to every college in the country, which one would you choose above all others?” An admissions officer prompted the room with this question early in my college search. Back then, I didn’t know the answer, but now it’s a obvious choice: Lafayette.

When I visited Lafayette, I’d already seen 15 colleges. However, when I toured campus, I instantly felt a difference in the school and the students themselves. Everyone looked truly happy to be there, especially considering the people I saw were remaining at school during break while their peers returned home.

When I looked around, I saw people I could imagine myself befriending and spending time with, something I struggled to find at other institutions. I later connected with my tour guide, who also happened to be a Civil Engineering major. I’m interested in pursuing an architecture minor, and she told me about a project in her Architectural Engineering class in which students design bus stops with features like charging stations or mini libraries. I appreciated that she took time to email me, and her genuine enthusiasm about her classes was infectious. With that email, I cemented my decision to apply.

There’s a difference between being busy and being engaged. Lafayette comes alive each day with the energy of students who are deeply engaged in their academic, co-curricular and extracurricular explorations.

Of all of our why school essay examples, this why this college essay sample discusses an actual experience the student had on campus. In truth, this is a great strategy. Using this topic, admissions gets to hear about how they connected with a student. They also learn how this student already sees themself as part of the student community.

Like many of our other why school essay examples, this writer follows a strong structure. They started with a personal story, sprinkled in specific and valuable details, and ended with a big-picture summary of “Why this school.”

How To Write A Why This College Essay

We’ve read some outstanding why school essay examples, including Why Duke essay examples, Tufts essays that worked, and more. Next, let’s talk about how to write your own why this college essay.

At times, you’ll find a “why this college” essay sample or two with a longer word count. However, most of our why school essay examples prompts have a smaller word limit. So, you generally need to be succinct when writing a why this college essay. For some students, this may mean writing your initial draft without worrying about the word count, then editing your draft down to the most important parts.

Do your research

Before you get into writing your why this college essay sample, we recommend getting to know more about the school you are applying to. One of the most important things you can do to prepare to write your why this college essay sample is to spend time researching specific aspects of the school that align with your candidate profile.

For example, let’s say you’re a student who wants to study engineering , you want a big school, and you’re also passionate about doing your own research. As you begin your college search , you’d want to look for schools that meet all of your needs. Once you have a list of potential schools , do some research into each school and their requirements. Watch webinars , read guides about meeting application requirements, like what is a good SAT score and test-optional colleges , and guides about approaching your college application essays .

How to Start a Why This College Essay

Next, let’s go over how to start a “why this college” essay. The beginning of your essay is always the most important because it can draw your reader in and make them want to read more. We have tons of guides to help you through every step of the writing process. So, after reading through our why school essay examples, take a look at exercises to help determine a college essay topic and what admissions officers think of 3 common college essay topics.

Once you have a topic for your why this college essay sample, take a look at our 39 essay tips . These helpful tips are from our admissions experts. We also have a resource with tips on how to craft your college essay . Then, when you’re ready to start editing your essay, check out our advice on making your essays shine .

Use these examples to help brainstorm

We’ve reviewed a variety of why this college essay examples. By reading these examples, we hope you got some insight into how to write a why this college essay. These why school essay examples are college essays that worked. That is, they used specific details to show why an applicant was a perfect fit for a given school. Each why this college essay sample is slightly different—and every student is, too. So, use our why school essay examples as a jumping-off point.

We can’t include a why this college essay sample from every school in our college essays that worked roundup. But, keep reading to the end of the guide for more CollegeAdvisor.com resources full of why school essay examples. These resources include: why Northwestern essay examples and why Yale essay examples. They also include why NYU essay examples and a why Barnard essay example.

Other CollegeAdvisor Resources on Why This College Essays

If you’re looking for a why this college essay sample for a school we haven’t touched on, you’re in luck! We have “why school” essay examples for a ton of top schools that are sure to be on your college list. These why this college essay examples will be just as helpful as the ones we’ve already covered, like our Tufts essays that worked, Georgia Tech essay examples, and why Duke essay examples.

First, we have our why Northwestern essay examples. This guide offers two why Northwestern essay examples and a breakdown of what made each essay so impactful.

Why Northwestern Essay Examples

Then, check out our why Barnard essay example page. In addition to a why Barnard essay example, you can get some application tips. The article also covers information about Barnard’s acceptance rate and essay requirements.

Barnard Essay Examples

Next, stop by our Why Yale essay examples guide. The why Yale essay examples cover all three Yale supplemental essay requirements. These include the essays about your potential majors and a topic or idea that excites you.

Why Yale Essay Examples

Finally , read some Why NYU essay examples (and why they worked). Each of our why NYU essay examples is accompanied by feedback from an ex-admissions officer on why the essay worked.

NYU Essay Examples (And Why They Worked)

Why This College Essay Sample – Final Thoughts

After reading our why school essay examples, we hope you have a better sense of what a “why this college” essay sample should include. We also hope it can help you go about writing your own. While there is no perfect formula for writing your supplemental essays , don’t forget to take advantage of all of the resources available to you.

If you’re nervous to begin writing your why this college essay sample, don’t worry! Each of our “why school” essay examples was written by a student just like you that managed to gain a college acceptance letter from their dream school. All it takes is time, patience, and dedication to making your college essays the best they can be. To find more examples of college essays that worked, check out our personal statement examples .

This essay guide was written by Stefanie Tedards. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. I n fact, d uring your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Read the college essay a Harvard grad wrote about McDonald's that landed him offers from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton

Cofounder of AI company Exa Jeffrey Wang wrote his college application essay about McDonald's.
The Harvard graduate said he wanted to make his essay authentic and entertaining.
Wang said he got into Yale, Harvard, and Princeton using the same essay.

When Jeffrey Wang was a high-school senior in Connecticut in 2014, he wasn't sure what to write about for his college application essay.

He thought about writing his essay on a subject he enjoyed at school or a project he'd worked on. But he knew others would have the same idea .

Wang told Business Insider he grew up in a middle-class family in the suburbs of Cheshire, CT. He felt he didn't have anything extraordinary to write about.

"I hadn't spent any summers abroad, and I hadn't done any fancy programs," he said.

He wanted to show his personality

He read Harry Bauld's book, 'On Writing the College Application Essay,' which made him realize college admissions officers wouldn't have time to read each essay diligently.

He said he realized his primary objective should be to entertain the admissions officer reading his essay .

"For the most part, they're just looking for character," Wang said. He decided to write about studying at McDonald's.

He told BI he thought it might pique an admissions officer's interest and illustrate his character: someone who did well at school but also hangs out at a McDonald's.

Wang said he also wanted to use his essay to challenge assumptions admissions officers might have. "I'm an Asian-American with a perfect SAT score. Maybe that looks pretty cookie-cutter on paper," he said.

Authenticity is key

The essay summarizes how Wang discovered his local McDonald's was an ideal place to study and meditate. He mentioned he liked interacting with different community members and how it was a more efficient and affordable study space than other options. The underpinning message is finding joy or peace in unusual places.

He got into Yale, Harvard, and Princeton

Growing up, Wang dreamed of attending Yale in his home state of Connecticut. He applied to Yale under early decision , using his essay about McDonald's.

Wang received an offer of financial aid from Yale, but he told BI he wanted to see if he could get more from other colleges.

He applied to Harvard, Duke, Princeton, MIT, and others with the same essay. He got into both Princeton and Harvard, and received offers of financial aid from them both. Business Insider has verified these offers with documentation.

Wang chose to study computer science at Harvard in 2015 because he said it was the best for STEM subjects, and he wanted to be further away from home.

He still tries to live authentically

Wang said if his friends read his essay now, 10 years after he submitted it, they'd recognize his personality in it. It shows his "scrappy" attitude to life, he said.

After graduating from Harvard in 2019, he started working as a software engineer for a tech company in San Francisco. He quit in 2022, and cofounded his startup Exa, a search engine for AI, in 2023.

Wang believes that prioritizing authenticity helped his success since college. "If you do things that you feel are authentic or that are right, you'll be rewarded for it," he said.

Do you have a college admissions success story? Email Ella Hopkins at [email protected] .

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How to Write a 500 Word Essay: Free Examples, Format and Structure
College Essay 500 Word Limit: 5 Simple Ways to Pare it Down
the text in this paper is very large and has many small words on it
500 Word Essay
How to Write a 500 Word Essay [Structure + Format]
😍 Examples of 500 word college essay. Write A Killer 500 Word Essay

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How To Write An Amazing 500 Word Essay For College And ...
The Goal of a 500 Word Essay for College and Scholarship Applications. Your goal when writing college and scholarship application essays is simple: stand out as one of the most qualified and interesting applicants. And that's much different from the goal you have when writing an academic paper for a high school or college class.
Easy Guide To Writing A Killer 500 Word Essay (W/ Example)
500-word essays do not have to be exactly 500 words, but they should be as close as possible. The essay prompt may say "in under 500 words" or "in at least 500 words," which would state whether 500 is the minimum or maximum word count. ... Eliminating cell phones in college classrooms is an overstretch, but there are ways to balance ...
500 Word Essay
500 Word Essay on Anger. The Second World War is one of the most important events in human history and its impact can still be felt today. Writing a 500-word essay on this subject requires research, understanding, and war insight. Below is a sample to help you get an idea about how to tackle such a topic.
How to Write a 500 Word Essay
In such scenarios, 500-word essay examples can be of great help. Below you can find some 500-word essay examples on different topics to better understand the various style formats. 500 Word Essay On Honesty. A 500-word essay on honesty is a commonly assigned task to high school and college students.
500 Word Essay
A 500-word essay is a common task often assigned to high school and college students. Writing a 500-word essay can be quite difficult as you have to cover all the important points in a few words. However, this is where you can show all your potential. Read on to learn how to write a perfect 500-word essay with this step by step guide.
How to Write a 500 Word Essay
Follow our concise step-by-step guide to write an effective 500 word essay: Start with an outline. Applying the outline to an example. Deciding on how many examples to use. Don't worry about the word count in your first draft. Don't forget to proofread!
How to Write a 500-Word Essay (With Examples)
Here are some tips on how to write a clear and concise conclusion for a 500-word essay: Restate your thesis statement differently to remind the reader of your main argument or point. Summarize the main points or arguments you discussed in the body paragraphs. Provide a final thought or reflection on the topic.
How to Write a 500 Word Essay [Structure + Format]
3.1 Create An Outline. 3.2 Write A Strong Introduction. 3.3 Composing The Body Paragraphs. 3.4 Write An Impressive Conclusion. 4 500-Word Essay Examples. 5 500-Word Essay Topics. 6 Tips for Writing a Great 500-Word Essay. We can say that a 500-word essay length is the best of both worlds. It is longer than a 250-word essay, so you have more ...
500 Word Essay Guide from Nerds (UPDATED for 2019)
From there on, the entire process of writing a 500 word essay should go as follows. Step 1: Drafting an Outline. Be it detailed or rough, an outline should serve as a skeleton for your entire ...
500 Word Essay Examples + 500 Word Essay Topics
A typical 500-word paper can be: a traditional 5-paragraph essay. a college admission essay. a personal statement. a book report. a critical analysis essay, and many other types of written works. If you need to write one of these, then definitely check out this article.
500-word Essay: A writing guide with tips, tricks, and examples
A 500 words essay is nearly the same as a two-page essay. It is mostly assigned in college, university, and high school. From its name, it is clear that a 500-word essay is an essay that requires you to follow the 5-paragraph essay format. It involves writing on a topic, an issue, or a question in five hundred words.
27 Outstanding College Essay Examples From Top Universities 2024
This college essay tip is by Abigail McFee, Admissions Counselor for Tufts University and Tufts '17 graduate. 2. Write like a journalist. "Don't bury the lede!" The first few sentences must capture the reader's attention, provide a gist of the story, and give a sense of where the essay is heading.
College Essay Examples
Table of contents. Essay 1: Sharing an identity or background through a montage. Essay 2: Overcoming a challenge, a sports injury narrative. Essay 3: Showing the influence of an important person or thing. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about college application essays.
The Best College Essay Length: How Long Should It Be?
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 500 Word Limit: 5 Simple Ways to Pare it Down
Many college essays, including the essay for The Common Application, limit you to 500 words. It can be tough to write an interesting, creative essay and keep it short, but if you know a few simple tips you can deliver an essay that will impress. Here are 5 Ways to Succeed with the 500 Word Limit: 1. Think Small Instead of Big.
How to Write a 500 Word Essay & How Many Pages Is It? + Examples
A 500-word college essay has the same structure as a shorter or longer one. It consists of an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. Let's dive in to learn some more information about it! Introduction . The purpose of the introduction paragraph is to capture your reader's attention and create a basis for your essay. There are several ...
Examples of College Essays: 10 College Essays and Why They Worked
The most common type of essay you'll encounter is a personal statement for college. For most applications, you'll choose from a selection of prompts and write a longer essay (500 - 800 words) that speaks to your experiences, identity, and goals. Your personal statement for college tends to be the longest essay in your application.
500-Word Essay Samples: A+ Paper Examples for Free
1480 samples of this type. A 500-word essay is a short piece. It might be assigned by a school teacher to test the student's knowledge of the topic and their ability to formulate thoughts concisely. The most common genres for texts of 500 to 550 words are a discussion board post and a personal statement for a college application.
22 Best College Application Essay Examples for Students
College Application Essay Example 500 Words. If you are required to provide an essay of about 500 words, it means you have to share details about yourself. Sticking to the word count is as important as any part of your college essay. For a 500-word college application or supplemental essay, a student can write about: Intellectual challenge ...
Structure suggestions for a 500 word essay
The format of a 500-word scholarship essay is similar to a shorter essay. Each paragraph is about 75-125 words, and it consists of 3-5 well-written sentences. If you are writing a story or personal anecdote, the formatting can be more like a novel than a news article. It is ok to use 10% less or more words. The main components of a 500-word ...
Sample essay 1 with admissions feedback
Sample essay 1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you (500 word limit). A misplaced foot on the accelerator instead of the brakes made me the victim of someone's careless mistake. Rushing through the dark streets of my hometown in an ambulance, I attempted ...
Why this college essay sample
Looking for a Why This College essay sample to guide you on your college essays? Check out our guide with essay examples from 10 top schools! ... (500 words) Whether I'm bustling through people in the Metro station, taking a leisurely stroll on the beach, or studying at my local cafe, I embrace the sights, sounds, and people of Los Angeles ...
Why This College Essay Guide + Examples
The Top Secret Three-Word Trick to Finding Specific Info for Your "Why this College" Essay. Step 2: Organize Your Research. Step 3: Decide on Your Approach: Approach #1: The Basic, Solid "Why this College" Essay That Includes a Bunch of Reasons. Approach #2: The "3-5 Unique Reasons" Strategy. Approach #3: The "One Value" Strategy.
Shafik's Columbia: 13 months and 13 days of a campus spiraling into crisis
A University spokesperson announced that all students occupying Hamilton would be expelled as the protesters drew the attention of the White House , which condemned the occupation and protesters' use of the word "intifada." [Read more: In Focus: When Hamilton Hall became 'Hind's Hall' ] Congressional Democrats wrote a letter to the ...
Read College Essay Harvard Grad Uses to Get Offers From Multiple Ivies
Read the college essay a Harvard grad wrote about McDonald's that landed him offers from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton . Ella Hopkins. 2024-08-21T11:00:23Z An curved arrow pointing right. Share ...

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A Complete 500 Word Essay Writing Guide

What is 500 word Essay?

500 Words Essay Format

How Long is a 500 Word Essay?

How Long Should a 500 Word Essay Take?

How Many Paragraphs is a 500 Word Essay?

500-Word Essay vs. 250-Word Essay

500-Word Essay vs. 1000+ Word Essay

How to Write a 500-word Essay?

Step 1: Create An Outline

Step 2: Write A Strong Introduction

Step 3: Composing The Body Paragraphs

Step 4: Write an Impressive Conclusion

500 Word Essay Examples

500 Word Essay On Honesty

500 Word Essay On Punctuality

500 Word Essay On Responsibility

500 Word Essay On Why I Deserve a Scholarship

500 Word Essay on Respect

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Teacher

500 Word Essay on Why I Want to be a Nurse

500 Word Essay Topics

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a 500-word essay have 4 paragraphs?

How many references are needed for a 500-word essay?

Does a 500-word essay have to be exactly 500 words?

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Writing a 500 Word Essay - Easy Guide

500 Word Essay Definition

How to Write a 500 Word Essay

Make an Essay Outline

Write a Good Introduction

Compose the Body Paragraphs

Draft a Compelling Conclusion

500 Word Essay Format

Frequently Asked Questions about Writing a 500 Word Essay

How Long is a 500 Word Essay?

How Many Paragraphs is a 500 Word Essay?

How Long Does it Take to Write a 500 Word Essay?

What is the difference between 500 words essay vs 250 words essay

What is the difference between 500 words essay vs 1000 words essay

500 Word Essay Topics

500 Word Essay Example

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How to Write a 500 Word Essay

Start with an outline

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Comparing essay lengths

Will an admissions officer keep reading my essay if I go over?

Deciding on how many examples you should use

Don’t worry about the word count in your first draft!