College application letter with templates and a word counter
Choose your situation (freshman, transfer, scholarship or graduate program), add a story, what you learned and why the school fits you, and get an editable letter with a live word counter against the 650-word Common App limit. Preview for free; download a clean PDF after payment.
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Design for free with a full preview. Clean, watermark-free download: $3.49, one-time payment, no account.
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What admissions readers look for
Admissions officers read thousands of letters. They remember specific stories, honest reflection and a clear reason for choosing their school. The Common App personal essay is capped at 650 words.
- Open with a scene or moment, not “I have always been passionate.”
- Show what you learned and how you changed.
- Name a program, professor or course at the school.
- End with a goal and what you will add to campus.
A simple four-part structure
| Part | Words | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | 100 | The school and a hook |
| Story | 250 | One moment with detail |
| Reflection | 150 | What it taught you |
| Fit and goal | 150 | Why this school, your plan |
Read it aloud and cut anything that could appear in anyone else’s letter.
Letter of interest, transfer or scholarship?
A letter of interest introduces you and your fit. A transfer letter explains why you are changing schools and what you achieved. A scholarship letter ties your need and community work to the award’s mission. The templates adapt the text to each case, and you can edit every line.
3 real-life examples
Freshman applicant
A food drive that collected 1,800 pounds in two weeks shows initiative and leads to an interest in public policy.
Transfer student
Working 25 hours a week while keeping a 3.8 GPA at community college shows discipline and readiness.
Scholarship
A first-generation applicant who helps in the family bakery and prepares taxes for seniors ties work to a clear goal.