IHateTheGMAT wrote:
which one gives you more characters? I would probably go with the Columbia systems count. I'm wondering if we can use the +10% rule here....
CBS showed that I had used more characters than in MS Word.
I'm more of a follow the rules kind of guy and not a proponent of the +10% rule in general. I think you can get away with it on a CBS essay (read: not EVERY CBS essay should be +10%) because they say "recommended" word count. My waitlist manager confirmed that they do not count words and it's "OK if you go a 'little' over."
I'd stick with 400 CBS characters for the EC's. I think the bottom line is that they want to know when you did them and what your main role is/was. For instance, if you were the Treasurer for your fraternity, you don't need to go into detail saying "responsible for collecting payments, leading fundraiser campaigns, etc." A broad one sentence overview is all they are looking for in that section. If you can bring things up in your essay that reflect your EC's and why it is important for the school to know MORE, then do so.