Every year, B schools are cutting down on the number of essays and the word limits of essays they require their prospective students to write. What is the reason behind this changing trend? We all know that Admission officers have thousands of applications to review, so they \u00a0don\u2019t want to be frustrated\u00a0 with essays filled with overly lengthy paragraphs or sentences which they need to read 2-3 times to make sense of. Clearly, reducing number of essays and their word limits will ease the burden of the admission committee. According to Soojin Kwon, admissions director of Michigan Ross School of Business, \u201capplicants increasingly tell us what they think we want to hear.\u00a0 They have become quite cookie-cutter,\u201d so now they need to write just two short essays totaling 800 words.<\/p>\n
By imposing strict word limits, B schools will \u00a0evaluate you for your ability to make your point concisely and succinctly without beating around the bush.\u00a0 Also, exceeding word limit reflects your unwillingness to follow the guidelines.<\/p>\n
However, following stringent word limits, and sometimes character limits (e.g. Duke\u2019s short answer goals question of 250 characters) becomes one of the biggest challenges for applicants. \u00a0Some students find it hard to figure out when to stop writing and end up writing 1000 words for an essay with a specified word limit of 400 words.\u00a0 On the contrary, some students limit themselves so hard that even their first drafts of a 500 words essay is composed exactly in 500 words; with the result, they hold on to many relevant details that the school wants to know about them through that question .<\/p>\n
So the challenge is \u201cHow Do I tell my story and adhere to the word limit at the same time?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b>I always advise my students not to be daunted by word limits when brainstorming ideas\/stories for their essays. \u00a0At that stage, your goal should be to get down on paper all of your ideas required for the essay prompt without worrying if the essay exceeds \u00a0100 or 200 words over the word limit. \u00a0Once you have made sure that your essay addresses all parts of the question in an organized manner, you should identify areas that you think are not adding much value to the story. Then go ahead and begin eliminating those details without compromising on the essential components of the story. Also, omit repetitive content (if any), and replace big phrases by shorter ones.<\/p>\n Following is the list of phrases that you can replace by their shorter equivalents:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With a view to\u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 To<\/p>\n With regard to \u00a0\u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 About<\/p>\n With this in mind\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Therefore<\/p>\n Under no circumstances \u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Never<\/p>\n Prior to that time - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Before<\/p>\n Perform an analysis of\u00a0\u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Analyze<\/p>\n Provide information about \u00a0\u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Inform<\/p>\n Subsequent to \u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After<\/p>\n Is indicative of\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Indicates<\/p>\n Reached an agreement \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Agreed<\/p>\n At this point in time\u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Now<\/p>\n Come to the conclusion\u00a0\u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Conclude<\/p>\n Despite the fact that \u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Although<\/p>\n I am of the opinion\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I think<\/p>\n It is incumbent on me \u00a0\u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I must<\/p>\n Make decision to \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Decide<\/p>\n In addition to \u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Besides<\/p>\n On the grounds that \u00a0 - \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Since<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let\u2019s look at some examples:<\/p>\n I would say that my family is the major factor which, to a large extent, led me to where I am today. (22 words)<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/i> You are the writer of this essay, so it is understood that you are voicing your opinion. So why waste 4 precious words in saying \u2018I would say that?\u201d<\/p>\n My family is the major factor which, to a large extent, led me to where I am today. (18 words)<\/em><\/p>\n It is evident from this example how my prior experience as a technologist has helped me in providing solutions. (19 words<\/em>)<\/p>\n Thus , my prior experience as a technologist has helped me in providing solutions. (13 words<\/em>)<\/p>\n Now take a look at \u00a0the following examples. The first one is lengthy (43 words) and the second one is the edited version (27 words).<\/p>\n When one of my best friends was placed on academic probation, I made it my personal mission to help her regain good academic standing.\u00a0 I spent many hours tutoring her in chemistry and calculus, and with my support, she regained good academic standing. (43 words)<\/em><\/p>\n When one of my best friends was placed on academic probation, I spent hours tutoring her in chemistry and calculus and helped her regain good academic standing. ( 27 words)<\/em><\/p>\n To sum up, you can always tell your story effectively while staying within the word limit constraints.\u00a0 Follow the principle of<\/span> \u2018less is more\u2019 <\/span><\/b>and be as precise as you can.<\/span><\/p>\n Often my students come up with this question if it is ok to exceed the word limits by 5-10%. \u00a0I tell them that even though it appears to be an accepted practice, my personal preference is to strictly follow the word limit specification. So if the essay prompt instructions specify 400 words, I would not finalize an essay with 401 words.<\/p>\n Note:<\/b><\/p>\n Refer to Adam Rubenfire\u2019s \u00a0\u00a0article \u201cWant to Get into Business School? Write Less. Talk More\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n https:\/\/online.wsj.com\/articles\/want-to-get-into-business-school-write-less-talk-more-1404340224<\/a><\/p>\n Stay Tuned for Tip # 13 \u00a0of the story development process next week J<\/p>\n For more MBA articles, visit myEssayReview<\/a> blog.<\/p>\n\u00a0Bad Example:<\/h2>\n
Good Example:<\/h2>\n
Bad Example:<\/h2>\n
Good Example:<\/h2>\n
Bad example:
\n<\/i><\/h2>\nGood Example:<\/h2>\n