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28 Aug 2016, 09:16
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Hi
My current HBS essay is around 1400-1500 words. Content-wise I think it's pretty strong. HBS claims to have no word limit, but would you guys say that's still too long? Thanks
My current HBS essay is around 1400-1500 words. Content-wise I think it's pretty strong. HBS claims to have no word limit, but would you guys say that's still too long? Thanks
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Expert reply
28 Aug 2016, 10:31
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FacePalmist
That is definitely on the long end. It is possible to have a strong essay that is that long, but most of them are shorter. I would target closer to 1,000. It is hard to say without seeing your essay but you would be at the high end for sure.
Best,
Scott
07 Jun 2017, 19:20
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FacePalmist
From Dr. Shel (Shelly Watts), https://www.mbaadmit.com, email: [email protected]
I am certain applicants for the 2017-2018 HBS admissions cycle have similar concerns since the essay question remained the same as last year, so here is our advice about the ideal length for Harvard's open-ended, no-word-limit essay... this excerpt is from a longer blog that we at MBA Admit.com wrote entitled “HBS Single Essay 2017-18: How to Approach?!! (Don't Panic!)”, which you can see in its entirety here:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/hbs-single-essay-2017-18-how-to-approach-don-t-panic-240770.html
Length
Don’t submit a book-of-an-essay that is 3,000 words or longer. We are sure you have led an amazing life and have enough accomplishments to fill a 3,000 essay, but the admissions committee will not want to read something that long and may be left thinking your ego is a little too healthy in size.
In most cases, you also should not submit a hyper-short essay that is 100 words or less. To do this can be read as arrogant, even if your credentials are outstanding in every way (professional, academic, and extracurricular). Are there exceptions to this? Of course. If you are an under-represented candidate who graduated Summa Cum Laude from college, have had promotions at a prestigious company like Morgan Stanley, have always received the top performance ratings, scored a 770 GMAT score, were student government president for three years during college and are certain you will receive glowing recommendations, perhaps you can afford to submit the 100-word essay. The rest of your application will speak amazingly to your credentials! But, most candidates don’t fit this profile, so you should use the essay as premium space to “make your case” to the admission committee.
As you decide on the ideal length, bear in mind that in the past couple of years, a typical-length MBA admissions essay set allowed for approximately 1,000-1,600 words, so that can give you a sense of what might be considered appropriate and not excessive in terms of a word limit. You may be able to state your case in 600-1,100 words.
Hope that helps! Feel free to reach out to us if you need anything. [email protected]
Dr. Shel
FacePalmist
You may be able to cut this down to around 1200, if not 1000-1100 by focusing a bit on where there may be too much explanation. They are of course not going to count every word, but the essence is that does the essay seem a bit stretched out in parts and therefore not as engaging as in others? Its tough to comment without really seeing it, but we would guess once you go over it critically, and get advice from some people who read it, you may be able to pare it down a bit.
