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fall09
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 25 Dec 2008, 08:19
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Leverandon
I guess I was the only person who really worried about those word limits. Nearly all of my essays on all of my apps were exactly or only one or two words under the limit. I guess on my R2 apps I can be a bit more flexible.
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My failure essay is at 261 words and I cannot trim it any further without loosing the essence.
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atlmba2009
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 25 Dec 2008, 10:00
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I remember seeing on one of the Darden blog entries (I don't have the link) that 5-10 words over is okay, I think their exact words were "we won't penalize you for going over by 5-10." So you should be fine there, but they do seem to be a bit stricter about word limits than most schools. I wouldn't go over by more than 15 on any Darden essay.

Edit: Correction, here it is- the info is in the comments section: https://dardenadmissions.wordpress.com/2 ... ys-posted/
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terp26
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 25 Dec 2008, 13:13
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atlmba2009
I remember seeing on one of the Darden blog entries (I don't have the link) that 5-10 words over is okay, I think their exact words were "we won't penalize you for going over by 5-10." So you should be fine there, but they do seem to be a bit stricter about word limits than most schools. I wouldn't go over by more than 15 on any Darden essay.

Edit: Correction, here it is- the info is in the comments section: https://dardenadmissions.wordpress.com/2 ... ys-posted/
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no school counts words. If you have a good essay and you are 50 words over the limit, you still have a good essay. They aren't going to reject you. If your essay sucks it sucks at 250 or sucks at 300.
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atlmba2009
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 25 Dec 2008, 14:19
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I'm sure they don't. Still, do you want to give an admissions committee member a reason to look unfavorably on you, when they have given you specific instructions? If an essay calls for 500-750 words, going over by 50 isn't going to be noticeable. If an essay calls for 250 words, it certainly will be, whether they count your words or not. The idea is that a sentence or two over the limit is okay, a paragraph or two is not. This all assumes that your essay's don't suck, and that you are a borderline candidate.
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 31 Dec 2008, 05:16
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In for R2, submitted 12/31!

I am SO done with MBA applications. :banana
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isa
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 31 Dec 2008, 08:46
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solaris1
In for R2, submitted 12/31!

I am SO done with MBA applications. :banana
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yay! congrats on being done! Here's hoping for the best! :-D
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traffix
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 31 Dec 2008, 08:50
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Its time for solaris1 to start reviewing our R2 apps!
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Leverandon
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 31 Dec 2008, 09:26
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solaris1
In for R2, submitted 12/31!

I am SO done with MBA applications. :banana
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It must be good to be done! You've definitely been working hard at these for awhile.
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 31 Dec 2008, 18:18
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atlmba2009
I remember seeing on one of the Darden blog entries (I don't have the link) that 5-10 words over is okay, I think their exact words were "we won't penalize you for going over by 5-10." So you should be fine there, but they do seem to be a bit stricter about word limits than most schools. I wouldn't go over by more than 15 on any Darden essay.
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I was at an open house a while back and they went out of their way to stress word count - 'the case method is all about making your point succinctly, that's what we look for in essays as well,' or something along those lines. Agree with everyone else, don't make it long enough that they notice and you should be fine.

Maybe I'm wrong on announcements, but my understanding is that they email everyone all at once letting them know that their status has changed. It's then up to all of us to log in and find out one way or another. I heard that at a holiday reception in DC, and was shocked. Maybe I misheard, certainly does fit with my other itneractions with adcom, which have all been extremely warm and friendly...
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 01 Jan 2009, 14:11
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If you look at last year's thread, they definitely called all admits within a day or two before the notification deadline. Should be extremely nerve wracking at the end of this month.
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terp26
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 02 Jan 2009, 08:10
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I withdrew my application and I had an interview set up next week........hopefully I opened up a spot for someone !
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 02 Jan 2009, 12:02
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I'll take that slot...thanks terp!
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traffix
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 02 Jan 2009, 12:31
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Thanks for that!

terp26
I withdrew my application and I had an interview set up next week........hopefully I opened up a spot for someone !
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fall09
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 02 Jan 2009, 12:37
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dghazer
I'll take that slot...thanks terp!
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I want that slot. :-D
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dghazer
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 02 Jan 2009, 12:38
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Sorry Traffix, I called it first.
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fall09
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 03 Jan 2009, 17:46
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Does anyone know the word limit for this essay?

Quote:
Please share any other hobbies/activities and your involvement with them.
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liubhs02
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 03 Jan 2009, 19:46
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fall09
Does anyone know the word limit for this essay?

Quote:
Please share any other hobbies/activities and your involvement with them.
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As far as I know, the free response/short answer questions doesn't have a word limit. So be as verbose as you want.
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ryguy904
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 05 Jan 2009, 10:17
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fall09
Does anyone know the word limit for this essay?

Quote:
Please share any other hobbies/activities and your involvement with them.

As far as I know, the free response/short answer questions doesn't have a word limit. So be as verbose as you want.
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I recall seeing one of their video blogs that said the opposite of this. They are looking for a phrase at the most. Not a sentence or two, but a phrase. I can't stream video at work, but I think you'll be able to find it here: www.dardenadmissions.wordpress.com
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 05 Jan 2009, 10:48
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Im so close to being ready to submit for Round 2 but I cant decide what to put in "I am a person who __________________________, with expertise in ____________________________. " It just never looks/reads right.

Insight anybody?
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Leverandon
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Calling all Darden Fall 2009 applicants! 05 Jan 2009, 11:03
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Raabend
Im so close to being ready to submit for Round 2 but I cant decide what to put in "I am a person who __________________________, with expertise in ____________________________. " It just never looks/reads right.

Insight anybody?
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I talked to an adcom at Darden about this during my interview. They are really looking for honesty and creativity. I don't think that there is any pattern or model that they want aside from that. I just wrote down the first thing that came to mind, and that was, apparently, good enough for an interview. I wouldn't stress over it.
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