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aviroop
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How long should your essays be 01 Aug 2007, 10:36
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For those applying to Columbia, all the essays have recommended word limits.
I sent an email to the admissions office to find out if the ad-com officer will frown upon essays that exceed the word limit, or simply stop reading/eliminate essays that appear long and not sticking to the word limit

I received a reply that said the word limit is "just a guideline" that is to be used while constructing an essay. So no clear word on whether long essays (greater than the word limit) are bad. Sounds more like Captain Barbosa's theory on parlay (refering to Pirates of the Caribbean)

I do not want to take up the admission officer's time by making him read lengthy essays, but is it ok, to overshoot the word limit. If, yes, by how much? Is there some deviation (+100 words) that is allowable?
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mNeo
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How long should your essays be 01 Aug 2007, 10:47
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a 5-10% deviation, maybe?
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lepium
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How long should your essays be 01 Aug 2007, 11:32
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The usual reply is +/- 10%.

L.
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kryzak
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How long should your essays be 01 Aug 2007, 19:57
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I've read in many books that if you go over at all, it's considered "not knowing how to follow instructions." I'm not sure if it applies to all schools, but I'm going for the "better be safe than sorry" route.
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How long should your essays be 01 Aug 2007, 20:27
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kryzak
I've read in many books that if you go over at all, it's considered "not knowing how to follow instructions." I'm not sure if it applies to all schools, but I'm going for the "better be safe than sorry" route.
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I know that HBS essays are short for a specific reason. They want to test if you can make a compelling case and be brief at the same time.

For HBS atleast, I have been advised not to go over the word limits by more than 20 words.

perhaps lepium can confirm this.
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How long should your essays be 03 Aug 2007, 07:54
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ncprasad


For HBS atleast, I have been advised not to go over the word limits by more than 20 words.

perhaps lepium can confirm this.
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I kept them to about 10%-ish. I did edit over and over again until they were so condensed they felt like astronaut food, though.

L.