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3underscore
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rhyme
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3underscore
It is all about making an impression. For me, I find working strictly to a word count results in my essays being punchier. Word count is a part of my editing process - most of the time I can cut 10% from my standard text. If I want then, I can add more. What is always true is that after that cut it reads better.


and how is that?! there is no co-relation between sticking to a word-limit and an essay being punchier...notice that i mention just "sticking to a word limit".

Anyways, i think this discussion has already gone too long and too far...since it started with essays for MIT...let me just mention (as i had earlier, in another thread on this forum)...in one of the information sessions, i personally asked Jon McLaughlin (from Sloan) about the importance of adhering to the word limit. This is what he had to say:

"Think of your essays to be a meeting with an important client. If the meeting had been set for 30 minutes and it goes on for 33 then it's not a problem. If it lingers on to 40 minutes or more then thats bad. Word limit is not a line in the stone which can not be crossed but should be used more as a guideline"

HTH
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SW2013
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I'd say - and that applies not only but especially to application essays:
perfect content within maximum words is better than perfect content exceeding maximum words is better than bad content within maximum words ist better than bad content exceeding maximum words.

So if you can only express your good content with more than the allowed number of words - do so, because good content is the most important. But remember that another application with just as good content and less words will still be evaluated better.

BTW: I don't have any inside info but I'm quite convinced that they DO check the number of words! It's not that hard to do....
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