Calling Fall 2008 Bards and yesteryear writers

Question

Hi Guys,
I am working on some top school essays as many of you are. I am at a loss to express myself briefly...
For example...Kellogg asks us to "Briefly" assess our career progress in 1-2 double spaced pages. Now is it 2 sides or 4 sides. 

I request you all (those in my clan and the likes of Rhyme, Pelihu and others) to please respond and share so we learn and grow.
Please act as our (Fall 2008 ers) beacon. 


FYI: The schools I am working for R1 are:
MIT
Kellogg
Chicago
Michigan
Thanks Guys
Vijay

riverripper · Answer

I am planning on applying to 3 of the same schools as you and I am also having a hard time with limits too. Kellogg's first questions is very tough, Chicago gives you 1500 words but K's 2 pages double spaced (SINGLE SIDE ONLY) is nothing. My first draft was WAY too long and still basically talked about my current career progress. I want to focus more on my future since its where my passion is.

kripalkavi · Answer

Ha ha ha! I know what you mean man! First of all, the specifics:

1. two pages = 2 sides
2. font size = size 10 

Let me guess: Your essay has 1 1/2 pages of just career progress right? Even I was in the same boat. You happily finish listing out and explaining your career achievements and then realize that you went past the word limit 200 words ago. Trust me, the Kellogg essays have pretty liberal word limits. You should see the HBS essays....pure hell, I tell you. 

To answer your question, I just painted broad strokes on my career progress to date. So I didn't really go into too much of the details. I guess there is really no other way around it. You write the first draft and then edit it and then re-edit it and then re-edit it....... (you get the picture right?!;)) till you are within the word limit.

Oh, and before I forget, you can shorten your sentences by just reorganizing them a little. 
1. Use active voice as opposed to passive (e.g.  My company promoted me  can be written as  I was promoted )
2. Use collective nouns wherever possible (e.g.  I was recognized for my efforts by my manager, VP and eventually my SVP  can be written as  I was recognized for my efforts by senior management )

Hope that helped!

dabots · Answer

actually, saying "My company promoted me" is active voice, and "I was promoted" is passive voice. :wink:

kryzak · Answer

I'm finally understanding this word/page limit thing

my OUTLINE is longer than the Haas word limit already! I highly suggest you get "Elements of Style" and "65 Successful Harvard Business School Essays" to see how people can express their goals and other essays in 300-500 words. It's quite inspiring to read some of those essays. They sound matter-of-fact and still get everything across. Read it and it should help! My goal right now is to hack and slash my Haas essays down to within the word limit...

mNeo · Answer

Bzzzttt, wrong! :wink:

You meant, "Use passive voice over active voice to save on words". Although this idea may work in saving a few words, active voice is usually simpler and more straight-forward. And I seriously doubt that using passive voice can really save you enough words to justify this "more complex way of forming sentences". So, although I understand that sometimes passive voice makes sense, but my recommendation would be to not use it for the sake of it or to save 2-3 words.

kripalkavi · Answer

Oh well, I guess my GMAT SC skills are rusty

Thanks for the heads up! Point taken mneo. Thank you.

pelihu · Answer

If you're looking for advice on how to cut your essays, try to look at some journalism guides. When writing newspaper articles, you regularly cut out 75% of what you put down. It really focuses your message, and forces you to get right to the point.

For the purposes of writing your career essays, try to focus both your language and your message. Talk about only what is important and leave out the smaller details if they don't fit. Then, use tell it in a focused concise manner.

vij101 · Answer

Thanks for the input guys...we will trudge along.....
Riverripper....I guess it is good to know that we have company..but the sooner we figure the essays out the better....I read in your blog that you told your bosses about your potential move...I am exactly in a similar situation and will be telling my director by the end of this month...
By the way...anyone planning to visit MIT through the Ambassadors program....I am going on Oct 4...

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