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Mishari
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Writing less than the word limit on essays 05 Sep 2008, 10:16
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How do admission boards look at an essay with fewer words than the recommended limit ?
in other words, if a specific essay has say 750 words limit, how does an essay with 600 words look ? Is it okay since the 750 words is merely a Maximum limit ? Or do school expect to see applicants writing as much as the limit ?
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buffdaddy
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Writing less than the word limit on essays 05 Sep 2008, 11:51
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I am not sure about the specific essay you are talking about, but for one particular school I am considering there is a 2000word essay. I know 4 recent admits all of them wrote 1500 word essays.

But 750 is only slightly above 600. Can't you come up with a little more? expand it in a few places and make it a bit deeper.
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clubgmat25
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Writing less than the word limit on essays 05 Sep 2008, 12:29
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Mishari
How do admission boards look at an essay with fewer words than the recommended limit ?
in other words, if a specific essay has say 750 words limit, how does an essay with 600 words look ? Is it okay since the 750 words is merely a Maximum limit ? Or do school expect to see applicants writing as much as the limit ?
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Honestly, if you can pack your ideas in fewer words..kudos to you.
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Writing less than the word limit on essays 05 Sep 2008, 12:54
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The bottom line is telling your story given the space provided. If you can say it succintly, yet powerfully in few words, your essays will be better than someone who uses the entire limit, but beats around the bush getting to the point. If you have space to spare and feel like you can add substance that specifically answers the question without fluff, than I would add it. If you're maxed out under the limit, no worries.
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Writing less than the word limit on essays 05 Sep 2008, 13:19
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clubgmat25
Honestly, if you can pack your ideas in fewer words..kudos to you.
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Actually, kudos don't work right now :lol:
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clubgmat25
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Writing less than the word limit on essays 06 Sep 2008, 08:59
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sonibubu
clubgmat25
Honestly, if you can pack your ideas in fewer words..kudos to you.

Actually, kudos don't work right now :lol:
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:lol: :lol: :lol:
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Writing less than the word limit on essays 06 Sep 2008, 10:39
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Less is great if it has all the information in it that you want to give to them. I think bearing in mind that schools like Harvard get 10k applications, and people have to read all of them. A good short essay will stand out and have great impact, I would expect. The counter side is not to miss the value to exchange information with the Adcom.

So, if you are happy with the essay then great. I think it is a lot more common to see that on a 1500 word essay rather than a 750, where it isn't that much to begin with.