packermatt7

Ok, so on the admissions website, they want 2 writing samples. I don't want to post the topics, for fear that it is against the rules. I will if someone says otherwise. At the end of the question it says:
(250 to 300 words, 3000 characters max)

They really want you to keep it between 250-300, don't they? Why is there a max, instead of just 250-300?

Zoobernarf

Im guessing there is a max because

12,000 applicants x 300 words x 2 writing samples = 7.2 x 10^6 words = way more reading than anyone wants to do

If you think about it in another way...In military there is a lot of attention to detail. Why do they run a sparkling clean white glove over the tip top of your bathroom mirror for room inspection instead of just glance over it? As far as the essay goes...ya I agree, it's pretty annoying if you only need 20 more words to get your main idea across.

packermatt7

Thank you for the input, but that just made me more anxious, ha. I can see your point, though. It seems like they are "suggesting" you keep it between 250-300 words... are they testing to see if you follow instructions, or do they want you to go above and beyond?

07PETKO

Sometimes it's hard to tell. I'd suggest staying within the limits or at least keeping it close.

hornetguy

Part of the military are EPRs and OPRs (enlisted/officer performance reports) and promotion paperwork that requires putting ALL your best achievements in a short number of limited bullets. You need to know how to make your point completely and explicitly in short space. I'm already learning it on the performance reports and staff applications as a cadet.

packermatt7

Ok, thanks. One more question: One of the essay topics is about what you think you would struggle most at. They give examples (academics, athletics, military studies...etc.)
What exactly is the military stuff? I know you can get on the Dean's list or something like it for military curriculum, but what is it?

Luigi59

Remember, "characters" are not words, they include spaces and punctuation marks. Most word-processing sw has a "word count" and a "character count" feature, I would use them if I were you.

packermatt7

Oops, I think I meant words, sorry.


Actually, now that I read it carefully it says the words 250-300, and no more than 3000 characters... so it has to be between 250 and 300 words.

bulletandpima

I would strongly suggest you keep it in that range. Look at it from a few different angles.

1. Like Hornet said, they want you to be concise, if you can't make your point within that amount of space, than you need to re-evaluate your writing style.

2. This is the military...when the AFA says get up at 4:30, eat at 5:30, class at 8, they don't meant @4:30, 5:30 and 8. Obviously it is not an order since you are not in the military yet, but do you want to come out of the gate and already not follow their guidelines?

3. Many profs will tell you they read to 300, and grade on that. Do you want the board to stop reviewing your essay at 300, if you go to 350 and grade you on the 1st 300 words?

4. Finally, by the time you write all of your essays for your noms, the SA's, ROTC scholarship and your colleges, you will be more than happy to stop at 250

FYI, when DS applied to Notre Dame, they said they will stop reading at the word count limit. Politely told the parents, there just isn't enough time to read 15K essays going over the limit. UMiami admissions said, they actually deduct points from their essays when they go past the count...Belief is you are wasting their time by not following directions. Nobody on this forum sits on the board, thus we can't say they do or not penalize...only you can answer if you are willing to push the limit!

I would talk to your ALO. DS's ALO met with him weekly for the month of July editing and revising his essay with our son. We never helped in the essay in any manner, but I do recall the word count was 298