jonoam

ok, so i've been working on my essay for EA. i wrote on the prompt regarding how i'm different from my peers.
it was at 724 words and i've cut it down to 652 but am having trouble cutting out much more. im really happy with the essay. it indirectly tells about me as a person and is very much connected to notre dame's goals for its students. rewriting it is out of the question. 652 ok or should i keep chipping away at it?

if you're a current student or alumni and want to read it just PM

Kr123

If you are happy with it it is OK. I called to ask iof they were strict about the 500 words and they said no but on the other hand they are reading 17,000 essays a so make it as to the point as possible

pccool52

Yeah, mine is about 620 words, and I'm having trouble cutting it down too(I'm also doing the same prompt). I'm going to ask my admissions rep on Monday about this issue.

jonoam

i had the same response as Kr123 when I asked my admission's counselor. its still kind of a vague answer but I guess they don't want to unofficially extend the word limit for everyone. i'm down to 636 now. are you applying ea pccool52?

pccool52

My HS high school counelor was supposed to talk to my ND admissions rep about whether I should apply EA or not last week. My HS counselor never got back to me so I still don't know if I'm applying EA or not. However, My ND rep is visiting my school tomorrow so hopefully I can figure it out then.

Irishcali

Well, in my opinion they tell you 500 words and to me that means 500 words. To go over is basically not following directions which could be taken as negative. Now, a little over? Probably not a big deal-like 10% or so, but to go 600+ is to me, taking a risk. All you need is an admissions rep. on a bad/tired night and you could drop right out. Really, all you need to say can be said in 500...try to get it down. Don't give them a reason to ding you.

irish_hopeful

I think much more than 600 is pushing it, yes. But I wouldn't subscribe to the theory that essay readers are subjective, mood-contingent people. These undergraduate admissions people know what's at stake - the futures of more than 14,000 high school seniors. They have often stated that several people look over each application (four i think?). Even if a rep was having a bad day, I don't think "you could drop right out." Notre Dame isn't a top-20 national university because of irrational admissions officers.

If a pesron goes over 600, I think there needs to be a literary reason to do so. If it's just excessively wordy, that's different.

fencersmother

I would say 550 at the outside. Those ad-reps are reading upwards of 30 a night... if all 30 are over by 100 words - well, you do the math (and you really don't want to be #27 of the night with a big overage.).

maggiejeter

Mine was like 650. I got in, so I guess it was fine.

pccool52

I asked my rep about this on monday. I told her my essay was about 600 words, and she said that ws fine. so... I don't know where that fine line is exactly, but having an essay around 600 words is not going to hurt you.

Irishcali

I'm not trying to be a pain, I'm just saying, why take a chance? I'll say it again, anything you have to say can be said in 500 words...really. And, for anyone that has yet to get in, you just don't know.... DD was accepted EA last year with an essay at 520 words, and believe me she had to adjust and adjust to get it down. I guess I just think they give you a limit and if you don't follow it you only show that you can't follow direction or you don't care. Just my opinion, and it worked for us, best of luck!

By the way, dd's best friend wrote essay for ivy league schools (4 of them) and used an essay under 200 words...honestly she was accepted at all four. Quality over quantity

shellzie2006

I'm pretty sure my essay was over 650 words and I didn't have a problem...as long as it isn't boring, they probably won't notice that it's longer than the limit.

red06

+- 25% is the guideline i would use