<p>I’m doing the LMU essay, which suggests 500-1,000 words. I am at 491 words right now, and I plan to either leave it at 491 words or maybe add another line to get it to just over 500 words. The problem is I feel like I have said everything I want to say. Will it hurt if my essay is 491 words or like 503 words?</p>
<p>I would get it to 500 so you’re following the rules, but don’t fret after that. They set those boundaries because those are the suggested limits, and anything within them is fine.</p>
<p>And, with a shorter essay, you could recycle it more readily if other colleges want the same prompt, as 500 is a much more common limit.</p>