You are a US citizen, so these universities are need-blind for you.
I do not think that universities will consider your 8 in the essay as a weekness. Try some excellent essays and I am pretty sure that they will not even take that 8 as a weekness.
Both Universities are High matches
Chance me back 
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/1736352/chance-me-please-updated-will-chance-back-if-you-want