In the past, MBA application essays did not have word limits and applicants could write 2,000+ word essays (like this famous essay) if they pleased. But as MBA applications exploded in the 21st century admissions committees were forced to limit the length of essays. The current trend is that MBA admissions essays are getting shorter and shorter, (for example, Wharton has reduced their essays from a total of 2,200 words in 2010-2011 to 1,500 words in 2011-2012) challenging applicants to explain how multidimensional, talented and interesting they are in a limited amount of space.
Many MBA applicants, full of ideas and enthusiasm, struggle mightily to squeeze their arguments and experiences into the essays and often feel that they must exceed the word limit in order to persuasively tell their story. My advice on this issue is simple: NEVER EXCEED THE WORD LIMIT.
Anyone who is considering whether they should exceed the word limit on their MBA essays should consider the following points:
Submitting essays that are over the word limit is a sign of carelessness. Adcom members have the exhausting job of reading hundreds of essays each day during the busy application season and want to fairly allocate adequate time to each application. Your goal is to make a connection with them and create a memorable profile. By exceeding the word limit, you take a serious risk of creating the impression that you are unprofessional, careless and cannot follow simple directions. After spending months preparing for GMAT and TOEFL and paying expensive application fees is the risk really worth it?
The essays are a test of your logical reasoning and communication skills. You will need to communicate clearly and precisely to be an effective business leader and the essays test your ability to focus on an issue, and lay out your analysis in a direct and persuasive way. The reason many people struggle to meet word limits is because they have included irrelevant information that has nothing to do with the question and does not reinforce key points. Remember, higher word volume will not make the essay better – but crafting clear, concise and direct arguments will.
The essays are a chance to market yourself. The MBA application process is like a job recruiting process; you have to demonstrate to Adcom that you know how to market yourself effectively. To do so, you must express your core value and explain why you are a perfect fit for the program. By taking the time to craft a careful message within the word limit, you show Adcom that you clearly understand your value and will likely be a strong employment candidate in the future.
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