Admission Essays

fruitytooties

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I'm starting to work on my essays but on the beginning it says at least 250 words, 3000 max. Then when I go down to the essay box, it says 250-300, 3000 max. Do they want 250-300 words, or do they want 250-300 minimum words and expect you to go beyond the 250-300?
 
No I think what it says is "250 - 300 words, 3000 characters max" so 3000 characters is roughly 250 - 300 words.
 
ahhh ok, didn't even see that. but my essays is like 385 words and only like 1700 characters. still keep it 250-300?
 
I bet it is okay, but here is the flip side, if they ask for 250-300 words, than follow their direction., you are not 5, 10 or 20% over, but close to 30%.
In part this is about following orders. When we met with Notre Dame Admissions, they said the same thing as his ALO, they may read pass the 300, but at a certain point they stop...just like your WRITTEN SAT, you are expected to end where they say end.

Bullet and I have totally different writing styles, I am more "flowery" (his words) and he is straight to the point. You need to be able to get to your point in @ 300 words, not @400. By writing a 400 word essay you can be hit just as hard as someone who writes a 200 word essay...neither of you followed the directions, and the military is about following directions.
You do not know who will be reading your essay, they have 1000's of essays to read, you don't know that person, they might say I stop at 301, because they were told 300 words max and grade on that, do you want to risk it?
 
So will points be taken off if your essay is a little shy than 400 on the 400-500 essay?

I am a concise writer.
 
Really people. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. If you can't follow the instructions given to you in the admissions package, don't you think the Academy is also going to wonder if that's the only thing you can't follow instructions on? Read the instructions and do what they say, its that simple.
 
"Go Hornet... Go Hornet... It's your birthday.... It's your birthday".....

:tank::tomcat:

:thumb:
 
My Candidate packet says that responses can be a maximum of 3,000 characters, it says nothing about words. Also, I call my admissions representative at the academy about this and she said word count doesn't really matter as long as your essay is under 3,000 characters.

Prospective 2014
 
.01987998 cents here, but don't be calling your regional for every little question...if it says 3000 characters, than it's 3000 characters.

Hornet is right, it is not that difficult, it says 3000 characters, there really isn't alot of confusion here.

There are 3 regionals, now realize that they start out with 6K candidates, can you imagine the amount of time spent on the phone clarifying. Contact your ALO first for any clarification, they know the answers, and that is what they are there for...notice L stands for LIASION...in other words the middle man between the AFA and you. The ALO's, at least the good ones like Flieger can quickly answer your questions, also during the course of the yr they speak to the regionals. Our ALO, would call DS and tell him any info, i.e. you are going up to the board, the AFA just added another nom, etc. If they don't know it then contact the regional, but don't be jumping over them to contact the regional.
 
One of the essays my son wrote is 433 letters but 1923 characters. Which does he go by?
 
That is a math problem I don't think I can solve. 433 letters is like, what, a 100 word essay? Rather than pretend I can critique it, I would suggest having an English teacher or Guidance Counselor proof it and see if any more characters or letters would help.
Good Luck.
 
That is a math problem I don't think I can solve. 433 letters is like, what, a 100 word essay? Rather than pretend I can critique it, I would suggest having an English teacher or Guidance Counselor proof it and see if any more characters or letters would help.
Good Luck.

I meant 433 words. Sorry.
 
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