<p>Does it matter if your answer is more like 280 words? Are they that strict about it, like they'll only read the first 250 words or something crazy? How are you guys approaching the short answers- like an essay?</p>
<p>I'm not sure, but I heard that you shouldn't go more than 10% over suggested amount.</p>
<p>it doesn't really matter, as long as its not obviously a lot over. Mine actually was around 288-300. And my essay which was supposed to be 500 ended up being around 750.</p>
<p>Right now I have a short answer response that ended up being 250 words exactly but I think I might add another sentance or two for clarification.</p>
<p>(by the way, how are you guys formatting these essays? lol double spaced + 1 inch margins? just curious)</p>
<p>Yea, I went around +50-70 words per essay as well.</p>
<p>i was at 310 words on one of my short essays</p>
<p>I single spaced mine with standard margins.</p>
<p>yep, my was single 2, double is just a waste of paper, they're not ur english teacher writing red marks over for grammar marks</p>
<p>how much do the short answers even matter? can someone post theirs who thinks they've done a good job?</p>
<p>or, if you were accepted last year, post yours so us appliees this year can see what can get in.... you know what I mean.</p>
<p>The limit doesn't matter, they just want somewhere in that relative ballpark.</p>
<p>IcicleRose, here's my short essay #2... I can't find #1 unfortunately (and i thought that one was much better than this)... anyways, I was accepted for '05. notice that this is no literary masterpiece. they just need to be short but to the point
(it wouldnt let me indent on here, and I also edited out the name of the school i transferred from to remain somewhat anonymous)</p>
<p>Describe your educational path. How did you get to where you are today? What are your educational goals, and how does the University of Michigan fit into them? </p>
<p>In the fifth grade at ***** School, in *****, I joined a computer club and was intrigued by the creative possibilities that computers and the Internet had to offer. For the next several years, I absorbed these new technologies. A friend and I founded a web design company and developed a long list of clients, including two companies based in Silicon Valley. I left high school believing that computer science would be my main focus. </p>
<p>Everything changed when I entered ****** ***** College and took my first Political Science class, U.S. Government and Politics. I was absolutely fascinated by it. I was captivated by the discipline of Political Science, and loved the independent research that went into it. I developed strong opinions on U.S. foreign and domestic policy, and on the prominent issues that affect our country and the world. During my sophomore year, I have taken three more Political Science courses; each one reinforced my decision to major in the discipline. </p>
<p>I never lost my core interest in computers, however, and in January of 2005, during our J-term at ***** *****, I was able to integrate my knowledge of computers and my passion for politics. For a solid month I studied the intersection of politics and the Internet, specifically as it deals with online campaigning, social capital, and the digital divide. My most recent coursework has focused on international relations and political research methods. Wherever I complete my undergraduate studies, I plan to spend a semester or more studying in Washington D.C., and will look into the opportunities of foreign study.</p>