<p>I know it has been asked before, but I am in that predicament, my EC short essay is 300 words when the limit is 150. I asked a teacher to read it and she couldn't cut it down. she said to submit it and let the admissions people just read it because they are not going to count the exact number of words and the essay is decent. what do i do?</p>
<p>If the essay is decent and too many words, write a new essay that is great, whatever the word count. I would definitely not go over with an essay that is only decent; the adcoms should be reading something worthwhile. So, try again, keeping in mind the word count. And then if it's fantastic, submit it (as long as all the words fit).</p>
<p>so i should submit it even if its 150 words over the limit? is anyone interested in helping me shave it down?</p>
<p>bump, please</p>
<p>I had the same problem. 300 is twice the limit and will stick out like a sore thumb, try to cut it to at least 200. Try "The Elements of Style Approach", and remove all adjectives that aren't need. Show, don't tell. And show only what is necessary, ie if you are writing about being involved in drama, don't focus a ton on memorizing lines as the adcoms know that you need to memorize a ton of lines. Focus on the details that aren't obvious.
I don't know if this advice will help you, but it's all I have.</p>
<p>I had the same problem originally as you do, but I was able to cut it down to 150 words (exactly haha) by condensing wordy sentences, getting rids of sentences that weren't crucial to my message, taking out adj.s that weren't needed, etc. </p>
<p>You'd be surprised that it can actually turn out better than it was originally because it is clear, concise, to the point, and you can still include the flavor you wanted in the beginning.</p>
<p>Really think about what is absolutly necessary and get rid of the rest.</p>
<p>thanks people</p>