<p>When a prompt gives an approximate length requirement "About 500 words" or "at least 250 words," what would an appropriate length be? If they ask for "about 500 words," would 50 words over be too much? How about 25? </p>
<p>I understand that the Admissions Department will have thousands upon thousands of essays to read and that often times a tough edit will cut out superfluous verbiage, but I don't want to rework my essays to death either in the hopes of cutting out 10 or 15 words.</p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>