<p>Can an essay that is 100 words below the limit be bad? Its not lacking in detail or substance, just was able to close it out perfectly in around 400 words. I also have a 500 word essay, but my counselor and school advisors said that the shorter was slightly stronger.</p>
<p>One of my D's schools wants an essay that is "at least 600 words"--ie. minimum. They also have two other essays which can be "no more than" 200 words--i.e. maximum. Then they have a total maximum, all three together, of "no more than" 1000 words. </p>
<p>What that means to me is, one essay must be at least 600 words and can be longer. Two other essays must not exceed 200 words each, and the two together cannot add up to more than 1000-X, X being the length of the larger essay. </p>
<p>Clear as mud, I know, but my point is that a 400 word essay could be fine or not fine depending on whether the "limit" you refer to is a minimum or maximum limit. </p>
<p>If it is a maximum of 500, than 400 should be fine as long as you have made your points well and the essay is strong. If the prompt calls for at least 500 words, than you need to give them 500 words.</p>