<p>The UC app says its best to use 200 words for 2 essay questions of your choice than about 500 (?) for the 3rd essay of your choice. Well, is it really necessary to balance the word limits like that? is it ok to have one with 350 words, 200 and then 350 again? or no....?</p>
<p>Directly from the application directions: </p>
<p>"You should respond to all three short-answer questions in the personal statement using a total of no more than 1,000 words. One response must be approximately 600 words; the other two should be about 200 words each. Word counters on each entry box will help you track your lengths." (emphasis mine)</p>
<p>They offer another example elsewhere to soothe applicants' fears about word count, but I warn that they do so by saying going over/under by 5 words won't make or break you. Do your absolute best to stay within the limits.</p>