<p>how strict is this maximum?
it is for the johns hopkins supplements.
one of mine is about 276 words....is that bad if the max is 250?
or will it be okay?</p>
<p>You should be fine with 276</p>
<p>hmmm thanks 
what about 286? lol</p>
<p>Try and keep it as close to 250 as possible. Haha; 286 is probably pushing it…</p>
<p>okay thanks lol</p>
<p>ill keep it at 276 then. :p</p>
<p>Ten, twenty words isn’t going to make them penalize you.</p>
<p>A well-written essay isn’t going to make anyone turn you away. Yes, if you’re dragging away at 280 and what you’re saying isn’t even meaningful, that’s irritating. But if you feel like you can add a better dynamic to your essay by adding ten words, I say ‘go for it’. Just my view.</p>
<p>College admissions isn’t going to notice ten words; they are going to notice an outstanding essay.</p>