I submitted my application on the 1/1/17, but for the “any additional information section”, I pasted in a 600 word essay from my CA application.
Does anyone think that will hurt me since they prefer answers less than 250 words? I feel pretty stupid but ¯_(ツ)_/¯
If the 600 words are impressive it will not hurt. If 400 of the words are puffery, it will hurt.
MIT adcoms know its students need to be able to overcome serious challenges during their time there. Adhering to a word limit requirement is a simple challenge.
It won’t be the deciding factor of whether you get in or are declined.
it will probably neither help nor hurt.