Question on Optional Essay, Something I Created

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

<p>I am running in to a little bit of trouble on this optional essay. In descrbing my project I tried to go somewhat into the technical details (but not too much) so that it would be clear not just what my project does, but also how it works. These straight facts alone put the essay at 600 words. Though my ideas are coherent and flow well from one point to another, the writing is pretty dull. </p>

<p>The problem I have is that I also wrote background on the problem. I explained things like why I chose this specific project, and generally just added context to everything. I even added some humor that balances the dense details that follow. This section, though, is about 200 words.</p>

<p>Since my essay is now 800 words, I am worried that it may be getting "too long". I guess my biggest question is how much focus should I put on technical details and how much focus should I put on context? I could probably replace my current 200 word context with 1-2 sentences that explain what the purpose of the project is, but that would take away so many things. I could also cut out technical details and just summarize what my project does without explaining how it does it. This seems like an easy fix, but I feel like if I do that I am missing out on a chance to "show them what I can do" so to speak.</p>

<p>What are your suggestions? Is 800 words too long? How should I try and cut the length down?</p>

2

<p>Definitely try and cut down. I would say try to keep a balance between nice, flowing humorous writing and technical stuff. You want to show that you are a scientist/engineer, but also that you are interesting and know how to write. So I say cut a little from both sections or whatever you need to do in order to achieve more balance.</p>

3

<p>800 words is far too long.</p>

<p>Don't feel you need to explain your project in great technical detail. Find a way to summarize, as you might with an abstract, and then get to the part about its context and what it's helped you understand, or why you're excited about it. THAT is what the admissions officers want and need to know, not how smart you were to come up with the technical part of the project. The rest of your application, and your skill at condensing the overview of your project into a compelling abstract, should serve to "show them what you can do".</p>