<p>ok, well, I am over by about 30 words on two of my 250 word essays. I have taken out all i can without it sounding like a 1st grader wrote it, and feel that it would be better to have a 280 word "illegal" essay than sappy 250 word essays. Is this faulty thinking? The most I get from the mit website is that there is no strict limit, but the blogger did stay under the limit. Help?</p>
<p>My general rule is that about 10% over the limit is not noticeable to the reader. By that metric, 280 words is fine.</p>
<p>Sounds fine to me! Mollie, your rule of thumb sounds great here.</p>
<p>-McGreggor (MIT Admissions)</p>