<p>So I finished a polished version of my essay # 1. It works well -- it shows why I love Caltech and explains what I think I can bring. It is well written, flows well, and is easy on the reader (according to proofreaders, including a few English/communications majors). Problem: its 770 words long. I think I can cut it down some, but not too much (I would lose flow). So my question is this: is this like the MIT essays, which are "fine, as long as its all necesary and you don't bore me", or is the limit strict?</p>
<p>Well, I might get in trouble with my colleagues for saying this, but the same idea applies at Caltech -- write what you need to, but try very hard to be respectful of the reader's time. The cost of an essay that exceeds the word limit is that readers now reserve the right to get more annoyed easily if the essay gets boring or bad in some other way. But if you keep us entertained, we won't mind. So I'd say go for it if you're confident that it's good.</p>
<p>hmm Ben jus curious: what portion of essays that you like are anecdotal? Because I wonder what you think about the rule: "Show, not tell." (though #1 essay question seems less relevant to the rule)</p>
<p>Almost all the essays I like are well-written. And almost all well-written essays tell a story or sketch a character with vivid, sharp details (the kind you can't note about yourself without sounding ridiculous). So the proportion is pretty high. Even essay #1 fits well with telling a story about something that happened to you.</p>