Essay

[IntlMed]

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Hi, All,
What do you think is an ideal word count for an essay?
I know some people can deliver the same powerful message more precisely than others, but there is always a chance of falling 'too short' in an attempt to make the essay nice and simple.

Please share your experiences.

International.

 

[Dutchboy]

When I wrote my original essay it was over the word count limit. I had to scale it back, which was really hard to do. IMO you should try to get as close to the limit as you can. Why pass up any oportunity to try to convince them that you are the right person for thier school?

 

[tinman831]

Hi, All,
What do you think is an ideal word count for an essay?
I know some people can deliver the same powerful message more precisely than others, but there is always a chance of falling 'too short' in an attempt to make the essay nice and simple.

Please share your experiences.

International.

Here's what AADSAS has to say about the limit: " You are limited to approximately 1 page (4500 characters, including spaces)."

Usually most people write up to the limit but short and sweet is always good. Admissions committees read hundreds of essays so try not to ramble on about random topics. Once you write a rough draft, get some people to read it and give you an unbiased opinion and you'll begin to get a feel for what is important and what is not. 🙂

 

[toothealer12]

Here's what AADSAS has to say about the limit: " You are limited to approximately 1 page (4500 characters, including spaces)."

Usually most people write up to the limit but short and sweet is always good. Admissions committees read hundreds of essays so try not to ramble on about random topics. Once you write a rough draft, get some people to read it and give you an unbiased opinion and you'll begin to get a feel for what is important and what is not. 🙂

you only have 4500 characters like tinman said, so bascially you aren't able to type more than that in the section, and if you try to paste it in there with more than that, it won't save, and will just tell you that you are over the limit. Trust me i had too many characters, and it was hell trying to pull things out, so make it short the first time. most of the other sections have some sort of limit too.

 

[polarnut]

just make sure that in trying to trim down word counts, you dont end up having incomplete sentences like "i be dentist because giving smiles me happy."

 

[tinman831]

just make sure that in trying to trim down word counts, you dont end up having incomplete sentences like "i be dentist because giving smiles me happy."

That sentence is still too long. Here's something short and sweet.

"$"

 

[double4life]

From personal experience, it's alway best to have as much dental-faculty review your paper as often as possible. Some of them may sit on committees and have an idea of what is an ideal length and the content that should be included in your paper. You don't have to live near a school, e-mail people. Get the word out that you need help. The worst thing that can happen is someone telling you "No."

 

[Chrono1984]

Is this essay the same as the personal statement or are they different? I noticed AADSAS has an essay portion...so do you submit both or what?

 

[tinman831]

Is this essay the same as the personal statement or are they different? I noticed AADSAS has an essay portion...so do you submit both or what?

The essay that everyone is referring to is the personal statement. 🙂

 

[IntlMed]

Thank you all for the responess. Could you clarify if the 4500 character limit is including SPACES or not?

 

[tinman831]

Thank you all for the responess. Could you clarify if the 4500 character limit is including SPACES or not?

"You are limited to approximately 1 page (4500 characters, including spaces)."

Yes spaces count. 🙂

 

[IntlMed]

"You are limited to approximately 1 page (4500 characters, including spaces)."

Yes spaces count. 🙂

Thanks 😀 Yes, that's a bummer.. coz, my essay turned out to be 4400 characters without spaces and 5300 with spaces. Oh well, this is only a draaaaaaaaaaft.. so I am sure I can come up with something better.

For those of you who got accepted, what did you put in the dexterity essay?

 

[umum1982]

Thanks 😀 Yes, that's a bummer.. coz, my essay turned out to be 4400 characters without spaces and 5300 with spaces. Oh well, this is only a draaaaaaaaaaft.. so I am sure I can come up with something better.

For those of you who got accepted, what did you put in the dexterity essay?

you need to write a separate dexterity essay? never heard of it.
i wrote a paragraph on my dexterity skills though.

and don't worry about your first draft. you'll go through a ton. i had at least 10 drafts with about ten people giving me feedback (professors, dentist, dental student, english majors, predental advisor...). upto the point where my advisor told me not to touch it anymore. i had a whole paragraph added or deleted in that 10 drafts.