I wouldnt chance it

A rule of thumb is that if you are going to break the rules, there better be an amazing reason to justify it

I think as long as you end with this you'll be fine:

"Perhaps you will understand me better when I tell you that Dada is a virgin microbe that penetrates with the insistence of air into all the spaces that reason has not been able to fill with words or conventions."

yeah, same here vyan... there is no way i can paint the picture in 500 words, since I have quite a mixed background. I started with 1200, only could cut down to 820... How do I know that I have an amazing reason; my reason is that it's very complicated:)

what to do what to do??

any other comments people?

btw, why so serious greyvsgray?

less is more

they dont care what you say...but how you say it

penn design says "no more than 500 words" do you think 580 will be a problem?

people, i can't get past 300 words,,,i'm so uninteresting as a person. give me ur scraps

Architecture schools look for confirmation that applicant has innate skills to navigate the program and graduate, and then become an alumni who will make annual contributions to alumni fund. I spoke to a professor who sits on an admissions board, and she said that essays get little consideration. So long as you demonstrate english competence, the essay is of little importance. So a long essay about saving the world, or saving the profession, is not noteworthy.

Stick to the rubric. Edit your essay to fit.

edit to to 500. editing is skill worth demonstrating.

dont worry columbia lets anyone in nowadays

i'm p2an - this is about your ability to self-edit as much as it is about you.