CMU MSCF Essay 2017

[Avinash Shrivastava]

Hi Guys,
So this year CMU has this essay question:

Why are you interested in this specific functional area? Give one example of a skill you have developed in your past professional or academic experience that will directly contribute to your success in your post-MSCF career path. (350-word max)

I was wondering:
1. Do we need to explicitly mention a skill or just demonstrate it by the work that you've done ?
2. Regarding the "why interested in this area" part, this can be pretty long(like an SOP), so how strict should we be in terms of word limit? Can it go to 370 or not even 351?

Can you guys help, please?
Thanks in advance.

 

[mhy]

1) Mention a skill explicitly and also back it up by how your professional and academic experience contribute to it
2) Stick to 350 max.

 

[somya harjai]

Hi Avinash , I cannot see any such essays on the "Written Essays" tab. Can you please tell me where in the application you found these questions.