<p>I posted this on the parents forum last night, not realizing that there is a separate forum for essays. So here are my questions:</p>
<p>First, what is a good length for an essay? The Common App says 250 minimum, but that's all the guidance provided, as far as I can tell. My other question is, son wants to write about a political issue. Not one of the hugely controversial topics (not abortion, or gun control), but it's possible that an admissions officer might have a definite opinion on the topic. Son wants to write about a personal experience that broadened his understanding of the issue, and not necessarily which side of the controversy he supports. But is there a conventional wisdom that controversial political issues are not good topics for college application essays? Son is interested in majoring in international relations, and the controversy is about an international conflict (not Iraq).</p>