<p>I'm trying to figure out what they mean by a "brief" essay. I'm typing it up in word, at 12 point font, single space and and it's about one and a little more pages. What do you guys think the ideal essay length would be?</p>
<p>I think 250 words is breif. Maybe up to 300 or something, but a regular essay is considered 500 words typically, so I assumed something shorter than that</p>
<p>There are no word limits on the two Hopkins essay. The $10 essay is the primary essay and most entries tend to be about 500 words. However, remember with the $10 essay you don't have to write something - you can use any format you want.</p>
<p>The favorite class essay is considered a shorter assignment and tends to be between 150-300 words.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Mine is a little more than 1000. Should I cut it? I've really tried, but it's hard for me to do that. However, my second one is under 500.</p>
<p>A 1000 words is a bit long for the $10 essay. I think you should try to reduce it to at least 750 words. The counselors do not have an inordinate amount of time with each file, so they prefer when each applicant's file is the same length - in terms of letters of rec., essays, resume. </p>
<p>If you really feel like cutting the essay will really ruin it, then you may want to email your regional counselor just to make sure it is OK.</p>
<p>I think 1000 is pushing it a little. I think having an essay so long automatically registers negativity in the adcoms mind before they've already read it.</p>
<p>agreed but I don't see how you can write anything good with only 150 words</p>
<p>goldfish -- that is why with the shorter "academic" question the word range tends to be on the low end 150 and the high end 300. consider a short answer question rather than a full essay. </p>
<p>good luck.</p>
<p>Goldfish--it really tests your diction and creativeness to fit it into 150 words, I think, while at the same time being a condensed, concise statement for the adcom.</p>
<p>Haha, you think that's bad, try the Columbia app where they have a "why do you want to attend" question and ~100 word answer space.</p>
<p>I actually prefer shorter essays, it forces me to really get to my point, and I don't add stupid stuff like I do when I'm given a longer essay requirement</p>