<p>Hey guys :) I was wondering if any of you, current and prospective students, included the optional list of favorite things in your app? I made a draft today and it's two pages. It isn't just a straight forward list, I included reasons for why. They're like a sentence or two each, but I guess it adds up. I'm wondering if I should make it shorter and so this brings me back to my question. Anyone include it? How long was it?</p>
<p>Included it. Two paragraphs, roughly 3/4 of a page double spaced.</p>
<p>Two pages is a lot. I had a list of around 10 things and wrote a short “essay/blurb” about why one of them was important.</p>
<p>I agree with sa0209, two pages seems like a lot. I submitted one which was a little less than a page long (double spaced). Maybe you should cut down the topics you listed to only the ones that you think say the most about you. </p>
<p>I’ll be happy to PM you my Favorite Things essay if you want to take a look at it :)</p>
<p>I wrote about a single favorite thing, and it was 3-ish paragraphs I think - the shortest of all the essays I submitted.</p>
<p>Did you guys approach it in a serious tone or a bit more nonconformist a la the supplemental essays?</p>
<p>I wrote a two paragraph, half page “essay” on my favorite book and am attending UChicago this year. It wasn’t in a serious tone yet wasn’t totally UChicago noncomformist. It was pretty casual yet not nonchalant.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about it. My friend got in and submitted a two page list of her favorite things without any “why” descriptions. I would write something enjoyable to read so that your application is more memorable!</p>
<p>I wrote about a half page paragraph on why Tolkien was my favorite author. I described how I loved that I read his novels as as a child and couldn’t understand many of the words but it inspired me to look them up and expand my vocabulary. I read the books later on and understood them so much more and really saw how much I had learned. I also talked about the importance of imagination and the details and complexity used within Tolkien’s novels to create an entirely new world inspired by Tolkien’s experiences at Oxford and during World War II.</p>
<p>I wrote mine about my favorite book, The Kite Runner.
Definitely include it. The way I see it, as long as it’s well written, it can’t possibly hurt you but can definitely help you.</p>
<p>I didn’t include anything. When they say it is optional, they really mean it.</p>
<p>That being said, I would have included a list or a short paragraph - had I actually saw the instruction before I submitted my application. I think I somehow missed it and freaked out after submitting my application a few years back. I called and my admissions counselor laughed and told me not to worry.</p>
<p>When they say it is optional, they mean it.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Hey, to those who sent me PMs, I can’t reply to them yet because apparently CC says we have to make at least 15 posts before we’re allowed to reply… So please be patient with me and I’ll work on that!</p>
<p>I wrote a page and did a list with description type of thing. it has the most words of all my essays, because the font’s pretty small. 
two pages shouldn’t hurt your chances unless your list isn’t interesting. :)</p>
<p>I submitted an out of context paragraph about Nicki Minaj followed by a Joseph Ducreaux style reworking of two verses from SuperBass.</p>