<p>I know people will immediate scream that there is no requirement for length. Still, my why I-really-really-need-to-go-to-the-U-of-C-or-else-I'm-going-to-die essay stands at around 1000 words. Is that too much?</p>
<p>I’m interested in the same question, although my concerns run the other way (my Why Chicago essay’s only about 250 words).</p>
<p>Mine was a couple paragraphs, less that a page. Don’t try to stretch it or cut it down too much. Write as much or as little as you need!</p>
<p>I had the same question because I wrote mine today. But I came in between the both of you: 438 (before editing). and it was two paragraphs: 204 and 234. Yay moderation! I’m happy with the length. They’re not overly wordy… I like it anyways.</p>
<p>Mine is 693 words long and I consider it as a “long” essay.</p>
<p>1000 words seems a bit long, but I don’t think they will care – as long as it isn’t wordy. Mine was more like 250 words, but other accepted students said theirs was more like 750ish.</p>
<p>Mine was about one page, double-spaced. I don’t see how it’s possible to ramble about UChicago for 1000 words without sounding contrived.</p>
<p>My advice is…BE CONCISE. If it’s too long, your essay might come as excessively verbose.</p>
<p>Mine was very short - probably closer to about 250 words. At the time that I wrote it, I actually wasn’t aware that the essay was a big deal, so I really didn’t stress about it…that is, until after I found out that it was semi-important and then I kind of had an aneurysm because I had already submitted it and was convinced that it was the worse chunk of writing anyone has ever written >.< Haha, but I guess it worked out okay.</p>
<p>Anyway - my advice is that that 1000 words does seem a bit long, and I would consider cutting it down a little.</p>
<p>Mine was 800 words, but I really couldn’t find anything to cut out after 3 days of intense editing. (Not all day, but anyway.) So as long as you feel like you’ve been as concise as you can, 1000 words could be fine.</p>
<p>I thought it was just supposed to be one or two paragraphs. After all, the application does say:</p>
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<p>Are they really looking for 750- to 1000-word answers? Are they even looking for 500-word answers?</p>
<p>I’m worried about this essay. The prompt asks why U of C is right for me, but it also asks for specific details about your wishes. I’m not sure where the balance is between rambling on about U of C and talking about me, who I am, and letting the why I want to go there flow more organically.</p>
<p>My current draft addresses the prompt in my opening paragraph, talks about who I am almost exclusively in the body, and then draws in a couple more general sentences of why I want to go there.</p>
<p>I think this discussion is a tad redundant. As it has been aptly pointed out (here as well as in numerous other threads discussing essays all over CC), the most important thing is to get your message across in a reasonable number of words. You’ll be surprised at how people with essays far longer or shorter than the mandated lengths successfully go through the admissions process. It’s all about what your essays says, not quite how many words you need in order to say it.</p>