<p>Brandeis says a short answer will do, but how short must it be?</p>
<p>Same question. Bumpp.</p>
<p>Quality over quantity.</p>
<p>I would think two outstanding pages would be ideal.</p>
<p>Ten so-so pages would be a bad idea.</p>
<p>Somewhere in between would make you a "typical" applicant and "typical" applicants usually get rejected.</p>
<p>If you look at the printed version of Brandeis' application (not the common app one), it has the same short answer question and says "in the space provided below"; there, the "space provided" was half a page. It says to feel free to attach a response, so you could go over I suppose, but I don't think that's what they want (they probably say that so you don't have to worry about fitting it exactly or cutting/pasting it if you are mailing it in)</p>
<p>I think half a page, single-spaced would be ideal since that maxes out the space available, and otherwise, I think the answer is probably too short, but that's just me. </p>
<p>At least you know what their "limits" are, I suppose. Good luck :-P</p>
<p>wow???? my why essays are only like 1 paragraph... lolz</p>
<p>My essay is a little less than a page, singlespaced and I think that's pretty good. The common app essay is supposed to be the big one, so I think that they don't want a super long kiss up essay about how much b.s. you can fit into two pages. If you ask me, two pages is too much. that's just my opinion though. Also, most other schools with a "Why" essay have a 500 word limit, so that's been my guiding factor. I'd say take as much space as you need though, if you have something more to say that's important, say it, but don't waste space.</p>
<p>My D's essay was about the same length as her Common App essay, 600-plus words. She got in ED. She wrote a lot because she had a lot to say! I agree, avoid the bs, but if what you want to say is more than a paragraph or two, take the space you need to say it (within reason, of course).</p>
<p>My D's essay was around 500 words - one page single spaced. After talking about why Brandeis was perfect for her, she talked about what she would bring to Brandeis. She was accepted ED.</p>
<p>I agree with gitlecoeur - word count is less important than the strength of your essay.</p>