<p>The answer i wrote is pretty generic and blunt... residential colleges, shopping period, etc... are they looking for something straightforward or more creative and specific... like "a day in the life" response?</p>
<p>It’s 500 characters. Make it blunt and as specific as you can get. Also, keep in mind that the ultimate purpose of attending Yale is to get an education, so perhaps mentioning a few academic programs you’re interested in would reflect better than simply talking about residential life.</p>
<p>I answered with exactly one sentence</p>
<p>Particular is better than general. Stay away from a laundry list of the Residential College system, fabulous academics, brilliant peers and professors, etc. Everybody loves that stuff about Yale. I suggest that you dig into the Yale website. See if there are particular courses, areas of study, and activities that speak to you. Even in 500 characters, it’s possible to show Yale that you’re an interesting student who will make a positive contribution on campus.</p>