<p>The common app allows you to use up to 300 characters to answer this question. Does this mean we shouldn't just list five characteristics? Should we describe/provide examples of them?</p>
<p>Oh yeah, I was wondering the same thing.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t wonder about it too much. The bottom line is Stanford will reject you anyway once they get your $75 so the less time you spend on it the more time you can have for more important and productive applications.</p>
<p>I think they just want five words, if they wanted an explanation I think they would have said so.</p>
<p>u describe each characteristic… why in the world would they care if u just wrote 5 words… that says nothing about u… u have to describe the words… and for the guy that said stanford just wants ur $… he prob got rejected lol… just because they rejected u doesnt mean their taking ur $</p>
<p>its limit is 300 characters (i.e four= 4 characters)… not 300 words… so i think 5 words can essentially be within that limit… </p>
<p>That above phrase is at least 100 characters or so…</p>
<p>My son just put five words…</p>
<p>Five words is fine. Do what fits with your application’s voice.</p>
<p>My S also just used 5 words, and he was admitted.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure it’s just five words.</p>