I’m an evangelist for brevity, but I do see some questions with absurdly low limits. I’m currently working with a graduate school applicant with a serious infraction on his record. He has to answer the following prompt:
“You must provide an explanation. Include 1) a brief description of the incident and/or arrest, 2) specific charge made, 3) related dates, 4) consequence, and 5) a reflection on the incident and how the incident has impacted your life.”
in FIVE HUNDRED CHARACTERS.
You have to be kidding me. Were they thinking of Chinese characters? 500 characters is the right length for the “brief description” alone. MAYBE Hemingway could reflect on his worst mistake and its aftermath in 500 characters. I couldn’t.