Short answer questions:Question on length

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
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<li>Members of the Caltech community live, learn, and work within an Honor System with one simple guideline, “No member shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community." While seemingly simple, questions of ethics, honesty, and integrity are sometimes challenging. Share an ethical dilemma that challenged you. What did you do?<br></li>
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<p>The instructions says: up to a paragraph. </p>

<p>What if i have dialogue? Indenting and starting a new paragraph will be O.K. right?</p>

<p>and also, is 270 words too long to be a “paragraph”?</p>

<p>Sorry, I’m just rly paranoid :)</p>

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<p>this is probably fine.</p>

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<p>The "how do you express interest in math/science" essay asks for a page more or less. Is 800 words in the ballpark?</p>

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<p>My interpretation: if the essay fits on a page in the Print Preview of the online Common App supplement, then it is a page. My essay is over 600 words, and it only fills about three quarters of the page (even though it's more than a page in my word processor). I would guess that 800 words is an OK number.</p>

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<p>I would agree. Use your best judgment. Nobody will mind reading a few extra words if it's worth reading.</p>

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<p>oh...a page? i was assuming it was like all the other college essays, so it'd be about 500 words. should it be longer?</p>

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<p>Never make an essay longer because you think it's supposed to be longer. (Unless, say, you think that "I like math. And science. A whole lot!" is a good way to sum up your life.) This isn't English class. If you can say what you want to say in 500 words, don't say it in 800. (And there's no slight implied there to what it is you have to say.)</p>

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<p>okay, i know. its just i could easily add more words and write a more complete essay. or i can leave it and it can stand as is. i just want to know: what length are the admission people expecting?</p>