We are using the SAO, but some of the schools have a choice of supplemental essays to choose from with topics like “what are your goals for high school?”. If no suggested length is given, how long should these essays be? Should we consider them more of a short answer (less than 250 words?) or long essay (closer to 500 words?). Thanks!
I believe the first 4 questions should not exceed 250 words, and they specifically tell you to get to the point. There is a fifth question, one where you pick your prompt and should be between 250-500 words. You can simply use an online editor to catch typos and count your words; however, they will not refine your essay for you. The essays should be brief, concise but meaningful. I hope this helped!
This is not a question for the SAO app - it’s a supplemental form for an individual school. I am trying to decide if it should be treated as a short form or long form essay. It does not give a suggestion for length, just a choice of 4 questions.
I would also say to be brief and concise. Admission officers will not waste time reading a very long essay - they will only skim through it because their time is very limited. It does not do to have a very simple essay, either. Point out your main goals, and revise it over and over again to make sure your essay sounds up-front and prepared. However, if your child has exceptional writing skill, and is able to draw readers in with the first sentence, it would be better to write a longer one to showcase his/her abilities.
If a school is already reading the essays from the SAO I would keep anything supplemental brief.
The guidance we were given when we asked this question of an AO is if the instructions say “short answer” then target 250 words or less. If it says “essay”, then target 250 - 500 words. You could always check in with the school to clarify, though I know timelines are getting short and schools are closed for the holidays.
Thank you all! The AO at the school said not to write a novel, so we are going to treat it at a short answer and hope for the best!
Be careful. Last year one of us finished an essay ( can’t remember if it was a student essay or parent essay) and it was too long. Well guess what? I could not be submitted until the characters were cut down to size. So make sure you don’t write a great story and then have to cut out the best parts.
Second what @Happytimes2001 posted. This happened to kiddo and also on one of our parent essays. Some essays have a word max and could not submit. There was also a glitch with the supplemental essay to submit with the portfolio and creative writing sample for Choate last year. Make a draft of every essay - keep a copy. Print a copy for your records, also, of every application essay.
Third what @Happytimes2001 said. And to @Golfgr8 's point, and this may sound basic, but write the essays outside of the application using MS Word or similar to do spell/grammar check (although don’t solely rely on the accuracy - proof yourself), and for word/character count. Then cut and paste into the application.