<p>I was reading on Yale's Supplementary Info Page, and noticed this:</p>
<p>"If you are thinking about submitting extra writing samples, you might consider sending a few carefully chosen short pieces rather than a long manuscript."</p>
<p>I have a short story that is eight pages long (double spaced) that I was going to send in. There really isn't anything I can take out, as it IS a SHORT story! So... should I send it all? Is it too long?</p>
<p>First of all, did it win anything? </p>
<p>If it didn't, just don't send it.</p>
<p>I'm currently entering in stuff, I just wrote it about a month ago.</p>
<p>I'm not sure that's neccesarily true. </p>
<p>If you are certain that it's a really excellent piece of writing, and you think that an already overworked admissions officer is going to both enjoy reading it and get a better idea of who you are and what you'll contribute to Yale, then I would send it.</p>
<p>If not, then I wouldn't. The main thing here is that admissions officers don't have time to look at everyone's creative writing, so if you're going to take up their time, they want it to be good. It makes sense, really. Personally, I think whether or not it has won awards is irrelevant--writing is subjective anyway and awards (especially student/youth awards) tend to be shortsighted and not say very much about real writing ability or potential.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>I don't think it'll work against you but they might not really read it. I think they just don't want a bunch of extra work for themselves.</p>
<p>touche trog and zand! the adcom has less than a month to pick a few from several thousand. after your essay, they wouldn't want extra reading. So when it says short, it means short.</p>
<p>a poem is a better idea. </p>
<p>If you wanna break rules, then you have to be extremely outstanding. There was a guy who wrote a 6page essay to Penn instead of one, and got in ED!</p>
<p>I assure you noone would sit down to read 8 pages of prose! I hope your intro is arrestive. You have a chance though and YOU"VE GOT NOTHING TO LOSE BY SENDING IT IN. so go!!!</p>
<p>dearsilhouette, you mentioned that you have recently entered some writing into competitions. If you receive any awards or commendations for your writing in the next six weeks, you should update Yale about that whether or not you submit the short story now.</p>