<p>I tried to complete this many times, but the 500 character limit makes it really hard to write a good answer. Anyone have advice on how to go about answer this question with a short but persuasive answer?</p>
<p>say: "b/c Yale rocks and I love you!!!"</p>
<p>but seriously, by how many words are you going over? Try leaving out any "fluff" and getting straight to the point.</p>
<p>See that's the problem. It's not 500 words, it's 500 characters.</p>
<p>They are looking for concision and honesty. So be concise and honest.</p>
<p>umm it was a why yale question? I thought they said write whatever you want to write about...</p>
<p>Try to identify something you love about Yale that is not something that everyone else loves, too. For example, they already know you love the Residential College system, strong undergraduate focus, etc.; so does every other kid applying to Yale. Eliminate the general and try to come up with a few specifics, things that matter to you in particular.</p>
<p>my problem is that it seems like im writing a laundry list</p>
<p>Just write about one, maybe two things. Don't list four or five. I'm sure they know the one or two things you write about aren't the only things you're interested in at Yale.</p>
<p>do we have to write about 'why yale'? I thought they said write whatever you want to write about</p>
<p>^ haha there is a "why yale" short answer as well as a "free choice" essay</p>
<p>mistofolis - as eating food has stated, there are two different essays. The one you are referencing is what he is calling 500 word "free choice" or you would call writing "whatever you want". The essay that this thread is addressing is the 500 character "why Yale" under short answers.</p>
<p>Do characters count spaces?</p>
<p>The point is that you are having to fit the essay into the space provided. Each character including spaces takes up space. And the 500 characters is only an estimate because you are going to have words that do not fit on the current line and have to be wrapped onto the next line thus "wasting" characters. Once you are close you will want to try your essay in the allotted space and see how it works. It may need some revisions.</p>