How long should each essay be?
The FAQ says to shoot for 500 words, but it’s UChi, so you can definitely push that as long as the added length corresponds to added content and that content is interesting enough not to annoy the readers. @mooseoverlord
I’ve heard the rule “single-space, one page” and “double-spaced, two-pages”. More specifically, this means 500-650 words for your extended essay. As for the “Why UChicago” and the optional essay, an admissions counselor suggests about 500 words. For any essay, it is okay to go above the word limit, but they do say, “Please be kind to your poor admissions counselor, who reads 1,000+ applications per admissions season, and stick to our suggested limits.”