<p>When you are asked these "Why XXXX college" and "Why this major?" questions, do you write essays or just give answers? My D was planning to write simple short answers, maybe even not in complete sentences, but some of her friends have been writing essays.
Is it determined by how much space is provided for the answer (e.g. Yale gives you just three lines and Cornell and JHU ask for 300-500 words)?</p>
<p>Hmm where does JHU say 300-500 because id be in trouble..
To address you question: Almost definitely an essay like format is required</p>
<p>D. says JHU mentions a recommended length of 250-500 words for this essay somewhere. But there is no limit. How long was yours?
Her feeling was that she could try to write essays when the expected length was longer than 300 words, but in the shorter ones it was either information or style.</p>
<p>For Columbia, I had a short answer (600 characters, I used up like 570). For Brown, I’m writing a huge essay. =/</p>
<p>If there are enough characters for an essay, write the essay.</p>
<p>Write as much as the colleges ask for the answers.</p>