<p>Is the why Yale thing really only 300 characters (including spaces)? I can't seem to add anything longer than that on the common app form online but it seemed like they wanted to make it longer. This is total ********... I think they screwed up the number when they entered it and it is preventing me from saying all that I want...</p>
<p>i askd that at an info session, and they did it on purpose - they believe that being succinct yet direct in your answers is key for yale students</p>
<p>I'm sure you can wax poetic for hours on what in particular you love about Yale, as can hundreds of thousands of anxious high schoolers, satisfied current students, and happy alums. After all, happy Yalies are one of the school's major draws. :-) But frankly, the question isn't a major component of the application. They only want three hundred characters. The common app will only let you type three hundred characters. The school's yield is high enough that they assume you will attend if admitted. Its main function, I suspect, is to check that your answer isn't "because it's prestigious" and to discern which aspects of the school are most appealing to prospective students.</p>
<p>haha yea its like 2 sentences</p>
<p>can it go a little bit over 300 characters? like 310-315? does it matter if I'm applying on paper and not via internet?</p>
<p>and just to make sure - this includes spaces, right?</p>
<p>it includes spaces. if online, it wont allow you to type any more than 300 characters</p>
<p>yeah absolutely no more than 300. i could've written an entire essay on what i love about yale (and i wanted to) but now all i can put are 300 measly little characters (or less!). Damn.</p>
<p>I'd keep it to 290, just to be safe. Also, feel free to be creative, like making the whole thing one giant word puzzle.</p>
<p>OK, I'm curious. My d already submitted hers so no danger. it was good practice in bevity.</p>
<p>I don't know. This is likely a minority view, but I can't help thinking that none of the top colleges that ask this question could possibly plan on using it for anything more than the roughest filter (for instance eliminating people with obviously off-putting and clueless responses) and for data gathering. I mean, one feels like one is in the middle of King Lear with it - do they really want to give the inheritance to Goneril and Regan?</p>
<p>When you are a Yale application reader, maybe they will tell you what to look for and you can tell us.</p>
<p>what about for paper applications? they're not going to count the characters are they?</p>
<p>R U allowed 2 use txt language to sav space? LOL.</p>
<p>^^^ I wish I could use imspeak to say everything I want to say in 300 characters. I'm still in the process of cutting, down to about 400 now :( With 300 words I'm not gonna be saying <em>anything</em> at all. :(</p>