After SCEA: for transfer, will yale read 56 page essay?

shooter · 12-11-2008, 12:38 AM

I am older than the traditional applicant and I probably have more experience and reasons to share for wanting to transfer. My question is: will the admissions committee care to read a 56 page essay that answers the "why transfer" question? The length of the essay was not planned, it just ended up that way after I said all that I needed to share.

OneKingOneLife · 12-11-2008, 12:53 AM

Honestly,

Probably not. They really do have better things to do than read 56 pages. I'd say, 10 pages TOP TOP. Anything else will likely just get half read or something.

T26E4 · 12-11-2008, 01:00 AM

Half read? I don't think you'll get a single reader past your first page, shooter. If you want to guarantee sinking your chances submit the 56 pager. You want to be unique and memorable-- for the right reasons.

But I see you've been receiving the same advice since July, I wonder why you even post your question?

lookbeyond · 12-11-2008, 04:03 PM

It's an essay, not an autobiography.

disasterous · 12-11-2008, 06:56 PM

Try to cut it down to 50 pages, they would read 50 pages but 56 is stretching it. If you make your margins a little bit smaller you might be able to cheat your way there. But yeah I would advise cutting 6 pages because Yale has all the time in the world to read 50 pages but not 56.

Cogito Ergo Sum · 12-11-2008, 07:04 PM

^ lol at disasterous

part of the challenge of the essay is writing what you need to write in a short amount of space...i would venture to say 4-5 pages max.

shooter · 12-11-2008, 07:33 PM

I am not trying to "cheat" my way there or any place else. I want to craft a decent enough application such that I reach a certain goal. I will not say anything further to all of you who are poking fun at the length of what I have composed. I guess the reality is that sometimes being long-winded is beneficial whereas at other times it really is not.

OneKingOneLife · 12-11-2008, 08:29 PM

I'll try one last time before giving up.

Think about it this way. AdComs are like bored high school kids. You're essay is like the assigned reading assignment. If it's one or two pages or nicely written material, they might read it. If a teacher assigns a 56 page paper, I would not read it. I doubt the high school students or the AdCom would read it, unless it happened to be like "The Trial and Death of Socrates" or "Wuthering Heights" or something of that nature.

Cheers,

Someone who's trying to help.

NJBkitty · 12-11-2008, 08:35 PM

I'm actually reading Wuthering Heights in AP Comp now!

Anyways, as to the actual topic of this thread, I agree with OneKing. In all honesty, the AOs are not going to read your 56 page essay, shooter. I think that the reason they have that essay in the first place, aside from the obvious objective of learning a bit more about you, is to see how well you can state your point and explain it in a short amount of space.

Besides, Yale clearly says that the prefer admissions essays (including transfer ones, I'm guessing) to be 500 words or less. 56 pages? That's overdoing it, I think.

T26E4 · 12-12-2008, 01:40 PM

shooter: I'm sincere in my desire for you to present yourself in the best light to the readers. I'm sorry if my blunt statement was hurtful. I apologize. However, please put yourself in the readers' shoes. Why does this person (out of 2000 applicants) think she is so special and wants to make me endure reading 56 pages when I could spend the same time reviewing 55 other applicants?!?

Imagine this: you're the manager of a department that needs to hire 10 positions. You get 150 applications and emailed resumes. One of the applicants has an additional 56 page attachment. Do you even open it? Or do you say -- "I'm sure I can fill the ten positions from the other 149".

Please don't do it. Like NJBKitty said, the purpose of your essay is twofold: 1) to project yourself to the readers and 2) to do it within the abnormal confines of a small essay. This is an exercise in and of itself. If 500 words is the goal, then 56 pp is about 28000 words or 56 times what's requested.

To answer again, they won't read it and it'll tank your application.

Good luck to you nonetheless

MagiTF · 12-12-2008, 04:16 PM

Don't. Part of what they want to see in your writing ability is that you are able to convey your message concisely and effectively. They won't read your 56 page essay, and if they are required to, it would SEVERELY **** them off. What you need to say should be able to be expressed in two pages TOPS.

southeasttitan · 12-12-2008, 05:06 PM

Are you kidding? No way! Five pages is pushing it. But if you're so insistent on sending it, go ahead. It'll make it a little bit easier to get in for all the other transfer applicants.

hellojan · 01-28-2009, 10:06 AM

Perhaps if you were Nelson Mandella or something. In your case, prove to them that you can express your past and reasons for transfer within their parameters.

goldenratiophi · 01-28-2009, 11:05 AM

Yale wouldn't, but I'd like to.

Hunt · 01-28-2009, 11:12 AM

There was a student who asked a question like this, and later revealed that he had already been accepted to the school in question with his extremely long essay. Perhaps you've seen that thread. But don't be fooled into thinking that the overlength essay will help you, no matter how good it is. It won't. You might get in anyway, but it will be in spite of the essay, not because of it.