<p>For the Stanford essay which asks “what is a significant challenge facing society?” can I concentrate on American society? I ask because the challenge I want to talk about is one which has affected my family and myself but it’s mostly American in scope.</p>
<p>Thank you</p>
<p>Nine views and no replies?</p>
<p>yes. that is a perfectly fine choice. There are no hard and fast rules so you are free to interpret the questions in any way you feel will be beneficial. They are vaguely stated on purpose.</p>
<p>Read the directions carefully. They suggest you write two lines or less.</p>
<p>^ Yes, I’m aware of the word limit.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine them penalizing you for writing about an American issue, you are American after all. Just makes sure it is debatably the “most significant” in some way.</p>
<p>That’s just it. I don’t think the word limit and the directions are the same. They allow 300 characters, but that’s far more than two lines. I think the minimum word limit on the common application is 300 characters, yet Stanford wants much shorter answers.</p>
<p>Wrote 2.5 lines for one of the questions. Didn’t seem to have any detrimental effect on my applications.</p>
<p>Right, but that doesn’t mean everyone should write answers longer than two lines. =P</p>