<p>I’ll just come out with it: I have no idea how to approach these questions. Any guidelines? I’m not quite too sure. How honest is too honest? Is offbeat and attention getting a basic no go? Should I let my inner nerd rule and let them know I read about molecular theory on free afternoons? Let me know.</p>
<p>Sincerely,
Confused.</p>
<p>Dear Confused, </p>
<p>I think that you should totally let your inner nerd out for the short response!! The answers are supposed to help give the adcoms a more 3-dimensional picture of who you are. You can make them as wacky or serious as you want them to be, but just make sure that they represent who you really are. If you really do read about molecular theory during free afternoons don’t be afraid to let Yale know. There is no such thing as too honest but just don’t talk about your personal life such as girlfriends/ boyfriends, drugs etc. GOOD LUCK!!! (;</p>
<p>~ Collegestressed16</p>
<p>My S used his short response to highlight his keenest interest but in a lighthearted way. I think it is totally fitting to lighten up a bit but get your point across. Clever is good, but still convey a true part of yourself.</p>
<p>This is definitely a matter of what you say being much more important than how much you say. Our S’s answer to the “Why Yale” question had fewer than 20 words; he’s a senior there this year.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry too much; a yale adcom visiting our school said that they literally made no difference between applications. They can only slightly help, but no one is accepted or denied based on short answers. We were told to just be honest and write whatever comes to mind first.</p>
<p>Is it better to try to be witty or to just write whatever first comes to mind?</p>
<p>Don’t make it sound convoluted and don’t feel pressure that it has to sound impressive. Just be honest. </p>
<p>I said I’d play tennis with my friends with free time, and that my weakness was in drawing/fine arts.</p>
<p>is the why Yale significant? (not on an accept/deny basis of course, unless it is taken that way)</p>
<p>CBParent–20 words?! impressive! i have the entire limit filled. :</p>
<p>it must have been an incredibly pithy statement…</p>
<p>hey, it’s the content that matterssss
fluff doesn’t really help and just sounds cliche</p>
<p>like “yale is an ideal place for an undergraduate student…laid back atmosphere…array of classes…blah” —that’s fluff >_<</p>