<p>Write exactly as many words as you need to get your point across and illustrate your way of thinking/living/behaving/etc. If that means two paragraphs, great. If that means two pages, go for it.</p>
<p>Generally, the main essay (choosing from the four uncommon questions and fifth “make your own” option) is one to two pages. Mine was almost exactly 1000 words. It depends on how much you have to say.</p>
<p>The others (Why Chicago? and optional “favorite things”) tend to be shorter, although they may serve as a springboard to a just-as-long exposition. Start with an idea and a way to write about it. Then write. You’ll probably end up with an essay within a very wide and reasonable “range” of length. Don’t sweat about it.</p>
<p>If you want to make a statistical analysis of the average lengths and registers of UChicago essays, check out the [“post</a> your essay” thread](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/164537-post-your-essay.html"]"post”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/164537-post-your-essay.html). You may find it challenging to find a good average–and that’s one of the wonderful things about Chicago and its applicants!</p>