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Is this possible for common app?

scorpio08scorpio08 Registered User Posts: 777 Member
edited September 2007 in College Admissions
1) Can you send different essays for different schools that all use the common application? Like, is it possible to send off your application to college A first with essay A and then paste essay B onto the application and send it off to college B?
2) Is it bad or good to write your essay and/or short answer responses about the same activity? Because some schools have a supplment essay that asks you what you enjoy doing the most outside of academics, but the commom application already have you write a paragraph on your most meaningful activity.
Post edited by scorpio08 on
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Replies to: Is this possible for common app?

  • skp21skp21 Registered User Posts: 527 Member
    1) no unless you create diff. accounts
    2) depends... personally 150 words isn't enough to explicate on an activity so I would devote two essays to a particular activity. Just have each essay address a different facet
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  • CelitaCelita Registered User Posts: 576 Member
    so its only one common app essay for all colleges? Eh, that's pretty restrictive. What if you are doing EA and find that you'd like to improve your essays for RD?
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  • instanticedteainstanticedtea Registered User Posts: 122 Junior Member
    I was going to ask the same question! bump..
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  • Ivy HopefulIvy Hopeful Registered User Posts: 156 Junior Member
    i think someone said they tried to create different accounts, and it didn't work. you'll probably have to send in the paper version
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  • Puzzled88Puzzled88 Registered User Posts: 1,120 Senior Member
    Why couldn't you complete the Common Application online, send it to some colleges, then go back in and edit it (changing the essay) and then send it to the other schools?
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  • worried_momworried_mom Registered User Posts: 2,205 Senior Member
    Puzzled88, just search the other threads on the Common App for many comments on this very issue. The Common App website clearly states that once you have sent your application off to the first college, it becomes "locked" and you can't change the essay for your other schools.
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  • menloparkmommenloparkmom Registered User Posts: 12,690 Senior Member
    YES, you CAN send different essays to different schools! And it is better to write your essays about different topics than your short responses.
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  • CelitaCelita Registered User Posts: 576 Member
    How do you do it menloparkmom, if CA actually does lock the application?
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  • menloparkmommenloparkmom Registered User Posts: 12,690 Senior Member
    Unless the rules have changed recently for the CA, the application is only "locked" for a college when you actually click the submit button to send your application to that college. If you send your applications one at a time, instead of checking off ALL the colleges you are applying to with the CA, then you can change the essay for each college. The additonal benefit to sending each application individually is the other colleges won't "see" where else you are applying.
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  • CelitaCelita Registered User Posts: 576 Member
    Interesting, menloparkmom. Seems like that *might* be right (I haven't checked myself). I think I will email CA just to make sure.
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  • menloparkmommenloparkmom Registered User Posts: 12,690 Senior Member
    I think all the info can find found with a careful reading of CA directions.
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  • CelitaCelita Registered User Posts: 576 Member
    Oh and if you are right menloparkmom, then we can even change the common app itself, not JUST the essays then?
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  • bigreddawgiebigreddawgie Registered User Posts: 2,161 Senior Member
    menloparkmom, they changed the comm app this year. once u submit to 1 school, u cant go back and edit for the other schools. I think now, u submit one at a time
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  • menloparkmommenloparkmom Registered User Posts: 12,690 Senior Member
    OH.... too bad!
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  • CelitaCelita Registered User Posts: 576 Member
    I sent them a tech question, asking them if it were the case, and I explained how it gives Early action students a distinct disadvantage and how what if things were to change in those two months that we need to include the updates in our application before regular decision.

    If this change is actually true, I encourage you guys to send an email too.
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