<p>How does Stanford actually balance these 4 essays? In the regional info session I attended, the regional director kept describing the 3 short essays, and only mentioned the common app essay when someone raised their hand asking if they read it. The director responded “oh yeah there’s that one also”</p>
<p>well i’m assuming that they’re going to value their three essays the most… those are the ones you wrote SPECIFICALLY for stanford. the commonapp one goes everywhere.</p>
<p>I would think that they weigh them all equally. They’re trying to get the full picture of you, hence the fact that they have 3 extra essays plus the common app one.</p>