@gibby On virtually all of my kids acceptance letters a couple of years ago there were notes from admission officers regarding their transcripts which included both high school and college classes taken while in high school. There was nothing about their essays. I think each individual case is different and no hard and fast rule applies. The application as a whole must show who you are as a person and a future student. The guidance counselor backed up my child as a strong student so I think that was important. I personally think essays are over rated but I have no evidence one way or the other to back it up