Common data set - essay not considered?

Applying to College
1

If a school’s common data set says the essay is not considered. Does that mean they do not even look at the personal statement/essay that is on the common app or are they meaning there aren’t supplemental essays that are considered?

2

Common Data Sets are open to interpretation by the person filling it out. Do you have a specific example?

I would assume if the school has supplementals, they would not say they don’t consider essays.

3

Specifically looking at Clemson

4

If the college also has its own application, then the presence or absence of essays in it will give the answer for that college.

5

Easy enough - put them in the Common App - it will show you if it’s required.

I can’t find anything about an essay on their website. Third parties say they don’t have one.

But you can also email admissions and ask.

But my guess is they don’t use it.

6

For what it’s worth, Virginia Tech says essays are very important, but they don’t actually consider the Common App essay. They have a bunch of very specific prompts instead. So I think there’s a lot of variation around what the actual essay is that is or isn’t required when you read the CDS.

7

The way I read it is that they don’t even look at it. When they also tell you that character/personal qualities are not considered and that recommendations are not important, they’re telling us something. Furthermore, they tell us straight out that admissions decisions are base on grades and class rank and that they also rate rigor. As a secondary criterion, test scores are a factor. In other words, they crunch numbers to decide who gets in and who doesn’t. They also give priority to in state applicants. Nothing unusual about this for a big state school except that they may be more honest about it than most.

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8

Is this the essay prompt which has a two word limit ?

If yes, then the only acceptable two word essay is “Go Tigers !”

But, if you really want your two word essay to stand out and to be memorable, write: “Roll Tide !”

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9

Clemson has no supplements in Common App and the Common App personal essay is not required for Clemson. I don’t think Common App has a way of differentiating between not required and not considered on the personal essay page.

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10

Colleges using The Common Application do not necessarily have to use everything that may be on The Common Application.

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