Common Essay in the Common Application

Applying to College
1

<p>I am using the Common Application to handle a large chunk of the colleges I am applying to (only three don’t accept it). While the Common Application makes the mundane paperwork very easy, I am a bit concerned about the “Personal Essay” section in the application. Presumably, I am to write one essay, and ship it off to every school that accepts the common app. I have been repeatedly told that you should not recycle essay, that each essay should be hand-tailored for each school.</p>

<p>How, then, should I handle such a pivotal essay? Fashion it to show my personality but not deal specifically with what the college wants and what I can get from the college? Not worry about it, since most supplementals require another essay? What kind of essay should be written for this type of question?</p>

2

<p>You are forced by the common app people to send the same essay to all the schools. The schools are aware of this. If they want a personalized essay, then they will have a supplemental form with an essay. Most of the top schools have this. </p>

<p>So, dont sweat it. Write a really great essay that shows who you are (and not who you think the schools want to see). If there is a supplemental essay, then write it for the school in question.</p>