<p>I have no experience or expertise to say that I am right but my opinion is: significantly but depends on the school. For Harvard, Chicago, Cornell - they def can get you in. Schools are known to treat subjective part of the application better. However usually good/creative essay writers are capable to get 2200+ on SATs. If you look at liberal arts colleges or research universities like NYU who are known to be more Academic - your essay has a lower weight. Some schools have a policy not even to waste time reading an essay if you are lets say below 1700 on sats. It really varies. However, I believe that with an essay you can win the heart of an admission officer :)</p>