<p>the essay took my DS about 20 minutes, it is NOT the reason applications dropped by over 1000 applicants, that is just nonsense, to suggest it is, is just wrong headed, an 18 year old who wanted to apply to selective LAC’s was not put off by an additional essay, my DS applied to 12 colleges including Swarthmore, no issue, others reasons are at play here, not the essay requirements.</p>