A few questions: Common APP Essays

College Essays
1

Hello,

I have few questions about The Common APP. Thank you so much for your replies.

I don’t understand in which section of the Common Application, would an applicant demonstrate interest in a particular school. Can an applicant personalize the Common APP for each school? In which section, can an applicant do this?

Or, is it the case that an applicant can’t individualized the Common APP and only if a college requests additional essays, other than the Common APP essay, a candidate can personalize the additional college essay to show a sincere interest in the particular school?

Also, I need advice with the section on the Common APP which states, “Do you have any additional qualifications or circumstances that you would like the college to know about you?”
In this section, is it expected that the applicant writes a full length essay? Or, is it more common to write a simple answer in a few sentences about something in the applicants background, such as a health condition, IEP or 504 accommodation or anything else that is not asked about in the application? Or, is it unwise to mention educational accommodations at all?

In other words, are there actually TWO common app full length essays (one with a prompt and the other open ended about qualifications) OR is there only ONE common app essay, with a prompt and the other section which asks about qualifications is answered less formally, with a few sentences or not at all?

Thanks for your advice. I really appreciate it!

2

That second essay is usually to explain family circumstances or similar things. Many colleges will have supplements where they will ask “Why ____ College?”

3

Demonstrated interest is visiting campus, visiting a school’s booth at a college fair, talking to profs, following a school’s social media account, etc…

I would not disclose an IEP. If there is an extenuating circumstance that negatively impacted academics, have your GC address that.

My D left the additional information blank.