<p>I'm writing the essay that asks me to tell the story of a street, and I was wondering if it's acceptable to put a picture at the end of my essay. My paranoia about someone potentially stealing my idea is prohibiting me from going into any detail, but the picture is the basis of my essay and provides a visual for the ending. I haven't put a picture in a paper since elementary school, so it feels a little weird.</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know how much weight the school puts on the common app essay?</p>
<p>Weight on the common app essay: no idea, and I don't think there's an answer to that question, but I think you should assume the answer is a lot. There's no reason not to write the best essays you can.</p>
<p>On visuals: contact the admissions office and see what they tell you to do. Or see if you can rewrite your essay in a way that one can read it without the visual.</p>
<p>I wish we could have an official word about the essays. It seems onerous to read ( not to mention write!) 2 common app essays in addition to 2 or 3 supplemental essays for each applicant.</p>
<p>True, but I think it will benefit the applicant, as I think he or she will have more opportunities to show his or herself.</p>
<p>I feel like many people come away from the admissions process feeling like decisions were "unfair" (even with the understanding that some will get in and some won't). However, I think that the Common App/Chicago Supplement duo allows students a better way to express themselves.</p>
<p>So... maybe the common app essays won't be read systematically. Maybe they will. But if the admissions officers is curious about an applicant, he or she will definitely use all he or she has to read into the applicant further and hopefully make a "better" decision.</p>