<p>if the topic is general enough that it fits, is there any reason not to do this?</p>
<p>YES, you can use the same essay for all your applications. Be sure to read the prompt carefully and make any changes that are needed for a perfect fit. Be extra sure not to mention a specific college in your essay (or if you do, change it to the correct one for each application).</p>
<p>yes you can as long as the prompts are answered and they fit well.</p>
<p>It is common but becareful. You don't want the wrong schools name left in the essay, which is a common problem of doing that.</p>
<p>Yes be careful, there have been horror stories reported before where applicants missed changing a school's name in the essay -- Harvard gets the one praising "Yale."</p>