<p>Is there any rule colleges have that you can't use your college essay (common app essay) for a contest/scholarship? I wouldn't think so, but I though I'd ask.</p>
<p>If it fits the scholarship, why not? But look carefully at the scholarship’s essay requirements. You might need to rework your essay in order to make it applicable. On the other hand, if the scholarship’s requirements are “write about any topic” then your common app essay (if you think it’s good) is just fine.</p>
<p>There’s no rule against that, but you’ll have the best chance of getting the scholarship if you tweak your common app essay to meet the objectives of the scholarship sponsors. For instance, if it’s a scholarship for students who’ve exhibited leadership, edit your essay to highlight your leadership experiences.</p>
<p>Absolutely. Just make sure that the essay reflects what the scholarship committee wants to see. Tweaking may be necessary. There is no need to reinvent the wheel if you don’t need to!</p>
<p>Essays get recycled all the time, with a little tweaking and editing to fit the topic. If you can recycle one of your essays, you should count your blessings!</p>
<p>Seriously 
you ever noticed how many published authors have a novel, a chapter from that novel published in the Atlantic, in an anthology of local writing and perhaps in a collection of short stories?</p>