<p>I was thinking of using Stanford's "What matters to you" supplement for the Harvard Supplement. Can I do this even though it's not one of the ones they list? Or am I safer describing an intellectual experience?</p>
<p>It’s OK but tweak it enough so that it’s not so apparently obvious. You can bet that Harvard readers will know the specific prompts of other top colleges just because so many apps will be “cut and paste” — </p>
<p>“Oh look, another one who is submitting to us her essay to UVA”</p>
<p>I wonder if it is Harvard’s way of figuring out where else they are applying for which they wrote their best essay with care and good enough to turn it over also to Harvard. :D</p>
<p>Really. This question comes up too often about re-using S essays. If you are good enough for Stanford and Harvard, you can put the effort into the right essays for each.</p>
<p>^^^ When my son and daughter applied to college a few years ago, both wanted to minimize the number of essays they had to write. So, each of them wrote one personal statement, one open-ended supplemental essay, and one essay about an extracurricular activity. Any college that wanted more essays, or essays about a specific topic, were crossed off their list. Yes, this limited their choices . . . but they were able to apply to HYP and 8 other top colleges with the same essays. It worked for them!</p>
<p>That said, I agree with T26E4, do not re-use an essay that is written for a college on a specific topic, such as UChicago’s very quirky topics (Define X), etc.</p>
<p>^^agree…Stanford admissions will be able to sniff out those that are trying to use their HYP essays…that are not specific enough for their 3 supplemental questions…same with Harvard…they will be able to sniff out those who are trying to use their Stanford, MIT, Chicago essays…</p>
<p>…so take the time to really work on your essays specific for each school…</p>
<p>…and sometimes, for Harvard, you can simply not submit a supplemental essay and still get in…it is your choice.</p>
<p>Moreover…unless you are one of the TOP 200 or so creme de la creme superstars (non-recruited athletes) that apply every year that schools like Stanford and Harvard in particular fight hand over fist for…yes they do exist…the only thing that separates the majority of the “typical” very competitive student getting an acceptance at a PARTICULAR school is their ESSAY specifically written for that institution…so don’t take it lightly…the ONE intangible that may make the world of difference for YOU. Good luck!</p>