<p>Can I use the same personal essay I used as a freshman (I know it was polished, great, proof-read). All of these applications ask for the exact same personal essay that I used for all of my freshman aps? What you guys think? Can I make a new essay (on the same topic), but write a new essay. Basically, I have had one definining life experience, which has definetely shaped me, and I can't think of anything else to write. Would a college like Northwestern would be ****ed b/c they have all of my stuff in a folder (i was accepted last year)</p>
<p>personally my personal essay from highschool sounds very elementary to me and also doesnt really adequately represent who I am now, now so i wrote a new one. but, i think if you still like yours and are proud of it then you can def. use it again, especially if you feel it really represents you well. if you can improve it, i would do so, but i dont think you need to write an entirely new one and i dont think you will be penalized for not doing so.</p>
<p>well, i think I will polish it up a bit, but can it be on the same topic, i have a very personal story....</p>
<p>yeah i think if you're story is really great and stands out as clearly the most defining thing for you, which it sounds like it does, go for it.</p>
<p>your story*</p>
<p>My input:</p>
<p>during my transfer apps process, I basically wrote an essay for each school on why I wanted to transfer to that particular school . . . that became my main essay, regardless whether that particular question was the main essay question</p>
<p>whenever they asked for (another) personal statement, I did use one old essay that I particularly favored . . .</p>
<p>a warning: I have heard that some of these schools keep applications for about 2 years, I dont know if thats true, but I thought you should be aware. Personally, I would not recommend solely relying on one old essay. Let it complement your real story, which is why you're burning for that particular school.</p>
<p>I used a part of my HS essay for UC third essay. It was better than anything i wrote this year. But that a result of taking mostly science classes and having a joke english teacher in college.</p>
<p>well for every school that i am applying to, they ask 1) why do you want to leave your current school, 2) why do you want to transfer to that particular school, how it will better serve you, 3) personal essay</p>
<p>my wanting to leave cornell is the same (1) and (3) personal essay will be the same for all of the schools.</p>
<p>BBall87: This is to important of a question to trust CC'ers advice. I would call each college's admissions office and ask them. My gut feeling is that you should give them a totally different personal statement because they might think that you are lazy.</p>
<p>but can I write on the same topic....?</p>
<p>It's probably fine to write about the same topic.</p>