<p>I was just starting to write my essays for college, and most of them have the common application and a supplement. Since most of the universities have the common app, should I make this essay my best one? Also, I was deciding on whether to put an essay on tennis or on a hospital experience. I am planning to go into the medical field, so I'm leaning towards the volunteer one. However, at the same time, I've spent the most time on tennis and have learned a lot from playing it. Which extra curricular should I talk about in the common app?</p>
<p>I'd imagine it would depend on the colleges. Quirky liberal arts colleges would probably place more gravity on their own essays, whereas the number-centric "conglomerate" colleges probably place more gravity on the common app essay.</p>
<p>I'm not sure about which topic to choose. I wrote mine about a philosophical epiphany, or whatever you want to call it. I think it's in pretty good shape but I've been editing it for several weeks.</p>
<p>ok, so i can't tell you which is more important, but...</p>
<p>i would do the tennis essay for the common app, since it's something you enjoy and i always thought the common app was more really about just you and what makes you special and stuff (kinda more fun). i'd do the volunteer essay for your supplements since it has to do with your chosen field. and idk about premed, but when i applied for engineering most supplement essays were "why do you want to be an engineer?". and anyway, why you want to do what you want to do is just a useful essay to have around when applying for scholarships, and just to know for yourself why you want to go into medicine. anyhow, that's my two cents!</p>
<p>I say try to make all your essays as good as they could be.</p>
<p>For the essay, it really depends on which one says more about you as a person. From what you've said, I would say go for the tennnis one.</p>
<p>The quirky essays of schools that accept the CA are typically relatively short. The prime example here is Tufts, they advise you to keep the longest essay in the supplement to well under 500 words. Spend time on the CA essay and make it excellent, spend equal amount of time on the essays of those schools that want something specific in addition.</p>