Common App Essay Question

<p>While I was working on the Essay portion of my common application today i thought to myself (particularly with U Penn in mind): is anyone going to read this?</p>

<p>This applies to some but not all colleges: The college's own application usually doesn't include an essay to replace the common app essay. Any essays they want answered are usually included in the common app supplement.</p>

<p>So my question is: would a school like U Penn, that already requires up to 5 or so essays in the supplement to Common App feel that the 500 word personal statement is for lack of a better word... excessive?</p>