<p>How important is the common app essay compared to the essays written for the supplements? I'm applying to the Big 3 and I was wondering whether I should put the better essay for the common app one or the open topic in Harvard and Yale. </p>
<p>I realize most of us won't know for sure lol but any ideas?</p>
<p>Is there a reason why you would not put your best effort into both?</p>
<p>It is very important that your supplemental essays speak very directly to each college. I don’t know if these are “Why…” or if they are in some other form. You need to make very sure that you make it clear that the colleges you are applying to are a good fit for you and why. The more specific the better. Of course, that doesn’t mean that your Common Ap essay isn’t strong, just that it can be more general.</p>
<p>@winstonwolfe- Sometimes you put your best effort into both the essays, but it is just that one turns out to be better. In that case what shud one do?</p>
<p>exactly what achiever said. i did put my best effort, and they are both strong essays (as they are meant for the best) but one just stands out more than the other. since both the common app and yale/harvard essays are open topic, i wasnt sure what essay to put for which. </p>
<p>and to nursekay… i understand what your saying, but it seems like when you get to schools of such a high level, unless they are asking for reasons you want to attend the school/why you would fit (which Yale asks in another short question), you should write a general essay as well - one that shows who you are while demonstrating mastery of the language.</p>
<p>Please take this in the helpful spirit in which it is intended: You are overthinking this. You will be represented by all of your writing, no matter where it appears. If you truly feel like the essay topics are interchangeable, then it really doesn’t matter which one goes where.</p>
<p>But put aside HYP for a minute. If you truly feel like one essay is better than the other, wouldn’t you want the rest of your colleges to see the “better” essay? I hope you achieve your goal of admission to the school that fits you best, but–and I hate to be blunt about this–the odds are against you. Creating an application that caters to only the most selective schools on your list is shortsighted. The app needs to be about you, not just one or two colleges on your list.</p>
<p>Winston: I get what your saying. But I’ve visited Yale and done a lot of research, stayed overnight etc. I’m not just kid who wants to go there because it’s ranked. That would be the only reason I cater my application towards Yale - I’ve already found a school into which I feel I fit in.</p>
<p>Basically, the common app and most of the schools’ supplemental essays are open-topic, so I’m submitting the same 2 essays - I just wanted to put my better essay in the more influential position. Thanks, I appreciate your help but I was looking for a simpler answer. I understand all that you said. All I was wondering was whether or not schools with elaborate supplements and supplemental essays look closely at the common app essays at all, or if they just consider the supplemental essays mostly.</p>
<p>I would put the best in the common app.</p>
<p>I would put the better one in the supplement, just because.</p>