<p>For the optional essay, did you write a brand new essay or reused another one that you've written that answered a prompt? And if you reused one, was it obvious that it was designed to answer a prompt for another college? My dilemma is that I would love to use my UChicago essay for Harvard, but the "Find X" prompt seems so distinctly Chicago that I wonder if the admissions officers would frown upon my recycling of the Chicago essay. What did you guys do and what do you think about this situation?</p>
<p>I was going to use my Yale essay since it was essentially the same as Harvard, but I didn’t like it very much, so now I am just going to write another essay. I remember reading a discussion somewhere in this thread about using the Find X essay for Harvard but I can’t remember what the consensus was</p>
<p>I did indeed. My Yale essay.</p>
<p>I did, but it was a biographical essay that could be used for anything. I think “Find X” is a little too specific a prompt to reuse for Harvard, but JMO</p>
<p>jgraider I think this is the thread you were referring to:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1005367-disadvantage-use-uchicago-supp-harvard-supp.html?highlight=chicago+essay[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1005367-disadvantage-use-uchicago-supp-harvard-supp.html?highlight=chicago+essay</a></p>
<p>The point made in that thread was a good one - Harvard wouldn’t mind so much as another school might because they know that they are more likely to land an applicant should they choose to extend admission. In any case, I think I’ll go with my “Find X” essay since it does discuss a lot of my personality.</p>
<p>Thanks guys for the advice!</p>
<p>Yes, I’m using a scholarship essay about a particular passion of mine.</p>
<p>I just used my Yale essay; I REALLY REALLY wanted to include one of my Stanford 250-word essays too, but I decided against it since they only asked for 1 essay (if any at all). </p>
<p>Just submitted my apps for Harvard and Stanford. Crossing my fingers here!</p>
<p>I used my Yale essay. :)</p>
<p>I’m using my Yale essay haha.</p>
<p>It’s fairly standard procedure – and sensible strategy – to employ the same open-ended essay for multiple applications. (Or modifications thereof for institutions with more specific prompts.)</p>
<p>Yeah open-ended essays work great. The “Find X” essay was open ended to write but I guess I was concerned that it’d stick out that it was the “Find X” essay haha.</p>
<p>If its that good, they’ll understand why you wanted them to see it.</p>
<p>Remember that the adcoms at places like Harvard will now that the essay is recycled from UChicago… If you do not mind that they know that then go ahead but do keep that in mind before recycling a UChi prompt.</p>
<p>Well I would not exactly encourage recycling the exact essay, but if you can tweak it enough to accommodate other school’s topics then I say go for it :)</p>
<p>I’m just working hard on one essay and using the “bulk” of that same essay on all the essays I have to send in.</p>
<p>Years ago my son recycled his MIT essays for Harvard (no tweaking except the last line which was something on the lines of “That’s why I want to go to x college.”). He got into Harvard, but not MIT. Go figure!</p>
<p>As to the question about U of Chicago specifically - I don’t really think it’s a problem, but it would really depend on the essay. My younger son’s UC essay last year was so weird and so specifically a joke on the question, it would have been useless. In his case it was a recycled Georgetown essay that he added a twist to. Now the joke here, is that he was rejected from Georgetown and accepted at Chicago.</p>
<p>I think it was at GW that the admissions officer said they love it when they get kids who use the “Write your own prompt” because they get so bored with the answers to the Common App. questions.</p>
<p>Definitely recycled my Stanford intellectual vitality essay with a few edits and additions for Harvard. I also used this essay for my UC applications too. I don’t think there is anything wrong with reusing a strong essay, because Harvard does not assign a specific prompt, and a strong essay is a strong essay. I honestly think the admissions officers care more about the talent and honesty you present in your essay than the prompt you answer, although obviously the prompt can influence the effectiveness of your essay.</p>
<p>I did something similar to MathMom’s son – recycled my Yale essay (about public transportation) and adjusted the last sentence to include “CharlieCard” in place of the MetroNorth pass, haha. Similar situation continued: got into Harvard, but not Yale.</p>
<p>I reused my University of Michigan essay. Word for word, haha</p>
<p>i’m using my princeton essay for yale and harvard, word for word lol. its on how i was able to get into a prestigious research program with the influence of one of my teachers from 9th grade</p>