Does anyone else feel as though the Common App essay isn't enough?

<p>I'm starting to do a rough draft on mine, but I feel as though it doesn't do me enough justice. My essay reveals SOMETHING about me, but I don't think it's enough; I want the adcoms to know more about me. That's why I'm gonna take advantage of supplemental/additional essays. </p>

<p>Idk, just my personal opinion about my situation. Anyone else feel the same way? Or are you rather content with the way things are going (assuming you started lol. I sympathize to those who didn't yet; who should? It's only been 2 days since the common app was out).</p>

<p>I agree. One essay I feel only shows one side of me… I will be writing a second essay for Yale anyways, so might as well submit it most anywhere that doesn’t already have a supplemental essay of their own.</p>

<p>From the colleges’ perspective, it’s just right. Think about it. Each of you thinks that you’re the special case. To the college, you’re just one amongst thousands.</p>

<p>If you can’t convey yourself in only one essay, you probably won’t be able to do so in only two essays. Or three essays. Or four - you get the idea.</p>

<p>Adding essays increases the amount of work for adcoms. For a school that recieves 10,000 applications, assuming each essay requires ten minutes to read and process, adds 1,700 hours (essentially one man-year) of extra work. </p>

<p>If a school believes that they need more information about you, they will add essays in their supplement.</p>

<p>I think you’d be lucky to find an adcom that’ll spend 10 minutes on any essay. Like you said, the sheer number of applications received prevents this.</p>