<p>Does it matter if I use the same essay for the common app and an individual school application or is there some rule that they can't be the same?</p>
<p>well, if the school you're applying to does not use the common app, then the essay you submit should be fine.</p>
<p>if the school you're applying to uses the common app as well as a supplement, (that requires an essay) then obviously you shouldn't submit the essay for both the common app section and the supplement essay section.</p>