<p>I'm am completely ignorant of the essay part of the application process. First off, one Common App essay is required by all colleges, am I right? Can you use the same Common App essay for all the colleges you're applying to? How many Common App essays are there to choose from? And what's the limit of how long it should be? Are there colleges that require more than one essay?</p>
<p>The limit is 650 words for the main essay. It’s better to be concise. Yes you send that one to all schools you are applying (you are allowed three edits after you lock it in and submit it to one school, so definitely finish the essay before submitting the application to any school). You can find the prompts for this year (same as last year) online. Common App is required by most colleges, except for some which have their own app: UMD, Georgetown, UChicago. Some give you a choice such as Tufts and Tulane. Anyways, the Common App has a FAQ on their website. Many of the more selective schools will require you to write an additional essay or supplement, and the questions vary by college. Tufts, for instance, last year require three supplements, and Wake Forest had quite a few. Most though only require one, or none at all. Check with the schools before applying. Good luck</p>
<p>Hey @shawnspencer, the supplement essay’s questions can be written in one single essay, right? </p>
<p>What do you mean? They give you a box and a word limit for each supplemental question. Some will be longer, others will be short answer and a few lines or so. I expect that you will have to write the answers to each questions separately, unless there were multiple questions in one prompt.</p>