<p>I am in a bit of a dilemma concerning my essays for Nova. It is kind of confusing but hopefully some of you will be able to help me. </p>
<p>I wrote one essay, which I am using for all of my schools, that focuses on a retreat which I attended and its effect on me. This essay fits perfectly into the Villanova essay prompt about a time where you have been transformed. However I need to write another essay for the common app. I am using the common app for two other schools besides Villanova and therefore would like to use this essay for my common app so that my other schools get it. This would of course mean that Nova would get the same essay twice. </p>
<p>For the Nova essay I would alter it to discuss some different things which I did not go into detail about in the main essay. Would this be acceptable or would they view this as lazy? I am having trouble thinking of another "transformation" experience which I could write about and I dont want to submit a poor essay. The only other option I have been able to come up with would be to write about 9/11 and its impact on me. I live in Brooklyn, so 9/11 had a great impact on my life and my community but I feel like the essay might be a little too cliche.</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post but if anybody could offer me any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it as I only have a few more days to sort this out.</p>
<p>hey man. i had the same sort of issue. what i did was i left the essay i originally had as my common app essay (even though it fit perfectly into the nova question) and chose a new topic for my other essay</p>
<p>I need my common app essay to be the essay about my retreat experience as that essay needs to go to other schools besides Villanova such as Boston College. Since I am using that for the common app, my real question is whether I should write about the same topic for the Villanova essay or write about a different topic (most likely 9/11) instead.</p>
<p>I would think you'd be judged lazy if you send in the same essay twice to the same school. Might be unfair (and I'm sure it is), but I don't think an admissions office wants to see an essay from the common application submitted (even in modified form) to meet the university's essay requirement. Nothing to do with Villanova; common attitude in all these offices.</p>
<p>But, how many life-transforming experiences can the typical 18-year old claim!? A good point and a real question. Turn it to your advantage. In your Villanova essay, acknowledge your dilemma. You thought the essay you wrote for the common application was perfect for the Villanova question, but you didn't want to lose it from the common application and worried that you would look disinterested if you submitted the same essay twice. So, while you stand behind everything in the common application essay, you also want to talk about another event that had a profound effect on how you viewed the world. Then go on to talk about 9/11.</p>
<p>thanks thats the response i was looking for. I am almost done with the Villanova essay and it is turning out to be pretty good so I guess I was getting nervous for no reason.</p>