<p>Hey admissionsdaniel,</p>
<p>I read the previous posts about using the JHU essay topics instead of the common ones. I know that the school recommends using them. However, I have finished my common app essays and they seem pretty good. My question is "how much would it hurt me if I chose to send the common app essays instead of JHU essays?" Some schools go by a point system for each part of the application, does JHU do that? and if so, how heavily weighted is the essay?</p>
<p>First, no point system is used for evaluating applications. </p>
<p>Second, the essays are weighed heavily in the admissions review process. I often say they are the third most important item of an application, just behind the transcript and "resume."</p>
<p>Third, if applying common application it is your choice to submit your common application essay, submit your common app. essay along with the JHU essays, or submit just the JHU essays in lieu of the common application essays. It is your choice. There is no way to gauge advantage/disadvantage when it comes to the essays, but I will re-state we like to see the JHU essays. If you like your common app. essay send it, and then consider also writing the JHU essays.</p>
<p>In the future, feel free to post questions about Essays on this "sticky thread":
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=221180%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=221180</a></p>