I think this is very possible.
After all, this is surely the most important variable of your application. Wouldn’t any college accept an applicant whose essay is the best, most creative one they’ve read but has one of the least impressive stats in their pool of applicants?
Anybody else agree?
How big of a factor would you consider them to be?
Can you state some examples?
<p>I think essays are important, but I've read that they're like interviews. If your stats are horrible, a great essay won't guarantee admission. Generally, though, if your essay is stellar, your other stats would be stellar.</p>
<p>Essays are important, but will not replace the stats. You are solely responsible for your stats, whereas others can help you to write/edit you essays. That's one reason most selective schools require SAT II writing test.</p>
<p>Stats first, essays as suppliments</p>
<p>The importance of essays vs. stats is different in different types of schools.</p>
<p>... I hope not!</p>
<p>essays are more important than interviews, but grades come first. Then essay.</p>
<p>Grades, curriculum and scores count for more than the essay. At public institutions, the essay barely counts except perhaps for merit aid based on specific interests such as community service or prospective major. At the most competitive colleges, the essay counts a lot. That's because most of the applicants have sky high grades, scores plus a rigorous curriculum. This, however, is not true at most colleges.</p>
<p>Look at this, someone sat in with the UPenn Early Decision admissions committee, and it seems as if essays are not extremely important, but grades are overwhelmingly important.</p>
<p>It depends on the school. At UChicago, Brown, Columbia, the essay can easily make or break you. But at other schools, it is much like the interview. And every school considers something different as the most important. For example, UChicago has its own application with very unique questions, so they wouldn't spend the time to ask students for essay possibilites (students submit essay questions for next year's class) if there wasn't a large emphasis on the essay</p>