<p>"Occasionally, students feel that college application forms do not provide a sufficient opportunity to convey important information about themselves or their accomplishments." That's apparently Harvard's 'justification' for the supplemental essay. I wrote an essay on Partisanship, intended for the Common App's "pick an issue of significance..." prompt but I then switched my Common App essay to the "describe a person that has influenced you..." prompt. Would it be SMART (not just safe) to use my partisanship essay even though its not incredibly personal, but has been acclaimed by my teachers/friends as very well written? Or should I rewrite a very character-telling short essay for Harvard?</p>
<p>Being safe is smart. Unless you can pump out an equally polished essay in the next 5 days, writing about an issue you care about tells a lot about you (and your writing ability, which is vital at Harvard).</p>
<p>Is it safe to assume your Common App essay is more personal?
Submit it. It’s a key intellectual interest and it’ll demonstrate your writing talent. Depending on how you write, it might take a week or more to produce a polished essay you’re happy with.</p>
<p>Thanks so much guys! My CommonApp essay is on my grandfather’s death and his impact on my character, person, goals, ambitions, and perceptions. I consider it quite personal? I really hope this works! Thanks guys!</p>
<p>Oh, by the way, not crucially important but my common app essay is 870 words and my Harvard supp is about the same length. That’s fine, right?</p>
<p>I wrote about an intellectual interest. My Harvard essay was pretty much not related to me at all, besides the fact that I take interest in the idea that I described. It’s fine I think.</p>