<p>So there's a universal application with its own universal essay that all colleges use? Do colleges use their own applications? Do you choose from a list of topics from the universal college app as well as the essay topics from the actual college? I'm kind of a little late but I have like 3 weeks before school starts so I want to finish it now and I'm ready to work.</p>
<p>"So there's a universal application with its own universal essay that all colleges use? Do colleges use their own applications?"</p>
<p>A limited number of colleges use the universal application. More colleges use the common application. Some colleges (the majority, though generally publics or lower-tier colleges) use their own applications. Most of the colleges that use the common application also have application supplements - usually also available on the common application website. Check each college's website for more specific details.</p>
<p>"Do you choose from a list of topics from the universal college app as well as the essay topics from the actual college?"</p>
<p>For colleges that use the common application, you will have to choose one of the topics offered by the common application. If a college also has a supplement with an essay topic (in addition to your common app essay), you will have to write an essay on that topic as well. Colleges with separate applications (not common app) will require their own essays. </p>
<p>I don't know much about the universal application, but it's probably similar to the common application.</p>
<p>So if a college uses common app as well as supplement, you write essays from both right?</p>
<p>^^ If the supplement includes an essay, yes. Some supplements simply ask you for additional info (e.g. Williams College)</p>