<p>Let's assume that I'm excellent in the grades and test scores department, my recommendation letters are awesome and my co-curricular activities are spectacular. Is my essay really that important at that point? Basically, how important is it really? How much does it compensate for my inadequacies in other areas? I'm writing my first draft, detailing one of my personal weaknesses which has impacted my life in so many significant ways; would that be a good essay topic, considering that I'm revealing a minus-point about myself? I'm afraid that my essay might come across as a manifestation of low self-esteem or pessimism.</p>
<p>One more questions:
-In the common application, do I have to send the same essay to every college, or can I choose to send different essays to different colleges?</p>
<p>if you use common app, every college you use it for will receive the same essay for the common app short and regular essays. However, you could easily not use common app for those colleges you wish to have different essays, because almost every university has their own applications that are nearly identical to the common app, yet seperate.</p>
<p>The thing is that almost everyone who applies has a great GPA, great ECs, great recs, etc etc etc</p>
<p>The essay is about you. It gives you the option to connect with the anonymous adcom and plead your case. If you write a good one, they might be swayed in your favor.</p>
<p>And, on occasion with an incredible essay, it can be the thing that gets you in. Especially at more competitive/quirky schools.</p>
<p>And for places like UChicago the essay has to be great in order for them to accept you.</p>
<p>it's much more important than an interview, almost anywhere. good chance to prove you fit somewhere. check collegeboard for the exact importance, school by school.</p>