<p>Hi, some of the other Harvard applicants I've come across seems to be sending in multiple essays in addition to the Common App personal essay & the optional essay on the supplement...</p>
<p>Is there a limit to how many essays you can submit? Or can you just send in as much as you want?</p>
<p>Hmm, I haven’t really heard of anyone doing this. I would caution against sending in anything beyond the common app essay and the supplemental essay. If Harvard to read more, they would have requested it in the application.</p>
<p>Really? I’ve seen quite a few deferred EA applicants sending in extra essays…</p>
<p>I think if you send in an essay at all, it should just be one. And for it to be worth it, it really has to add something incredibly valuable to your application, something not already said in the other essays and the Common App. Given the large volume of materials they must process, I can’t imagine Harvard admissions would look favorably on superfluous materials.</p>
<p>Deferred students are asked to send in any updates; some send in new essays because they believe it will enhance their chance of being accepted, but for us RD’ers, I agree with quickster94.</p>
<p>Think carefully about sending in a supplemental essay. If you do decide to proceed, make sure it is excellent. Admissions reps have ALOT of reading to do. Would not recommend sending more than the 1 Supplemental essay.</p>
<p>The art of college applications is portraying everything interesting about yourself in the space provided. You don’t need to tell them about your life from day 1, just the highlights.<br>
Also, if I remember correctly, someone once posted something about Dean Fitzgerald cautioning against sending in additional material(s), warning that the thicker the file, the slimmer the odds of acceptance. Just keep in mind that the admissions officers HAVE to look at everything you send them, so they may get frustrated at the unnecessary volume of information.
Choose with caution. Good luck!</p>
<p>It didn’t harm me last year. However, imho extra essays should be sent in only if you have something to share that you weren’t able to fit into the rest of the app. </p>
<p>Last year I sent in one extra essay (in addition to the CA and supplement). I also know people who got in who didn’t even do the supplement essay (i.e. only submitted the CA essay).</p>
<p>No there is no set limit, but you should most certainly use good judgement when sending them!</p>
<p>I know of a guy who actually replaced his essays with new ones he sent in to the admissions office. He was accepted… again, good judgement, and don’t do it for the sake of doing it. Most of the stuff they get outside of the usual recommendations and transcripts does not help candidates.</p>