<p>First, how many essays do you write for applying? Second, can you use the same essay for every college you're applying to or do you have to make separate ones?</p>
<p>The answer to your question is that it depends on where you apply. You will probably write several (between five and ten) if you are applying to top schools.</p>
<p>Some schools do not require any essays. Some schools require an essay if you want to be considered for honors or scholarships. Some have a primary essay and then an optional essay. Usually, the prompts are just different enough that you cannot use the same one over and over, but you can tweak one and submit it to several.</p>
<p>Usually, there is something that asks you to talk about one EC. Or it might ask you to summarize several EC activities. They seem to be just a little different.</p>