I HATE My Common App Essay!

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
1

<p>I definitely feel I am a capable essay writer, but I've never actually felt comfortable with writing about personal issues, like college essay topics. I sent in my common app essay for University of Southern California for their priority deadline in December (I'm an athlete (women's rowing) and I was urged to send in my application for the priority deadline on short notice.) I did as I was told by the head coach but I just don't feel 100% about my essay and I'm getting really worried that I may have screwed myself over with this essay. It's not terrible, but I feel like I could have done a bit better. Is there any way I could write a different essay for the other schools I am applying to through the common app. Is there anyway I could withdraw the essay I sent to USC and send a new one (there official deadline isn't till January 10th)? And does anyone care to read the essay I sent to them?</p>

<p>thx</p>

2

<p>Don’t worry. I was freaking out when I thought I could not edit my essay after the common app locked it in, but then I found out that one can make alternate versions. An alternate version of the common app will allow you to edit any of the information already present on the common app (though you cannot edit applications that have been sent), and this includes the personal statement.</p>

<p>Here are instructions for how to make an alternate common app version: <a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/AlternateVersionTechnologyFAQ.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/AlternateVersionTechnologyFAQ.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Also, I don’t believe you can withdraw an essay that you have already sent, but you can try contacting the admissions office and inquiring about whether you can send a revised version of your essay.</p>