<p>We only write 1 essay for common app-</p>
<p>it seems every college has only 1 essay per each.</p>
<p>Some of my friends last year ended up writing 30 something essays-</p>
<p>is it because they actually applied to ~30 colleges?</p>
<p>Many schools have more than one supplement. Your friends may have only applied to 12-15 schools but some may have had various supplemental essays which contributed largely to the high number of essays written.</p>
<p>depends, some schools have multiple essays on their supplements</p>
<p>A lot of schools have 2 short essays rather than 1 long one, nonetheless it’s still 2 essays. Also common app. had 2 essays last year.</p>
<p>What are examples of major colleges who do that?</p>
<p>Many of the Top 20 schools (both LACs and universities) have more than one.</p>
<p>FWIW: Three years ago when my son applied to college he made a conscious decision not to apply to colleges that required multiple essays, or colleges where he could not use his one supplemental essay for every school. So, he only had to write 3 essays in total – the short essay about an EC (which the Common App did away with this year), the Common App personal statement and one supplemental essay. With just those essays he was able to apply to 11 top colleges. So you can avoid writing many essays if you choose wisely and do your due-diligence before hand.</p>