<p>Ive been looking at the five northwestern essays you have to choose from and they are so freaking specific. Would it hurt my chances if i only vaguely addressed the question? (for example i want to major in materials science and one of the questions was something like whose work would you like to continue, i could say my grandfather's because he was a materials scientist even though i wouldnt talk about his work at all but would just use that fact as a way to connect to the question) seeing as everywhere i read that colleges just want to know more about you in the essays would it be bad if i only weakly related to the question?</p>
<p>fyi: you can use common application if you prefer more general prompts.</p>
<p>I'm wondering this myself. All of my essays relate to the questions...but in a weird/backwards way usually. I Definitely wouldn't turn them in for school papers or anything.</p>
<p>use the common app. It's infintely easier. BTW, there is a choose your own topic prompt.</p>