Only one Common App Essay?

College Essays
1

Do we really need to only write one 650 word essay? How is this possibly enough for a college to judge/assess us?

I agree there are supplementals, but they total, at the most, 500 words. How is just these few words enough for colleges to asses us?

I also hear about people spending months on their essays. Do they really spend months on one common app essay and the supplemental essays? I know I shouldn’t but I feel like I could get all the necessary essays done in one day, how are people spending months on them?

Thanks, sorry for my ignorance, I am the first in my family to go through this process

2

People are spending months because colleges are judging you on a 650 word essay.

My D’s guidance counselor had them outline at least three of the common app prompts if I remember correctly, maybe outline 5 and draft for 3. I know for the prompt that she chose she had countless drafts.

3

So I’m write in my assessment there is only one essay? (Besides the supplements of course).

4

@Sportsman88 ^

5

^^Correct.