<p>Ok, so I know that Penn scrapped this for the application process, but...could I still write it anyway?</p>
<p>I've heard that there is a way to make alternate versions of the common app, and I was thinking I could put it into the additional information for my Penn app.</p>
<p>Do you think it will impact my application at all? It wouldn't hinder my application at all, would it? Ideally, I'd like them to see my interest in Penn, and I need it since Penn is a pretty big reach for me. Not impossible though, looking at past threads, I've seen people with stats similar to mine get in ( 3.8/4.2 GPA, 2110 SAT, Eagle Scout, Grant writing for non-profit, worked 1/2 jobs in high school, and a few other things). So I have a decent resume, I'm proud of it. But at the same time, for schools like Penn, a thin envelope in April is more likely than a fat one come April. </p>
<p>So every little bit helps, and I was wondering if you think 217 would help. Do you think the adcoms would even read it?</p>
<p>Thanks, opinions?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t recommend using a Page 217 essay in place of your Common App personal statement. You can still put your future goals in your 500 word Why Penn? essay. </p>
<p>They are already going to be reading 2 essays from you, plus your application and recommendation letters. It might be overkill to send an additional essay for them to read. Just focus on making your required essays the best that they can be.</p>
<p>They got rid of it for a reason. They are going to be reading THOUSANDS of applications from students, why would they even want to read ANOTHER essay? </p>
<p>Sending it in might make the admission official get ticked and hurt you more than do you good.</p>
<p>My college counselor used to be an admissions officer at Penn and I talked to her a lot about using the extra-information section on the CommonApp–she warned me not to use it unless I had something huge missing from other parts of my application because admissions officers get annoyed reading redundant/unnecessary information. I didn’t use the extra section, got into Wharton ED, and am glad that I took my counselor’s advice. If I were you, I would not submit a page 217.</p>