<p>Is it alright if I use the UC first prompt essay for my commonapp essay? I know this not one of the prompts listed but the application said I could use a topic of my choice. I really like my UC first prompt essay but will the colleges think I am lazy for using a UC essay?
Thank you for your help!</p>
<p>Are you applying to UC? You can’t (wouldn’t want to) submit the same essay twice. For all the other colleges, you probably could use it if it is something fairly generic. If it is something quirky and unique to UC, then, no. Taking their idea might be verging into plagerism.</p>
<p>Thank you! That was helpful. I guess I’ll change the prompt so that i won’t be plagerizing.</p>
<p>No, its not plagiarism at all, you are more than welcome to recycle essays if they are well written. </p>
<p>Honestly, its not really about the topic, its about how well you can present yourself. The real goal of the essays is not to come up with the best topic, but to present yourself in the best possible, the most “holistic” (haha i cannot believe i’m using that term) way possible to the colleges.</p>
<p>freezingbeast:
so i can use the UC 1st prompt just as long as I wrote my essay?
I wont look bad for using the UC prompt?</p>
<p>Depends on how “strickly” you stuck to the UC prompt. If you basically restated the prompt in your essay, then would be pretty obvious. However, if your essay is very flexible and well written, then go for it.</p>