<p>How much do you really think essays matter for the top schools? I know many of the top colleges put them as a high consideration, but I heard a Princeton admission officer say that essays don't really matter at all. What have you heard on this?</p>
<p>thats all ********..Essays are a prime factor in the admission process.they reveal a majority of yourself and help the admissions office place you in comparison to the rest of the applicants</p>
<p>but how can one or two essays overshadow what you have accomplished these past 4 years?</p>
<p>They don't.</p>
<p>They help differentiate those that have acquired the same amount of achievements at top schools (4.0, 2400 so what? How do you think? What insights do you have into life? What distinguishes you from everyone else?). At some schools they help to see whether the applicant is truly interested in the particular school.</p>
<p>FWIW -- My kid is at Princeton. Got in off the waitlist. Was told that the essay was responsible for position at the very TOP of the waitlist. (Stats were excellent, but no more so than stats for many applicants to Ivies.)</p>
<p>Also - BTW -- Applied RD. Likely would have had a better shot ED. But never mind... The diploma isn't going to read: "Got in off the RD Waitlist."</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>