I applied last year as an 8th grader for 9th grade to several boarding schools. I was accepted into Deerfield, St. Paul’s, Exeter and Concord, but decided not to attend. I’m re-applying this year as a 9th grader with the intention to go this time around. Some of the schools have the exact same essay topics from last year, so I was wondering if schools wouldn’t check for these things. I’m not exactly copying the essay, but rather altering it (still using the same ideas though).
If you’re applying to those same schools you were accepted into, I would advise you not to reuse those topics/essays. The reason behind this is because they will know that you have already applied the previous year and they will most likely compare your old essay to your new one. By using the same essay, (even if you changed it a little) they will think you are lazy and that you probably didn’t put a lot of effort into those essays- which is an important part of the application.
However, if you’re applying to other schools that you have not before and would like to reuse those essays then I would definitely use them! If those essays worked to get you accepted into Deerfield, St.Paul’s, Exeter, and Concord, then I don’t see why they wouldn’t work for other schools. Plus they wouldn’t know that those essays are from last year.
Hope this helps!