Hi,
I applied for the undergraduate program in a number of colleges last session. Unfortunately, I couldn’t hear any positive response from the colleges, the main reason being an International Applicant seeking financial aid with a low SAT/ACT score. My essay was really nice and I never got any negative feedback on it. So now as I am thinking to re-apply, I wanted to ask that “CAN WE RE-USE OUR OWN ESSAY FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR” (with some updates but the main idea/story being the same) ?
Sure, but I wouldn’t send it to all the same colleges.
ETA: What’s going to be different this time around in terms of your need for aid and a low test score? If nothing has changed, you can probably expect the same result again, sorry to say. It wasn’t your essay that was the problem.
@astro11 you state you didn’t hear any positive responses from colleges… maybe it’s time to start fresh with your essay. Have someone trusted read it and give you feedback before you submit it. Regardless of what you decide to do, I never recommend submitting the same exact essay. Always make changes
As a self described international applicant with financial need and low SAT scores - do you need help with coming up with a list of schools? The folks on this site are very helpful and might be able to provide some good guidance.
Colleges rarely give any kind of positive or negative feedback on essays.
What has changed the past year? Have you raised your test scores, accomplished anything of real note? If not, I hope you are looking at a new set of colleges. I trust you have heard of the adage, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” While it was unlikely your essay was the reason for you not obtaining admissions last year, it obviously wasn’t so great that it overcame other issues.
A few comments:
–If you are applying to different schools you can use it, if you are applying to the same schools again then you need to write a new one.
– If you didn’t get into college consider if the essay should be revised/changed/strengthened.
–If anything changed in the last year that can help make your essay stronger then re-write it.
–As an international needing aid with low standardized tests you should also look at opportunities in your home country.
Nope, not the colleges, but the people - counselor, classmates, seniors etc- who have read it gave quite positive feedback.
Thankyou everyone for the help. I am not saying that I will use EXACTLY same, i will change the whole structure of the essay but I want to stick to the same story. Will that count as a change ? Moreover, I applied to around 15 colleges last year and over the time I learned a lot about different financial aid policies of different colleges, therefore I will change my list but not completely as there are 6-7 colleges that I want to apply again.
It is more important that you apply to colleges you can afford/get aid for and that match your GPA/SAT.
I advise that you write a new essay for repeat schools.