Re-using essays?

College Essays
1

<p>Say that an essay for a college not using the common application is done to the best of the student's ability...</p>

<p>Could the student use this essay as their essay on the common application? The common application offers the student to choose a topic, however, will colleges look at this unfavorably for not choosing among the other five topics given?</p>

<p>On another note, I think the essay topic for the college not on the common application could resemble one of the common application essay topics.</p>

<p>The college essay topic not on the common application is:
"Thomas Edison failed many times before successfully inventing the modern electric light bulb. He said, "If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward." Reflect on a challenge you overcame through persistence."</p>

<p>I think it is similar to the common application's topic: "Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you."
But that is just my own opinion... suggestions please and thank you!</p>

2

<p>So you wrote an essay for another college, which doesn’t use the common app, and want to know if you can use it in the common app? Absolutely! Notice question #6: your own topic. If it doesn’t fit perfectly for another question, call it “your own topic” and be done! :)</p>

3

<p>Yes I was happy to see that as a choice :slight_smile: but I was also wondering if colleges would think of choosing another topic as “bad” because I’m unable to write about a topic the commonapp has already provided =/ </p>

<p>Also, would I have to explicitly state what my topic of choice is in the space provided for the essay? What would the colleges think if they knew I used a topic from another college and saw this as taking the easy way?</p>