Last year I was lucky enough to be accepted to some top tier schools. A year later, I find myself in a position a good percentage of students find themselves in–wanting to transfer.
The question is, should/can I reuse the same essays? I by no means want to be cocky or anything, but I feel strongly that what I wrote perfectly described me. It was up to the word limit, told a story, reflected my best writing and my best self, and I was proud of it. Everyone I showed it to liked it, and all the schools I applied to accepted me.
However, I feel like if I re-use the same essay, there’s more to say that’s being left out, given a year has gone by, with some pretty unique/important experiences having transpired in that time, that I feel should be represented.
On the other hand, I feel like if I write a new essay, and don’t get accepted to these same schools that previously accepted me, I’ll have tried to fix something that wasn’t broke to begin with.
I met with the director of admissions at one of these schools that previously accepted me, and while I was there asked this question, and I got a pretty bland answer, along the lines of “If you feel that essay still accurately reflects you, use that, etc.”
There is also the thought in my mind that these people may recognize/remember the same writing and hold it against me. I know the number of applications they read is as many as there are stars in the sky, but the director of admissions remembered my name and background from memory, so it’s always a possibility.
I’d appreciate any advice.
Thanks.