<p>Is there a difference? I mean, I don't even know how to differentiate them, if at all.</p>
<p>They’re both terms used to refer to a more general “college essay” in which you write what you would like. For example, the common app essay might be referred to as a “statement of purpose” or “personal statement” while an essay answering a specific question(like why you want to go to Brown) probably wouldn’t be.</p>