<p>alright, for some reason i can't figure this out.</p>
<p>are you supposed to write different essays for separate colleges? because the one i'm writing for reed will sure as hell not be the same for a more traditional school haha.</p>
<p>and wouldn't that take a lot of time, considering i'm applying to around fifteen schools? not that i'm opposed to spending that much time as well..it's fine. but still? that's 30 essays.</p>
<p>If you are talking about the Common App essays, no. Supplements are ones you write more specifically. From the Common App directions:</p>
<p>Please write an essay of 250 – 500 words on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below, and attach it to your application before submission. Please indicate your topic by checking the appropriate box. This personal essay helps us become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself.
NOTE: Your Common Application essay should be the same for all colleges. Do not customize it in any way for individual colleges. Colleges that want customized essay responses will ask for them on a supplement form.</p>
<p>Technically, there’s a way to submit different Common App essays to different schools, which is what I did last year (big mistake, btw). But maybe things have changed this year.</p>
<p>Anyway, even if it’s still possible, don’t do it. It’s more hassle than it’s worth. Just write one good Common App essay that represents you well, polish it, and focus on the supplements.</p>
<p>Why was it a big mistake? And you go to Reed? I’m obsessed with you.</p>
<p>Wow. That’s, um, flattering.</p>
<p>Anyway. It was a mistake for me because I’d finished my essay by January, but thought it was bad, so I panicked and wrote another one at the last minute, and submitted it to a couple of schools without even proofreading it. In retrospect, the first essay (which I ended up sending to Reed) was much better.</p>
<p>My riveting tale of woe aside, I think writing more than one Common App essay is just too time-consuming, and also unnecessary. It’s supposed to be as universal as possible–to reveal something fundamental about your personality that you would be willing to share with anyone (or at least that’s what it’s for in theory). The supplement is where you talk about what makes a certain school a fit for you, and demonstrate familiarity with its traditions, academic offerings and unique characteristics. It doesn’t make sense to treat the Common App essay as a supplement essay; the two are supposed to serve completely different purposes.</p>
<p>That being said, now that the CA has changed the format of the application essay, writing it may become a less stressful affair. If you do decide to use multiple essays, follow these instructions:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/AlternateVersionTechnologyFAQ.pdf[/url]”>http://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/AlternateVersionTechnologyFAQ.pdf</a></p>
<p>If you have any questions about applying to Reed, don’t hesitate to contact me. But bear in mind that I’m an international student and the process was slightly different for me–I never visited or had an interview, for example.</p>
<p>capenn15, can you submit the supplemental app before the common app? thnx</p>
<p>Ghostt, can you submit a college’s supplemental app before the common app?</p>
<p>Yes, you can.</p>
<p>Ghostt
thanks and God Bless - how can you send someone a PM without other reading?</p>
<p>^ Click on the member name, click Send a private message.</p>