Hello,
I am into my university application process, but I am a bit lost concerning the personal statement/essays.
What are the required/optional essays for us colleges? (for example: Stanford, MIT…)
How many essays do I have to write? Is the personal statement that I wrote for UK colleges that englobes extracurriculars, ambitions, and academic achievements available for US essays? Or should I write something else that matches the topics given in the common app?
Thank you
You write one essay for your common app using one of the prompts as a starting point to show who you are and give the university a reason to say yes. After completing the common application, when you look at the university-specific applications, you may notice that most schools have additional essays required. You will answer those prompts too. The trick is to tie yourself together like a package (for lack of a better way to describe it) but don’t just parrot your common-app essay for university-specific essays. Does that make sense?
The essay for US colleges is NOT at all like what colleges want for the commonapp essay; That essay should be like a nonfiction short story where you’re the main character - imagine you’re writing a short film about a key moment in your life, and how it shaped you, being as visual and expressive as possible.
Here are examples:
https://www.conncoll.edu/admission/apply/essays-that-worked/
https://www.hamilton.edu/magazine/fall14/even-more-essays-that-worked
an essential website:
http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/
The specific essays are likely to include a “Why our college” essay, where you present how what you have to offer and what the college offers are a perfect mix, so you could use some bits from your UCAS PS. The most selective colleges have further essays that are unique to them. Some highly selective colleges don’t have supplements though (Case Western, Colby, Kenyon…)