<p>I have one for the commonapp really just, absolutely, NAILS the part of the prompt about affecting you, and more subtly, about how it changed your direction..</p>
<p>i'm wondering how specific these essays have to meet the prompt. i'm sure the adcoms wills ee how it changed me, but it is just not stated at all, or even hinted on purpose. its just the outcome of the event, you KNOW it changed you.</p>
<p>So how specific should these be?</p>
<p>PM it.........</p>
<p>its extremely private.. maybe</p>
<p>Dont worry... I used my common app essay last year... As long as it is in the ballpark (...and a great essay) the adcoms WONT CARE. Just think about it logically - are the adcoms really going to turn down a completed application because the essay is a little bit off-topic. No. Good luck!</p>
<p>your essay may be similar to something I wrote for mine last year.</p>
<p>As long as it deals with the prompt in some way I am sure it is fine.</p>
<p>If you want to pm me go ahead. I'll even share my topic to compare to yours.</p>
<p>I'm sure it's better than an essay on Newton...during a visit, they said they got a lot about Sir Isaac Newton. I wouldn't worry, I just used my common app essay for the passion prompt.</p>
<p>I think depending on how good your essay is and how good your overall application is you can go a lot off topic and still get accepted, but it is a risk. I submitted an essay that I had spent a lot of time on last year for the passion essay, and it was actually about falling in love, not quite on topic, however I was accepted and I am a Presidential Scholar, if you think the essay is worth a chance submit it, if not it might be worth a new essay.</p>
<p>I sent my application out a few days ago, but I had the exact same question. I also responded (or maybe more accurately attempted to respond) to the Isaac Newton prompt using my common app essay. The paper I wrote subtly answers both how I was affected and how I have changed direction, but describes a series of experiences instead of one major event. I thought I might be taking a risk, but ended up submitting it because 1) overall it was a really strong essay and 2) I was too lazy to write another one.</p>