<p>My older sister is graduating this year from the University of Pennsylvania; I'm graduating from high school this year, and applying to the Penn, as well as three other schools that my sister applied to.</p>
<p>Now my sister and I--we're similar people. I mean, we lived together for much of our lives, have shared the same summer vacations, many of the same teachers, took the same classes in high school, etc. We're not remotely identical, but the fact of the matter is that we have similar passions.</p>
<p>I intend to dedicate my life to international humanitarian service; service is and will be my <em>life</em>...if there's such a thing as passion, this is what brings tears to my eyes. Accordingly, my Common App essay is about, well...humanitarian concerns, the less fortunate, and so forth. As it would happen, my sister's was, as well.</p>
<p>What are the chances that colleges will cross-reference my application essay with my sister's? Would they even still have her application from four years ago? Would there be any negative reaction to my topic being the same as hers?</p>
<p>The presentation, writing styles--everything, besides the topic itself, is completely different. Hers, for instance, was more or less an essay. Mine is a narrative, with abundant action, dialogue, etc.</p>
<p>Help me please! I don't want to write an entirely new Common App essay... :(</p>