<p>I'm applying SCEA to Yale and was wondering what topic to chose to write for the second essay. More specifically, I was wondering if I could use the prompt from another school that I plan to apply to RD so I have one less essay to write when it comes to RD.</p>
<p>My question is, if I were to use the Princeton prompt (write about a quote), would Yale think I'm lazy or uninterested in their school (they'd obviously know I used the Princeton prompt) because I didn't dedicate my own essay to Yale? Since I am applying SCEA to Yale, would they recognize that I am interested in the school and not mind that I used another college's prompt? Or should I write my own essay for Yale?</p>
<p>Guess it depends on how much you want to go to Yale that you can't think of an original topic, that's all. ITs not about the essay per se, but how much you really want to get into Yale that you wouldn't do things that make you question yourself.</p>
<p>I would come up with my own topic, using Yale's prompts, and maybe wait a bit and let the essay topic come. THere is no panic in getting it done right now, so why not let things ruminate</p>
<p>again, its just the beginning of july. Why not just give it a break and take your time. Why the rush? See, rushing and panicing this early is kind of funny. It shows poor planning to be honest, this rush to finish essays with short cuts for really picky schools.</p>
<p>The Yale prompt is extremely open-ended. As a result, you can use just about anything, including prompts from elsewhere. However, you should edit, rewrite and tailor the essay for Yale. What do you want Yale, specifically, to know about you that doesn't come through in the rest of your application?</p>
<p>if u have something truly interesting to write about then sure, just write another essay.
otherwise, it's not worth it, just use the princeton one.
good luck!</p>
<p>The goal of this 2nd essay is to say something about you -- what makes you tick. For me, I just chose a deeply personal event that resonated with me (and on hindsight, portrayed me in a pretty good light). I wrote about how two years previous, I had revealed the secret of my best friends homosexuality to others in our circle of friends. It wasn't mean-spirited (attempting to "out" him) but just stupid, near-sighted and for gossip's sake. Needless to say, it hurt him immensely. Afterwards, I had to take an assessment of what I'd really done and then begin the road to repairing our friendship. That's all my 2nd essay was about. Nothing too overblown. A succinct but meaningful experience in my life -- conveyed simply but very sincerely. </p>
<p>In hindsight, I think it showed that this 17 year old was aware of his outside world, aware of those with differences and showed maturity and sensitivity.</p>
<p>I recycled this essay for another Ivy as well -- both offered me admission.</p>
<p>Search for something meaningful to you that reflects you well. Good luck to you all.</p>
<p>One last thing: This was the topic that first came to my head the very first time when I read the essay's parameters. I didn't filter it through tons of "essay suggestion" books or try to imagine what the Ivy file readers were looking for. I just trusted that they wanted something raw and sincere from me -- and I tried my best to deliver that. Go with your instinct here (wouldn't hurt to let someone see it nonetheless).</p>
<p>I agree with T26E4's advice, and have this as well:</p>
<p>Feel free to use the essay that you used for Princeton's quote essay for the Yale extra essay- if nothing else, make up some ridiculous prompt to which that essay could also have been a response to. I used one main essay for all my schools (except UChicago) and just made the prompts work for me. Even if they were a major stretch, my philosophy was that my topic would have been the last one an adcom would have expected for a given prompt.</p>
<p>It worked for me. I was accepted to all the schools I applied to.</p>