Do you have to write all 7 Common App essays?

Write only one essay (plus any supplements). You'll submit one essay through the Common Application for all your schools. Some colleges may ask you to also answer a few supplemental questions. Check out the Common App essay prompts now so you can start strategizing!

Can you only submit one Common App essay?

Students sometimes ask us whether or not they can submit different versions of the Common Application essay to different schools. As we've said before, the Common App is changeable. So yes, you can absolutely change the essay, submit it to a school, change it, and submit it again.

How many Common App essays are required 2023?

Overall, most colleges will accept the Common Application. This makes your Common App essay one of the most critical components of your college applications. After all, how many Common App essays are required? Just one.

How many Common App essays do you choose?

The Common App provides seven essay prompts to choose from. Here are the prompts for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Do you have to submit Common App all at once?

In general, the Common Application is designed to be completed one time and submitted to all of the colleges at once, or over a period of time. If you need to change information on a submitted application, you must contact the college's admissions office directly to ask how they would like you to proceed.

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Is it better to submit through Common App or directly?

Some colleges may accept all of these forms of applications and some schools may only accept one form. However, the Common Application is generally the best choice, as this application is most widely used across the country.

What if I made a mistake on my Common App?

Begin by reaching out to the admissions office directly, calling them to see what their policies are for corrections to your application. Each college has their own policies, and there are nuances to how they accept corrections.

What is the Common App prompt 7?

PROMPT #7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice.

Should I bold my Common App essay?

The font should be standardized once you paste your work in. In case it isn't, use a 12 pt., single space, simple font like Times New Roman or Calibri. Avoid all caps, bold, underline, and italics because they can look more conversational than professional.

How long should it take to write a Common App essay?

While timelines will differ depending on the student, plan on spending at least 1–3 weeks brainstorming and writing the first draft of your college admissions essay, and at least 2–4 weeks revising across multiple drafts. Don't forget to save enough time for breaks between each writing and editing stage.

Can my Common App essay be exactly 650 words?

The Common App essay word count range is 250-650 words. But just how long should your statement be? Admissions Blog advises aiming for around 500 words. And former Tufts University admissions officer Becky Leichtling concurs.

Can I use the same Common App essay two years in a row?

You might be asking yourself, “can you use the same essay for multiple colleges?” The short answer is yes, but that it sometimes depends on a few factors. It is important to ensure that the essay you are reusing is general enough to be used for multiple college apps.

Does Common App tell you if you are accepted?

College decisions aren't released on the common application. Rather, admissions decisions are released in through each of the college's admission portals that you sign in using a username and password. Every year, students open up their acceptance letters in anticipation of the exciting outcome.

Can I edit my Common App essay after submitting it to one school?

Jul 25, 2023•Knowledge

Once applicants have submitted the application to your college, they are unable to make any changes to the parts of the application that they have submitted to you. A student is permitted to edit their Common App for other colleges to which they have not yet submitted.

Do you have to submit the same Common App essay to every college?

Yes! It's perfectly okay to use the same essay for both the Common App and Coalition Application. In fact, you can use the same essay for any application that requires a lengthy personal statement—like ApplyTexas—since the prompts are broad.

Do you have to submit the same Common App essay to every school?

YES. For each submission you can make changes and submit. Once you submitted that cannot be changed. Yes, but the only way you can do so is by changing the essays on the same application every time you want to submit to a college (or multiple colleges).

Is it OK to have a short Common App essay?

For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650. Any submission shorter than 500 words will make it look as though you simply didn't care enough to give your best effort.

Do colleges actually read your Common App essay?

Yes, admissions officers do actually read essays, but they might have already screened candidates first in a preliminary round. Every admissions office has a different process and it's impossible to sum up the exact step-by-step process for each admission office in one blog post.

Is it OK to use quotes in a Common App essay?

You may include quotes in your essay, though you should use them minimally. Using quotes introduces a different voice when the applicant should be highlighting their own voice. Most applications have a maximum word count that students may find restrictive, and using quotations limits your voice even further.

What is the prompt #1 on the Common App personal essay?

Prompt #1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

What is the question 5 on the Common App essay?

Common App Prompt #5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

What is the question 6 on the Common App essay?

The Common App essay prompt number six is as follows: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Does Common App hurt your chances?

Some students worry that the Common Application may actually hurt their chances for acceptance. However, colleges and universities that accept the Common App sign a document stating that they will not favor the traditional, school specific application over other options.

Why college applications are so tricky this year?

The precipitous drop in admit rates–and the resulting intensification of competition among applicants–can manifest in predictable and measurable ways. Average admitted-student SAT and ACT scores, for example, have risen along with selectivity, making an already stressful process feel all the more arduous.

How bad is a typo in a college essay?

Take a breath and remember that college admissions officers, who have to read your whole file in a very short time, are not going to nit-pick over a minor error! They realize that applicants are 17-year-olds; a typo is not going to spell doom for your application.