Yes, you can submit different Common App essays to different schools. The Common App allows you to change your essay. This means you can customize your essay for each school, submit it, make changes, and then submit the revised version to another school.
How to Edit Common App Essay?
To edit your Common App essay, go to the Common App tab and click on the Writing section. From there, click inside the text box where your essay is located and make any necessary changes. Be sure to save your changes by clicking ‘Continue’ when you’re finished. You are allowed unlimited edits to your essay even after your first application submission.
What Exactly is the Common App?
The Common Application is a non-profit organization with over 900 distinct educational institution members. Its mission focuses on:
- Removing logistical and institutional barriers that hinder access to higher education.
- Assisting those dedicated to aiding students in various capacities.
- Supporting a diverse array of students and organizations.
- Informing member institutions through data and insights.
With this platform, both first-time and transfer students can apply to multiple universities simultaneously. They only need to enter common information, such as name, address, and extracurricular activities, once.
This streamlined college application process, used by many top schools, saves time and reduces the stress of creating different materials for each school. Even if your preferred college doesn’t accept the Common Application, most schools need similar documents, making it easy to transfer data like high school transcripts and test scores.
Institutions Accepting the Common App
Over 950 schools and institutions endorse Common App, establishing it as a standard in college admissions. This includes public universities, some international institutions, and all Ivy League universities.
Some prestigious institutions that accept the Common Application include:
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- Arizona State University
- Brown
- Columbia
- Cornell
- Dartmouth
- Duke
- Harvard
- Johns Hopkins University
- Northwestern University
- The Ohio State University
- Princeton
- Stanford
- University of Chicago
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- University of Pennsylvania
- Vanderbilt
- Yale
How to Use the Common App?
The Common App website offers five main tabs. Typically, students begin by adding schools through the “College Search” feature. Once added, these schools appear in the “Dashboard” tab, which summarizes application progress and lists tasks required for each institution.
To complete the application, students navigate to the “Common App” page, filling out details like family history, transcripts, and test scores.
Overcoming Indecision
Can you change your common app essay for different schools? Students sometimes find themselves torn between two versions of their Common App essays, debating whether to submit each version to different schools. Since the Common App allows for essay changes, you can use this opportunity to refine your essay for each application. You can improve versions that will align with the unique preferences and requirements of each school. This can help ease your indecision and allow you to present the best possible version of yourself to each institution.
Can you submit different essays on the common app?
No, you cannot have multiple or different personal essays in the Common Application. The Common App allows you to modify any part of the application without restrictions, except for the personal essay.
For instance, you can make unlimited edits to your writing in the “Additional Information” section. This means you can customize content for a specific school and then adjust it for others, which can be particularly useful when handling additional information.
While it’s theoretically possible to write varied content in the “Additional Information” section for each school’s application, it’s generally not recommended. You will submit one main essay through the Common Application for all your schools. Some colleges may also ask you to answer a few supplemental questions.
I Made a Mistake in My Common App Essay. Help!
Can you edit Common App after submitting your essay? Don’t panic; you still have the option to make some changes. The Common App allows unlimited edits to your personal essay before you submit it to any school. Once you have submitted the essay to at least one school, you can still make changes for subsequent submissions.
To revise your personal statement, navigate to the Common App tab, choose the Writing section, and click within the text box to make changes. Always make sure you save any modifications by selecting “Continue.”
It’s important to understand that after your Common Application essay or any part of your application has been submitted, subsequent edits won’t be reflected in the applications already sent. They will only be included in any future applications you send.
If you’re hoping to adjust an essay you’ve already forwarded to a school, it’s a good idea to contact that school’s admissions office to see if modifications are possible. However, consider this action only for significant errors. Editing minor mistakes post-submission can indicate a lack of thorough proofreading on your part.
In summary, while you can edit your Common App essay multiple times, edits after submission are only applicable to future applications, not past ones.
Advice on Editing Your Common App Essay
- Backup First: Before making changes, double-check if you have saved your original version separately. You might decide it’s better than your edited version later on.
- Address the Shortcomings: Reflect on any gaps or weaknesses in your original essay. Your revised edition should address these points.
- Be Cautious with Edits: Remember, your initial draft had its merits. Avoid unnecessary revisions and focus only on major improvements.
- Rethink Your Topic: If you feel the original topic wasn’t a true reflection of you, consider starting from scratch. Only do this if you’re wholly confident about the new direction.
- Maintain Consistency: Your revised essay should seamlessly fit with the rest of your application and any supplemental information you’ve provided.
- Avoid Repetition: Make sure your essay doesn’t replicate information you’ve shared in other sections, like school-specific supplements. It should showcase different aspects of who you are.
- Review Before Resubmission: Before you resubmit, read through your essay multiple times. Reading it aloud can help you catch errors, and having someone else review it offers a fresh perspective.
While the Common Application does provide some flexibility, students must approach the essay submission process with caution and strategy. If considering multiple essays for different schools, it’s essential to understand the platform’s limitations and to ensure each version effectively communicates the student’s story. Ultimately, it’s about presenting oneself authentically and compellingly to each prospective institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Common App essay limit?
Your Common App essay must be between 250 and 650 words. You can find the prompts and instructions by logging into your Common App account, navigating to the “Common App” tab, and clicking on “Writing.” You’ll choose one of seven prompts to respond to within the specified word limit.
2. Is it OK if my Common App essay is too long?
No, it is not recommended to exceed the 650-word limit set by the Common App. Admissions officers expect well-written essays that adhere to the specified word count, demonstrating your ability to follow directions.
3. How do you know if your Common App essay is good?
A strong Common App essay:
- Directly answers the prompt question.
- Clearly and compellingly communicate your point or story.
- Reveals something meaningful about you that isn’t evident from the rest of your application.
- Uses proper grammar and spelling.
4. How many times can you edit your Common App essay?
You can make unlimited changes to your Common App essay and any other part of your application, even after submitting it to colleges. This flexibility allows you to customize your essay to each institution’s preferences.
