Can I reuse supplemental essays for different colleges?
I’m working on applications right now, and it seems like most colleges want their own supplemental essays along with the Common App essay. Some of these prompts are super similar, like the "Why our school?" or "Describe a community you belong to" ones.
I’m really trying to manage my time and not get burnt out, so I’m wondering if it’s OK to reuse essays from one school for another if the topics line up. Would colleges be able to tell or get mad if the essays are basically the same? Also, do people usually just tweak the intro or do a full rewrite for each school?
I’d love to hear how others have handled this, or if admissions officers ever talk about it. Any advice or examples from students currently in the process would be super helpful!
I’m really trying to manage my time and not get burnt out, so I’m wondering if it’s OK to reuse essays from one school for another if the topics line up. Would colleges be able to tell or get mad if the essays are basically the same? Also, do people usually just tweak the intro or do a full rewrite for each school?
I’d love to hear how others have handled this, or if admissions officers ever talk about it. Any advice or examples from students currently in the process would be super helpful!
3 weeks ago
•
20 views
Roger Lopez
• 3 weeks ago
Advisor
It’s totally normal—and often necessary—to reuse portions of your supplemental essays, especially when prompts overlap a lot. Most students recycle themes, stories, or even full paragraphs when questions like “Why this college?” or “Describe a community you belong to” appear across applications. The key is smart customization: admissions officers are very familiar with these patterns and don’t expect you to reinvent the wheel each time, but they definitely notice generic or copy-paste answers that aren’t specific to their institution.
Colleges won’t be ‘mad’ if you reuse ideas or passages, but if you don’t tailor your essay, it’s clear to them. For example, if you write, “I want to attend [COLLEGE] because of its strong engineering program and great campus culture,” this could apply anywhere. But, saying, “I’m excited by the hands-on robotics projects in [College Y]’s X-Lab and [Professor Z]'s wearable tech research,” shows you actually did your homework.
A common strategy is to keep a master version of your main supplemental essays (like community descriptions or academic passions) and then tweak or expand certain parts where the school’s branding, curriculum, or clubs get mentioned. For “Why us?” prompts, admissions officers frequently say they want details—courses, traditions, professors, or clubs unique to their campus. So you might reuse half the essay, then plug in research about that school for the rest.
In summary: Do reuse where it makes sense, but always be flexible and adapt your essays for each college. Admissions professionals have seen everything, and thoughtful adjustments will help your application stand out and feel sincere. Try to keep an organized document system so you aren’t starting from scratch if prompts overlap!
Colleges won’t be ‘mad’ if you reuse ideas or passages, but if you don’t tailor your essay, it’s clear to them. For example, if you write, “I want to attend [COLLEGE] because of its strong engineering program and great campus culture,” this could apply anywhere. But, saying, “I’m excited by the hands-on robotics projects in [College Y]’s X-Lab and [Professor Z]'s wearable tech research,” shows you actually did your homework.
A common strategy is to keep a master version of your main supplemental essays (like community descriptions or academic passions) and then tweak or expand certain parts where the school’s branding, curriculum, or clubs get mentioned. For “Why us?” prompts, admissions officers frequently say they want details—courses, traditions, professors, or clubs unique to their campus. So you might reuse half the essay, then plug in research about that school for the rest.
In summary: Do reuse where it makes sense, but always be flexible and adapt your essays for each college. Admissions professionals have seen everything, and thoughtful adjustments will help your application stand out and feel sincere. Try to keep an organized document system so you aren’t starting from scratch if prompts overlap!
Roger Lopez
Chicago, Illinois
Yale University BA, Political Science | Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, MBA Candidate |
Experience
4 years