How many essays do you usually have to write for college applications?

It’s very normal to feel overwhelmed thinking about the number of essays you might have to write during college application season, especially with 10-12 schools on your list. The real answer is that the exact number varies, but you should prepare to write more than just the main Common App or Coalition personal statement.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:

1. The main personal statement: This is the big 650-word essay you submit for most Common App or Coalition schools. You only need to write this once, but you may tweak it a bit for different applications.

2. Supplemental essays: Most selective private schools, and some public universities, have their own extra prompts—these are called supplements. Supplements might include short-answer questions (like 50-word "Why our school?" responses), longer essays about your interests or background, or little "fun" questions.

On average, each private or more selective public university might have anywhere from 1 to 4 supplemental essays. For instance, the University of Michigan asks for two additional essays, while a school like Yale might have around 5 or 6 (though some are short responses).

If you apply to 10-12 schools, many students end up writing about 15-25 essays in total, counting the main essay and all the supplements. The good news is that you can often reuse or adapt content. For instance, a response to "Why this major?" for one school can often be modified for another with a similar prompt.

As an example, I helped a friend who applied to 10 schools last year. She wrote her main personal statement, then had to complete 18 additional supplemental essays. Some were 1000 characters, some were just 150 words, and a couple were only 35 words. She reused parts of her activities or academic interest essays by tweaking them to better fit each school.

To manage this workload, start on your essays early—summer before senior year is great. Make a spreadsheet tracking all the required essays for each college and look for overlapping prompts. Breaking things down into smaller steps and reusing drafts will help you avoid last-minute stress.

The process is definitely a lot, but it’s very manageable with good planning. Just know that almost everyone feels nervous, but once you start writing, it gets easier. If you give yourself plenty of time, you’ll be able to handle the essay load and hopefully even find some enjoyment in telling your story.