it does depend on the college. some do not even look at the essays.

I think it depends on the school. Most schools will read everything together. However, when we had a private tour at VA Tech, we were told common app essay isn’t considered at all and a completely different person reads the VT short answer questions than the rest of the application so if you want the essay reader to know anything about your ec’s or anything in your common app essay, you need to repeat it in the short answer questions 🤷🏻‍♀️

Some may read Common App essay first, then the supplements. Some may read the supplements first and Common App essay second. Some might only read the supplements.

Anonymous wrote:Selective schools look at biographical info first, transcript, LOR, activities.

Then EITHER supp essays OR common app essay.

Interesting. Are you saying they admit students without reading all the essays?

Selective schools look at biographical info first, transcript, LOR, activities.

Then EITHER supp essays OR common app essay.

I found a video on the College of the Holy Cross website that shows how they review applications.
This is 1 school so it is 1 way it may be done:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDmEQTw2R8w

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the common app I’d be careful it doesn’t read like a regurgitation of his resume or activity list. Mine wrote about an activity he is in that is his career goal, but it was really just the backdrop for him to “show” not tell his personal qualities and worldview. Then, it was also a topic in some why us essays that called for what you wanted to study and such.

Hope that helps and made sense.

It doesn’t answer the question of whether it’s safe to assume that the person reading the “Why X?” Essay is also reading the Common App.

Yes. The same reader will read all parts, each will have their own preferred order. Many start with transcript and getting a feel for school/area kid is in and then proceed to common app with essays.

Should have added that to my earlier post on content. And then I should have added to my next answer that this is for holistic view schools. Other larger schools that are stats driven may have a different workflow.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the common app I’d be careful it doesn’t read like a regurgitation of his resume or activity list. Mine wrote about an activity he is in that is his career goal, but it was really just the backdrop for him to “show” not tell his personal qualities and worldview. Then, it was also a topic in some why us essays that called for what you wanted to study and such.

Hope that helps and made sense.

It doesn’t answer the question of whether it’s safe to assume that the person reading the “Why X?” Essay is also reading the Common App.

Yes. The same reader will read all parts, each will have their own preferred order. Many start with transcript and getting a feel for school/area kid is in and then proceed to common app with essays.

The why X essay will need some introduction. You can't just jump in with "as I was saying...". Use the intro do restate briefly.

He should at least briefly restate the goal in the other essay to make the reader’s life easier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the common app I’d be careful it doesn’t read like a regurgitation of his resume or activity list. Mine wrote about an activity he is in that is his career goal, but it was really just the backdrop for him to “show” not tell his personal qualities and worldview. Then, it was also a topic in some why us essays that called for what you wanted to study and such.

Hope that helps and made sense.

It doesn’t answer the question of whether it’s safe to assume that the person reading the “Why X?” Essay is also reading the Common App.

My understanding is that one reader will read the application first. But there's no way to know what order they'll read things. And if it makes it to the second cut, it's possible that only some parts will be re-read.

Yes. When you’re done preview it in the common app, it shows everything together.

Anonymous wrote:With the common app I’d be careful it doesn’t read like a regurgitation of his resume or activity list. Mine wrote about an activity he is in that is his career goal, but it was really just the backdrop for him to “show” not tell his personal qualities and worldview. Then, it was also a topic in some why us essays that called for what you wanted to study and such.

Hope that helps and made sense.

It doesn’t answer the question of whether it’s safe to assume that the person reading the “Why X?” Essay is also reading the Common App.

With the common app I’d be careful it doesn’t read like a regurgitation of his resume or activity list. Mine wrote about an activity he is in that is his career goal, but it was really just the backdrop for him to “show” not tell his personal qualities and worldview. Then, it was also a topic in some why us essays that called for what you wanted to study and such.

Hope that helps and made sense.

My kid's Common App essay focuses on a very specific career goal, and on how all his varied extracurricular activities, and academic interests prepare him for that goal. It sounds boring but he wrote it well, I think. His goal isn't something that can be summed up in a couple words.

Then there are the "why X school" essays. Can he write them to be understood in the context of the major essay? So, he can say, this is how this school fits in with my goal, without explaining that goal again?