Essays matter a lot at the most selective schools. But it drops off considerably after the top 25 or so.

What is your kids “average” Wgpa, in what school system? In state or no? What major for VT? First gen or no?

Those things matter more than the 4 stupid essays, which are in my opinion just a way to make sure that there’s an additional hurdle beyond the common app.

More important at schools with supplements. If a school just has the common app essay, assume they don't care much

Anonymous wrote:IMPORTANT…maybe the most important thing!

Ha ha nope

IMPORTANT…maybe the most important thing!

Anonymous wrote:DC has average stats and will not be applying to T30 type schools.

Looking at state schools like VT ( in state) and UCs.


Given that - how important are essays? Is it worth spending hours on this, or a basic but honest response is enough?

DC has limited ECs and really nothing stands outs ( besides SAT: 1580, which the UCs dont look at)

If essays are required, they are important. Assume other applicants have stats just as good or better than you and prepare your essays accordingly. It's your unique voice/perspective.

Anonymous wrote:DC has average stats and will not be applying to T30 type schools.

Looking at state schools like VT ( in state) and UCs.


Given that - how important are essays? Is it worth spending hours on this, or a basic but honest response is enough?

DC has limited ECs and really nothing stands outs (besides SAT: 1580, which the UCs dont look at)

My son applied to several Top 30-50 schools, including one UC (UC Davis) and one other UC outside the Top 50 (UC Santa Cruz), and, as an in-state applicant, got into both. For UCs, the 4 essays are important, an opportunity for your DC to differentiate themselves. While Davis and Santa Cruz aren't hard OOS admits (depending upon the major, of course), Cal, UCLA and UCSD are, so the essays are even more important.

So careful thought should be given as to which of the 4 essay prompts to select, and the essays in response to them. They should be carefully written and edited, but honest and sincere. For any school on the common app, the common app essay is the chance, perhaps the only chance, to personalize your kid for the AO.

The short answer is: if essays aren't important, schools wouldn't spend the time asking for them and hiring people to read them.

Your DC has a 1580. How is that having “average stats”?

Do you mean they have near-perfect SATs but a low GPA and low (or few) AP scores, which you see as averaging out to “average”?

What are their other “stats”? That would help inform the advice here.

Anonymous wrote:UCs are difficult to get into OOS. Not sure he has a shot there.

My kid got into a couple of UCs (LA, SD,Sb) with pretty bad essays, but a 4.8 gpa.

essays are critical at top 20 schools. the importance rolls down after that. schools ranked 100 and lower, it hardly matters at all

Anonymous wrote:imo essays barely matter. stats and ec drive the decision.

just dont make silly grammatical mistakes and wrap it up.

Why would Virginia Tech have four supplemental essays if they didn't matter?

UCs are difficult to get into OOS. Not sure he has a shot there.

imo essays barely matter. stats and ec drive the decision.

just dont make silly grammatical mistakes and wrap it up.

Unless the essay is optional, assume it’s important.

DC has average stats and will not be applying to T30 type schools.

Looking at state schools like VT ( in state) and UCs.


Given that - how important are essays? Is it worth spending hours on this, or a basic but honest response is enough?

DC has limited ECs and really nothing stands outs ( besides SAT: 1580, which the UCs dont look at)