Can You Change Your Common App Essay Prompt After Submitting It to Different Colleges?
Applying to college can be a hectic process, and one of the key components of any application is the essay. The Common Application allows students to submit a single application to multiple colleges, but can you change the essay prompt after submitting your application to a college?
Can You Change the Essay Prompt?
Yes, but there are certain conditions. According to the Common Application guidelines, you can still choose a different essay prompt for each college you apply to, provided you have not submitted the application to the specific college. This means that if you haven’t hit the submit button for a specific college, you can change the essay prompt to a more suitable one for that institution. However, once the application has been submitted to a college, you cannot change the associated essay prompt.
changing Essay Prompt after Submission
What if you notice a better essay prompt for a different college after submitting your main application? According to College Board, as of a recent update, students can now make unlimited edits to their Common App essay after submission of their first application. This can be a game-changer for students who want to tailor their essays to each college. However, it is important to note that these edits apply only to the initial essay, not to the essay associated with a college that has already received the application.
Guidelines for Changing Essay Prompts
1. Timely Decision Making: If you decide to apply to different colleges and want to change your essay prompts, ensure that you have not submitted the application to a college you later decide to change.
2. Multiple Essays: Changing the essay prompt for each college can require writing multiple essays. It is recommended to prepare a set of strong essays that can be adapted or used for different colleges, keeping in mind the theme and requirements of each institution.
3. Clarity and Tracking: Maintain a clear record of which essays you are submitting to each college. This ensures that you do not miss any deadlines and submit the correct essays for each institution.
Chat with Common App Support
To gain clarity on the recent changes, I reached out to the Common App support team. Here is the transcript of the chat:
Me: I know that the Common App says that students can make unlimited edits to the main essay after submitting the first application. Does it mean a student can choose a different topic for the other college?
Darrell: That is correct.
Me: Let’s say I have 5 colleges on my list. So I can choose a different prompt for each of these colleges right?
Darrell: Yes, if you are willing to write 5 separate essays, you can definitely do that.
Me: OK, thank you.
Conclusion
The flexibility to change essay prompts is a valuable tool for students navigating the college application process. While it requires careful planning and additional effort, it can help you present your best self to each college. Always keep track of your essays and follow the guidelines provided by the Common Application to ensure a smooth application process.