Are application essays reusable for multiple colleges?

So, I’ve been working real hard on my Common App essay and I was thinking, can I just reuse it for all my college applications or do schools compare notes? Will they know if I submit the same one? Help a stressed junior out here, please! 😅

I can totally understand why you'd be wondering about this, especially with the effort that goes into crafting a solid essay. It's absolutely fine to use your Common App essay for all the schools to which you’re applying on the Common Application platform – that's what it's designed for! Colleges won't share your essay with each other; they're focused on your application to their institution. However, remember that some schools may have supplemental essays with different prompts, so you will need to write unique responses for those. It's also important to tailor your supplemental essays to each individual college's prompt and values to show that you've done your research and are genuinely interested in attending that school. For example, if a college values community service and they ask about your involvement, make sure to highlight your relevant experiences in detail. So, while your main Common App essay can be the same, use the supplemental essays as an opportunity to show different facets of who you are and how you align with each college's unique community and values. Good luck with your applications!