Using the same essay for more than one secondary?

[ej37]

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I was wondering if anyone has ever used the same essay for multiple secondaries in the same application cycle. I have definitely started to notice some overlap between questions here… is it OK to use the same essay more than once with only minor changes?

 

[FlowLimited]

I think a lot of people do, and I did. Essay topics are inevitably going to overlap, and unless your motivations/reasons have changed since you wrote your last essay, I don't see any reason why you can't use what you've already written. On that note, however, I'd do my best to tailor the essay to the particular school at least to some extent. You surely don't want to compose an ultra-generic essay in hopes of using it for lots of schools.

 

[amph119]

Dear lord I sure hope you do, or I'll soon be visiting you in the nuthouse.

 

[unsung]

I was wondering if anyone has ever used the same essay for multiple secondaries in the same application cycle. I have definitely started to notice some overlap between questions here… is it OK to use the same essay more than once with only minor changes?

Sure, I definitely am cutting & pasting (w/ some minor changes). I don't see what's wrong with it... it's my own writing I'm editing after all.

 

[LizzyM]

Be sure the minor edits include changing the name of the medical school to the one you are applying to--

And yes, I've seen this happen.

 

[QuaerensIntelle]

I used the same essay for almost every secondary I did. They almost always have a question about diversity, which I always answered the same. There is a great deal of overlap.

 

[chemolupusMD]

Did it tons of times. The only problem came when i need to cut down on the characters or if i needed to add more stuff. Questions like "how do u add to the diversity" and "which experience was the most meaningful" or tell us something about u" are the same thing. When the question is really specific like, why do u want to come to X school. i dont copy paste, i try write a new essay cuz there might be some key differences between schools.

 

[Jolie South]

i totally recycled essays with changes for the school name and specific aspects of school mission statements.

i think you'd be dumb to reinvent the wheel every time.🙂

 

[ChePibe]

It was imperative for me to reuse the same essays that fitted similar topics since I had 30+ 2ries to fill out. I also combined some of the essays when necessary. Just remember to edit them thoroughly it would be embarrassing saying that it would be a great honor to attend Harvard on the Columbia 2ry.

 

[Raryn]

It was imperative for me to reuse the same essays that fitted similar topics since I had 30+ 2ries to fill out. I also combined some of the essays when necessary. Just remember to edit them thoroughly it would be embarrassing saying that it would be a great honor to attend Harvard on the Columbia 2ry.

I gotta say, I've come close to making this cliche mistake... Thankfully I caught it 🙂

 

[sshave]

Kind of unrelated, but is it okay to use examples from the same activity for two different secondaries for the same school? For example, Sinai asked what the toughest feedback I have ever received in one question, and to describe a situation that was unjust or unfair. Both questions, I have perfect examples, but they both are with regards to me being a Resident Assistant. Any thoughts?

 

[907914]

Kind of unrelated, but is it okay to use examples from the same activity for two different secondaries for the same school? For example, Sinai asked what the toughest feedback I have ever received in one question, and to describe a situation that was unjust or unfair. Both questions, I have perfect examples, but they both are with regards to me being a Resident Assistant. Any thoughts?

Yah, that is fine. As long as they are adequately from different perspectives, you are good.

 

[907914]

Also, bro...that necro runs deep...and @LizzyM has been prominent here for longer than many of us have been out of...middle school? This is why she is so wise. All hail.

 

[LizzyM]

Kind of unrelated, but is it okay to use examples from the same activity for two different secondaries for the same school? For example, Sinai asked what the toughest feedback I have ever received in one question, and to describe a situation that was unjust or unfair. Both questions, I have perfect examples, but they both are with regards to me being a Resident Assistant. Any thoughts?

Just don't come across as a one trick pony. The adcoms will call you "the RA" if that's all you have to talk about. It might not be terrible but it might seem a bit boring if every question ties back to the same experience. If they are completely different stories but both due to being an RA, well, that's a big job and it might be understandable that you'd have many stories to tell about the experience.

 

[907914]

If they are completely different stories but both due to being an RA, well, that's a big job and it might be understandable that you'd have many stories to tell about the experience.

We have already necro bumped an 11 year thread so I am fairly comfortable with a tangentially related question:

Is it ok to do the same thing with my military experiences? I do have plenty of non-military experiences to talk about in reference to academics, management, my family, and research - but a lot of my standard interview and secondary answers relate back to different anecdotes within the military (I am only 24 and just got out In December, so up until then the Army has been a big part of my adult life). Will that make me come off as a ‘one trick pony’ as you put it?

 

[LizzyM]

If you've got other stories, try to use a few of them. That said, if you've been serving until recently, most of your freshest stories are from the military. No doubt you are going to be "the Army dude" anyway so wave that flag proudly.