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Optional Essays (DS vs. Why X?)

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 6:55 pm
by AshburtonGrove
Hi all,

Getting ready to pull the trigger on apps, but I'm a bit torn on whether I should submit a DS or Why X for schools that offer only 1 supplemental essay but give multiple prompts. This is primarily about Columbia, Penn, Duke, and UVA, all of which present this limited option. My feeling thus far is that I'll stick with a DS unless I have a truly compelling reason for wanting to go to X school, other than the obvious reasons everyone wants to go there. Yet I know it's somewhat conventional wisdom that Penn places a lot of weight on a Why Penn essay. Any thoughts on how to best proceed?

Re: Optional Essays (DS vs. Why X?)

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 7:01 pm
by cbbinnyc
Just because you can only upload one supplemental element doesn't mean you can't include multiple responses in that one upload (obviously within reason - they probably won't want to see a 10 page supplement).

Re: Optional Essays (DS vs. Why X?)

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 7:16 pm
by AshburtonGrove
Ah, thank you!