Do Admission Essays Matter?

Remember how long you spent on your college essays? How you slaved for weeks because your guidance counselor told you that your dissertation on why puppies will one day save the planet was what would definitely set you apart from the rest?

Well, there’s a chance that it was all for nothing. The board of directors of everyone’s favorite source of anxiety, The Common App, announced that there would no longer be an open-ended essay option, rather a choice between five more specific prompts.

In response, Dean Furda said it probably wouldn’t matter anyway, admitting that maybe one in seven essays are actually considered in the admissions decision. So basically, 86% of the people reading this worked their butts off on an insightful, introspective composition that was inconsequential to their admission.

But don't get disconcerted about the belief that Penn admission is, in fact, all about the numbers. We'd like to believe this isn't true. We love you E-Furds, and we're on your side. Everyone's essays totally get face time with the admissions staff; they may just not always make an impact on final decisions. To all the pre-frosh freaking out about apps, keep freaking out! It will pay off. You could be that one out of seven whose essay saves your butt!

Current Quakers: don’t worry, you’re here. You made the cut. Everyone should send an extra muffin basket to their SAT tutors this week, thanking them for their service.