Can a student reuse one essay for multiple private school applications?

Yes… But tread carefully. While some schools ask broad questions that lend themselves to repurposing, others want very specific responses. Reusing an essay word-for-word is fine if the prompt is nearly identical, but always double-check that it actually answers the question being asked. You don’t want to submit a heartfelt letter about why your child loves chess… to a school that asked about a favorite community tradition.

Also, personalization matters. Schools can spot a generic “copy-paste” job a mile away. So sure, reuse the bones if they’re solid—but dress them up a little differently depending on who’s coming to dinner.