I'm assuming most colleges will need the common app essay but I see people mentioning supplemental essays, are those specific to each school?
Most colleges just use the 1 Common App or Coalition App essay. If you apply to a more competitive college chances are you will also have to write additional essays as well. They vary from college to college. Sometime it's 1 more essay, other times it could be 3 or 4 short ones.
One the most challenging supplemental essays are the UChicago ones because they change from year to year and can be on obscure topics so you need to set aside a couple days for those.
Good luck.
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