Most colleges use The Common App which allows students to apply to multiple colleges at once. This usually includes:

• Personal information.
• Main personal statement of about 650 words.
  • Sawyer suggests to think of this statement prompt as, "Describe the world you come from and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations."
• Activities list.
• Most colleges will request different supplemental essays.
• This means several different essay requirements per school.

Some of these essays might be exactly the same prompt and can double, but if the topics are different then the essays will be different.