College Essays?

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My 17 yo dd is applying to 4 colleges over the next week. We have letters of recommendation from several different people (teachers, pastor, her employer, etc), the applications all filled out, her transcripts from the school and SAT information. None of the places that she's applying to ask for a college essay, but I'm reading all over the internet about how important a college essay is! She's not applying to any big schools, just two state colleges and two art colleges (which she has to have a portfolio of her artwork for). Is it maybe just the big colleges that make you write an essay? We can't find anything about an essay on any of the applications but are scared to death she's missing something! It does say she needs to write a letter with her application stating why she wants to attend one of the colleges... should it be an essay? Or simply an introduction letter stating "enclosed is my application for your college.... I have always dreamed of attends XYZ college because... blah, blah, blah.... So does she need to write an essay or just a letter with her application?