What is a Response Essay?

Is it bad if you talk about the same things in your short answer response that you talk about in your essay?

• I am applying to Rice University. I already wrote an essay for the common application about why I love biology and submitted it. I am doing the Rice supplement now and it's asking why I choose the School of Natural Sciences to be enrolled in. My answer to that question is pretty much the same thing I talked about in my essay. Is that bad?

• Answer:

  The short answer and the essay component of your application are the only instances you will get to tell the admissions committee about yourself. It's best to tell them anything and everything you want to know, as you don't want to come across as having only one interesting point about yourself. That being said, if it is a strong point and you can expand upon it enough to keep whomever reads your application from falling asleep, write about whatever you feel you have to say.