[Roberton3]

Many, probably most, states now have rules that the top X percent of graduates of any high school in their state are automatically accepted to the state university system. That makes the requirement of an essay fairly pointless.

Yes and no.  It's pointless for the students who are in the top X percent.  But very few of those state universities fill their entire classes with top-X-percent students, so they're still taking substantial numbers of applicants who weren't in the top X percent.  And those applicants still run through a standard admissions process.

[Roberton3]

Many, probably most, states now have rules that the top X percent of graduates of any high school in their state are automatically accepted to the state university system. That makes the requirement of an essay fairly pointless.

Yes and no.  It's pointless for the students who are in the top X percent.  But very few of those state universities fill their entire classes with top-X-percent students, so they're still taking substantial numbers of applicants who weren't in the top X percent.  And those applicants still run through a standard admissions process.