What is the Common Application essay?
The Common Application Essay is a writing prompt that is used by over 700 colleges and universities in the United States. It is a type of college admission essay that is submitted as part of the Common Application, a centralized college application platform used by many institutions. The Common Application Essay is an opportunity for applicants to share information about themselves, their background, and their interests, and to demonstrate their writing skills and creativity. The essay prompts are designed to encourage applicants to reflect on their experiences and to present themselves in a positive light. The Common Application Essay is evaluated by college admissions committees as part of the overall admission process and can play a critical role in helping colleges determine whether an applicant is a good fit for their institution.
Prompt 1: Background, identity, interest, or talent
The first prompt for the Common Application essay asks applicants to share their background, identity, interest, or talent. This prompt provides a broad range of topics for applicants to choose from, allowing them to showcase aspects of themselves that may not be evident from their academic or extracurricular records.
Examples of topics that could be addressed in this prompt include:
- An aspect of your background, such as your cultural identity or family background
- An aspect of your identity, such as your sexual orientation or religious beliefs
- A passion or talent that is particularly meaningful to you
- An experience that has shaped who you are today
When writing your essay, it is important to focus on a specific aspect of your background, identity, interest, or talent, and to explain why it is meaningful to you. This can help admissions committees understand your values, experiences, and goals, and can also demonstrate your writing skills and creativity. Additionally, it’s a good idea to show, rather than just tell, your story and try to use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points.
Prompt 2: Overcoming challenges
The second prompt for the Common Application essay asks applicants to describe a challenge they have faced and how they have overcome it. This prompt provides an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their resilience, determination, and problem-solving skills, as well as their ability to reflect on their experiences and learn from them.
Examples of challenges that could be addressed in this prompt include:
- A personal hardship, such as an illness or family problem
- A academic challenge, such as struggling in a particular subject or class
- A social or emotional challenge, such as dealing with bullying or insecurity
- A challenge related to your background, identity, or community
When writing your essay, it’s important to be honest and genuine about the challenge you faced and how you overcame it. This can help admissions committees see your character and understand what you have learned from your experiences. Additionally, it’s important to focus on the positive outcome of the situation and to describe the steps you took to overcome the challenge, as well as the impact it had on you and others.
Keep in mind that the admissions committee is looking for more than just a story of overcoming a challenge. They want to see how you have grown and changed as a result of your experiences, and what qualities or skills you have developed that will help you succeed in college and beyond.
Prompt 3: Questioning a belief or idea
The third prompt for the Common Application essay asks applicants to reflect on a time when they questioned a belief or idea. This prompt provides an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate their critical thinking skills, as well as their ability to reflect on their own beliefs and values.
Examples of beliefs or ideas that could be questioned in this prompt include:
- A personal belief or value that you hold dear
- A cultural or societal norm that you have challenged
- A political or religious viewpoint that you have questioned
- A widely accepted idea in your academic field of study
When writing your essay, it’s important to describe the belief or idea that you questioned and why it was important to you. This can help admissions committees understand your thought process and the steps you took to arrive at your conclusion. Additionally, it’s important to describe what you learned from this experience and how it has shaped your perspective or worldview.
It’s also a good idea to show how you arrived at your conclusion through a logical and thoughtful process, rather than simply stating your opinion. This can demonstrate your critical thinking skills and your ability to analyze and evaluate complex ideas.
Finally, keep in mind that this prompt provides an opportunity to showcase your personal growth and development, so be sure to describe not only what you learned but also how you have changed as a result of this experience.
Prompt 4: Appreciating an influential person
The Common Application essay prompt 4 asks students to reflect on an influential person in their life and describe the impact they have had on them. This prompt provides an opportunity for students to showcase the qualities and characteristics of someone who has made a significant impact on their life and to demonstrate how they have shaped their values, beliefs, and perspectives.
To write a strong essay in response to this prompt, you should focus on the following elements:
- Introduction: Begin with a brief introduction that sets the stage for the rest of your essay. You can provide some background information on the person you have chosen to write about, and explain why they are important to you.
- Description of the person: Next, provide a detailed description of the person you are writing about. Describe their personality, their traits, and the things that make them special and influential to you.
- Impact on your life: Discuss the impact that this person has had on your life, and explain how they have influenced you and shaped your values, beliefs, and perspectives. Provide specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points.
- Reflection: Finally, reflect on what you have learned from this person and how they have influenced your life. Consider the qualities you admire in them and how they have impacted your choices and decisions.
- Conclusion: Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points you have made, and by reiterating the significance of this person in your life. End on a personal note, expressing gratitude or admiration for the person you have written about.
Prompt 5: Transformative event
Prompt 5 of the Common Application asks applicants to reflect on a significant event or experience in their lives that has had a transformative effect on them. This prompt provides an opportunity for students to show the admission committee their growth and maturity, as well as their ability to overcome challenges and obstacles.
When writing an essay on this prompt, it is important to focus on the following:
- Identify the event or experience: Start by describing the event or experience that had a transformative effect on you. This could be a personal, academic, or professional experience.
- Explain its impact: Discuss how the event or experience changed you, both emotionally and intellectually. What did you learn from it and how has it shaped your outlook on life?
- Reflect on the process of transformation: Discuss the steps you took to overcome the challenge and how you grew as a person as a result. Did you seek support from others, or did you find your own way to cope?
- Connect the experience to your future: Explain how the event or experience will shape your future plans and how you plan to use what you have learned in college and beyond.
It is important to be honest and sincere in your essay, and to avoid cliché or overly dramatic stories. The admission committee is looking for evidence of personal growth, self-reflection, and resilience. Your essay should show that you have learned from your experiences and are ready to apply those lessons in the future.
Prompt 6: Interest or hobby that inspires learning
Prompt 6 of the Common Application asks applicants to write about an interest or hobby that inspires their love of learning. This prompt provides an opportunity for students to showcase their passions and interests, and to demonstrate how they have used them to deepen their understanding of the world around them.
When writing an essay on this prompt, it is important to focus on the following:
- Introduce your interest or hobby: Start by describing the interest or hobby that inspires your love of learning. What is it about this activity that captures your attention and motivates you to learn more?
- Explain how it has influenced your education: Discuss how your interest or hobby has influenced your academic pursuits and has helped you gain new knowledge and skills. Have you taken courses or read books related to your interest? Have you participated in clubs or organizations that align with it?
- Show your depth of knowledge: Demonstrate your expertise and understanding of your interest or hobby. Have you made any unique or original contributions to your field of study?
- Connect your interest or hobby to your future: Explain how you plan to continue exploring your interest or hobby in college and beyond, and how it will contribute to your future goals and aspirations.
Prompt 7: Free topic
Prompt 7 of the Common Application gives applicants the opportunity to write about any topic of their choice. This prompt provides a chance for students to showcase their creativity, writing skills, and personality. It is also a chance to write about a topic that may not have been covered in the other prompts.
When writing an essay on this prompt, it is important to focus on the following:
- Choose a meaningful topic: Choose a topic that is important to you and that showcases your personality and experiences. It could be a personal story, an accomplishment, a challenge you faced, or an issue you are passionate about.
- Show your uniqueness: Use this essay as an opportunity to stand out from other applicants and show the admission committee what makes you unique. Share your perspectives, values, and experiences that are not reflected in other parts of your application.
- Develop a clear thesis: Make sure your essay has a clear and focused purpose. State your thesis early in the essay and make sure the rest of the essay supports it.
- Be creative: Use vivid and descriptive language, metaphors, and anecdotes to bring your essay to life. Avoid clichéd or predictable topics and themes, and instead, think outside the box and be creative.
- Proofread and revise: Make sure your essay is well-written, with clear and concise sentences, and that there are no grammar or spelling errors. Proofread and revise your essay several times to make sure it is your best work.
