Just in…the main essay prompts for the Class of 2026 have been announced! And they’re the EXACT same as last year:
- Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
- The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
- Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
- Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
- Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
- Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
- Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Every year, I like to share a few tips (see below) to inspire students to tackle this important part of their application. First, a video inspiring you to get started:
Some tips for you:
- Start early! That’s the #1 tip students have shared in my survey over the years. Something this important takes time, finesse, and multiple drafts.
- Brainstorm & write your #1 headline! What does that mean? Think about the ONE BIG story you NEED to share with colleges to explain why YOU are the one they should accept. Think about your application as a SERIES of data points about you. Each one tells a unique story – your academic choices & record; a test score (maybe); your activity list showcasing how you spend your time; the main essay (your #1 story); supplements (if required); and what others have to say about you (rec letters). The writing pieces that YOU control…connect your dots in AMAZING ways!
- AI? Definitely not. I’ve written about this quite a bit here and here.
Here are links to some past articles I wrote on this topic that may help as well:
- Class of 2025 Main Essay Tips – Same exact prompts as this year! Check out last year’s tips, along with how I might approach MY own college essay today!
- Class of 2024 Main Essay Prompts & Ideas – Same prompts as this year; more tips here
- Any Idea Can Lead to a Great Essay – What’s Yours? – An idea is just an idea, until…Check out some of my ideas to spark YOUR best ideas!
Remember, it’s a process…get started early, and you’ll shine like a star! JUST ANNOUNCED – 2025 Class Dates: FREE INTRO on Sunday 3/16 @ 6 pm EST, Research Class (3/30 @ 6 pm EST), and Activity List Class (4/6 @ 6pm EST) – grab your spot here!
Note – I mentioned some changes in the headline of this post…I covered this year’s changes to the Additional Info & Community Disruption questions in a separate post to provide some more tips.
