Just in…the main essay prompts for the Class of 2027 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.
Check out my new video on how you can find YOUR standout idea:
My take? The prompts are staying the same year-to-year. That means they work! They generate the kind of authentic teenage writing that colleges want to see. Keep in mind, they’re PROMPTS to PROMPT YOUR best idea! They aren’t an English paper rubric where you have to answer every single part; they’re meant to generate ideas, and the more creative, the better!
That doesn’t happen with AI.
- Should you use AI to WRITE your essay? Definitely not. Here’s more about that. Bottom line = Authenticity wins every time! AI can’t generate that OR your unique voice and best life stories.
- Colleges, however, MAY start using AI to evaluate applications, as reported by the Associated Press. Consistent with what I’ve heard, this review is to get a preliminary read in a world where it’s sometimes impossible to read 100,000+ applications quickly. Virginia Tech told the Associated Press that this may even expedite decisions: “Virginia Tech is debuting an AI-powered essay reader. The college expects it will be able to inform students of admissions decisions a month sooner than usual…because of the tool’s help sorting tens of thousands of applications.”
- What does this mean? AI can scan applications to put them into piles by major or geography, or to see if certain values come through in the writing. I’ll keep you posted as I hear more, but many admissions reps tell me that every application gets a HUMAN read. The Associated Press article noted, “Colleges stress they are not relying on AI to make admissions decisions, (but) using it primarily to review transcripts and eliminate data-entry tasks.”
- I wrote about this idea 2 years ago here, along with a video interview with a UPenn graduate student who studied the possibility.
Some tips as you approach your main essay:
- 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. Creativity doesn’t happen when you’re in a rush.
- 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 of your application as a SERIES of puzzle pieces that complete the picture of 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).
- You’ll write ONE main essay and use it for all of your schools. Why? Your main essay is super important and should be your BEST story! Have I seen students revise slightly for some schools? Yes, on rare occasions, if there’s a special support point that only applies to that school. But be CAUTIOUS as you change content from school to school.
- Do you have to use all 650 words? No. Tell your best story efficiently. 650 isn’t a huge number, though, so typically, my students use at least 550, usually closer to 640 or so, in case certain characters count as words in the Common App.
- Should you write your essay and stick to 650 words from the start? Heck NO! One of my favorite essays last year started at 2,500 (truth! but also unusual). A chunk of it ended up in the supplements, and yes, it involved a lot of cutting down, but…this student brought forward the BEST POSSIBLE support throughout and then made the tough decisions of what to trim.
- What’s your parents’ role in the main essay process? Here’s my analogy. YOU (student) are the architect. Everyone else you bring into the mix (parents, an essay coach, teacher, friend) is a coach on the sidelines, guiding you to tell your BEST story in your own, beautiful, unique, authentic voice! Getting too many opinions leads to analysis paralysis. Trust your gut; tell your best story; but know that polish is critical!
Here are some past articles loaded with tips that apply this year too:
- Any Idea Can Lead to a Great Essay – What’s Yours? – An idea is just an idea until you craft the stories and learnings surrounding it. Check out some of my ideas to spark YOUR best stories!
- More tips I shared with the Class of 2025 that are still relevant, including how I might approach MY own college essay today.
Remember, it’s a process…get started early, and you’ll shine like a star!
