Sharpen those pencils, because I’ve got big news for the Class of 2023! The Common App just announced the main essay prompts, and they are STAYING THE SAME as last year! These are just IDEAS to spark your #1 headline. Your main essay (up to 650 words) should be the biggest story about YOU! So use these prompts to brainstorm what your amazing story might be:
- 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.
Note – one question was deleted last year, but I think is still a great prompt that you could answer and include under another option above:
- Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
Another confirmation – the COVID impact question will return for its third admissions cycle:
Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces. (up to 250 words)
Basically, were you affected by the pandemic? This could be a pivot you had to make to adapt, new skills you learned, a shift in mindset, an activity you launched, or new hobbies you tried during the pandemic. I surveyed admissions officers last year to see what they’d advise, and MOST told me that if it adds to the context of the student, go for it! I didn’t get the sense that anyone would be penalized for NOT answering it last year, and I plan to check on this again once the current admissions cycle is complete. Given that the pandemic has now dominated more than half of the Class of 2023’s high school experience, it might be worth noting something unique to you, even if it’s a few sentences. Note: your school should be answering the school-specific COVID impact question so you can focus on you! Verify with your guidance counselor or college specialist that your school is providing school-specific responses. More information on this from last year is linked here.
Forbes magazine shared some thoughts very much in line with my philosophy of finding YOUR BIGGEST HEADLINE. That story doesn’t happen in a few months; it happens in a lifetime. I love this advice in Forbes: “Don’t hesitate to use this option (the COVID question) to explain your situation, and then write your college essay about the greater story of you.”
Sign up here – link – to join me for a POWER HOUR on the following topics:
- FREE INTRO CLASS – Top Do’s & Don’ts: How to put more WOW into your essays (Sunday 2/6 @ 7 pm)
- RESEARCH – How early research powers your college list and essays. Includes free research tool (Sunday 2/27 @ 7 pm)
- WHAT’S YOUR STORY? – Guided brainstorming to come up with your main essay topic. How to find a winning idea. Date to be announced soon!
- ACTIVITY LIST – Your “college resume,” this list is super important. Learn what’s expected and how to pack yours with lots of WOW! Date to be announced soon!
