High school juniors, guess what? 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 BEST story can 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 two years ago, 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.
To share some intel based on popular questions I receive around the main essay:
- 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, the #1 headline of YOU! Have I seen students revise slightly for some schools? Yes, on rare occasion, 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!
Another confirmation – the COVID impact question will return for its fourth 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)
Honestly, I wish they scrapped this question and let students address it in the Additional Information section. When this question first surfaced on the application, I went straight to the source and asked admissions officers what they thought about it. Most told me students should answer IF it provides important pandemic-related context (good or bad). Last year, only 16% of applicants answered it, and I suspect that number will continue to decrease. I’ll attend the Counselor Webinar again this summer and report any changes or significant news here, but for last year’s recap, here’s a link.
I recently presented at a local high school on “How to Get Common App Ready.” There’s lots you can do now to avoid the summer crunch:
- Draft your activity list
- Research colleges
- Brainstorm your main essay
- Write a timeline so you can power to the finish line
- Check out the many helpful resources offered on The Common App as well here.
Let me know if I can coach you to find YOUR best story!
