Common Application Essay: It’s Really About You
Every February, the Common Application essay prompts are released for the following college enrollment year’s cycle. There are seven prompts, and they allow you to focus on a variety of topics. Some prompts ask you to talk about a challenge you overcame, others are focused on accomplishments and gratitude, and some ask you to expound on your passions. All of these questions are designed to inspire students to write informative narratives about themselves.
Here’s the big secret about the prompts: it really doesn’t matter which topic you choose or even what the topic prompts are.
The purpose of the Common Application essay — the main college essay — is for the admissions officer to get to know you. This essay sets the stage for the supplemental, or school-based, essays that help admissions readers recognize what makes you a great fit for their university.
I’ve written before about college essays that get noticed and how it’s important to give the impression that your values align with the school’s. However, the Common Application essay goes to all of the colleges that use the application tool so you must not use college-specific references in this essay. Save that material for the supplementals. Instead, keep your focus on the purpose of the Common Application essay—to introduce yourself to and create a personal connection with the admissions officer.
Make the Connection Personal in Your College Essay
No matter which prompt you choose, remember that this essay is about telling your story. Before you settle on a prompt, take a personal inventory. Spend some quiet time brainstorming about the following:
What are your interests, and what really sparks your passion?
What are your goals for the next 5 years, 10 years, and beyond?
What are your values, and how have you developed them over time?
What are the most important life events you’ve experienced so far?
What are your top 3 strengths and top 3 challenges?
What are your ideals, or your perfect world scenario?
What characteristics do people mention the most about you?
In what way have you always been the most different from your friends or family?
Give your inventory some time to rest, although feel free to add to it if something strikes you as important to it. After you’ve put the list away for a few days, go over it and take notice of the items that really stand out to you. What things from the list spark your emotions or creativity? Do any particular events strike you as a great story about who you are?
If there’s something in your inventory that really motivates you to write, that’s the story you should tell. Review the prompts again to see how it will fit with one of them and begin thoughtfully working on your first draft.
Things to Avoid in Your COLLEGE Essay
There are a few pitfalls that I prevent my teen clients from falling into while coaching them through their essays. These are some things you should be careful to avoid:
Treating the Common App Essay as a Supplemental Essay - I mentioned this already, but in your main essay, talk about yourself rather than the schools. It’s fine to mention the program you’re hoping to major in once in the essay, but you’re telling more of a background story. Don’t reference a specific college or make it a marketing pitch. Remember, this essay is going to all of your schools.
Writing a list of action steps - A narrative is much more than writing down a list of what you did in first, second, third step order. Write about the journey, including feelings, setbacks, challenges along the way, etc.
Including dialogue - I’ve mentioned storytelling quite a bit in this blog, but this story should not involve characters who speak. Adding dialogue to your essay eats up your word count, and it really doesn’t add value to the narrative. It’s okay to mention that you did speak with other people, but summarize the conversations.
Cliché scenarios - If you’re a high achieving student, don’t write your essay about the one class that challenged you the most. Don’t write about learning the value of teamwork from participating on a team. Go deeper than this and make an effort to be vulnerable with your story.
Here’s the most important thing you need to know about writing your best college essay: you don’t need to do it alone! As a College Coach, it’s my absolute privilege to walk alongside teens working on their essays. All of the brainstorming support and proofreading help you need is available. Contact me to schedule your free strategy session, and we’ll get started on planning your story.