With the Common App becoming such an important aspect of applying to hundreds of different universities, it is imperative that applicants have a good approach to writing the essay that will be submitted to each of the schools they apply to through the portal. This year, the Common App has suggested 6 topics (and one open-ended option) for applicants. This post will take a brief look at how applicants might take a strategic approach to selecting and telling their best stories to stand out among hundreds of other well-qualified applicants.
- 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.
This question is inviting those people with a truly unique or memorable background, identity, interest, or talent to make their case as being particularly interesting and worthy of consideration. While many people will try to focus this on some interest or skill related to their intended major, there is an opportunity here to communicate your well-roundedness or other specialness by sharing something that feels otherwise unrelated to your studies. Some examples might include playing a sport or musical instrument at an exceptionally high level, having a dedicated track record of volunteering for a cause, or having a long-standing hobby that showcases your passion. As the prompt invites you to “share your story,” an effective essay here will seek to deliver the information about one’s background within the context of stories.
- 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?
Embracing failure has been a trend for years now. The theory is that people who are able to embrace failure and develop a growth mindset tend to be more resilient and eventually successful. Those who tackle this topic will want to make sure that their story is especially meaningful or striking for maximum impact on the reader. In other words, they should “own” the failure and illustrate the profound impact it has had on them. Of course, the focus here should be on what was learned and how that now shapes the writer as a person.
- Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Now they are asking the writer to reveal something about their approach to critical thinking and the confidence or strength of character that inspired them to question the status quo. The topic hinges on a why question: “Why did you think A, which made you challenge B?” The writer will want to be thorough in explaining how they got from one challenging mindset through the subsequent discussions or life decisions and then to the outcome. As with the question above, there is emphasis here on what was learned and the lasting impact on the writer.
- 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.
These two questions are seeking to understand what kinds of things motivate you and where your values lie. Fulfilling careers are not built on the bland exchange of time for money. Accordingly, universities want to encourage students to pursue meaningful work that they will feel good about. Throughout our lives we will invariably have experiences that help us gain a better understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. This is your chance to tell the story of one of those experiences and, potentially, to share with the reader what kind of work or life you expect to find fulfilling.
- 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?
Similar to Question #1 above, this question seeks to know what the applicant is passionate about, those things we would study or work on for hours with no need for compensation. Again, some applicants will have a passion that is directly in line with their intended major, but that need not be the case to choose this option. Having a passion for reading, painting, hiking, working on cars, or other pastimes can reveal important personality traits – time management, detail-orientedness, open-mindedness, hunger for knowledge, growth mindset, and 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.
This option might be best recommended to a writer who has produced a remarkably strong personal essay for a class and feels it is the best representation of their writing ability and personality or values.
[Conclusion]
Ideally, the notes above will offer some thought exercises that can help writers avoid paralysis of choice and writer’s block to identify the stories that will showcase their strengths, personalities, values, and writing ability. While the Common App essay is only one element in a complex application, it is a special chance for applicants to add color to the black and white numbers of their GPA and test scores.