How to write a good Common Application Essay
The following article provides some tips and tricks to keep in mind when writing a Common Application Essay:
By Samantha Bockoven — April 10, 2024
As high school students begin looking for a college to attend, they usually form a list of about five to eight places they would like to apply. If each student had to apply separately to each of these universities, it could become very time-consuming. Fortunately, a system called the Common Application allows students to submit a single application to multiple schools.
As part of the Common Application, each student must write an essay or personal statement roughly 250-650 words long. There are seven different prompts the student can choose to respond. An example of one of these prompts 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." Other prompts state, "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?" The prompts are changed frequently, so it is important to always look at the most up-to-date list.
The main purpose of this essay is to allow the colleges to learn more about the student as a person. The student can share interests, experiences, personality, strengths, and passions that would not be seen through a resume or other parts of the application. The only stipulation is they must be able to relate it to the prompt.
The following are some tips and tricks to keep in mind when writing a Common Application Essay:
1. Picking a Prompt:
Read through all the options carefully as you choose a prompt. Note which prompts stand out to you and where you feel the excitement, passion, or flow of ideas. As you go through, feel free to jot down some ideas or make notes next to the different options. This will help you begin to narrow down which one to choose. Another way to choose a prompt is to work in the other direction. If you already have thought about a hardship, topic, success, etc., that you want to talk about, you can look through the list of prompts to see if it would fit any. Although this is also an effective method, you want to make sure that you do not force your thoughts to fit into a prompt because it will weaken your essay if the writing does not match the prompt.2. Be mindful of the word limit:
Depending on what kind of writer you are, a maximum of 650 words is not a lot to tell your story. To put it into perspective, this article about how to write an essay is longer than the 650-word limit for the Common App Essay. Because of that, you must plan ahead of time what you want your essay to convey and what details are the most important for you to include. The best way to do this is two make a small outline before you begin. Writing an outline allows you to focus on the direction you want your essay to take before you spend the time writing it all. An outline will keep your writing organized and focused and help you emphasize the point you are trying to make.3. Be personable, Be Yourself:
Another way to describe the Common App Essay is calling it a personal statement. The purpose of this essay is to share something personal about yourself. Your topic should highlight something about yourself that the admissions team should know. Because of this, it is super important to be authentic to yourself. Add stories and allow the reader to see that you are passionate about your writing. It is obvious to the admissions teams when the essay you write is forced, stuffy, or boring, and it might cause your application to not stand out over others.4. Have multiple people review your essay:
It is important to get feedback before submitting it. You will need to find someone with strong English and writing skills to read your essay and mark grammar and spelling mistakes. However, it is equally as important to find a couple of people to read it and look it over for context. People who are familiar with the topic you are writing about, friends, and family will all be able to give you feedback about how the essay makes them feel or how it sounds overall. They might suggest parts you should elaborate on or cut back on. Consider all the advice people might have for you but remember this is your authentic and personal story, so the end product is ultimately up to you! As you go to write your Common App Essay, just remember to relax. There is no need to stress and overthink. In addition, some colleges might have other supplemental essays that need written, so you do not want to spend all your time agonizing over the Common App Essay. Just find a topic you are passionate about, write about it in a concise, organized, and personal manner, and you will be good to go!
Samantha Bockoven
Samantha Bockoven graduated from Villanova University in 2019 with a degree in Peace and Justice and a minor in Global Health. She went on to get her master’s in public health with a concentration in disaster health and emergency preparedness. Since then, she has worked in a variety of public health jobs in the United States and around the world.
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