How to Write a Common App Essay Part 1: Examples & Common Mistakes
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Understand everything that you would need while crafting your essays for Common App. We have discussed about the essays that are required to be answered in the application, along with how an applicant must target them plus how to avoid some of the common mistakes. Check out the article and know about how to write a Common App essay part 1.
Choosing the Best Common App Essay Prompt for You
To begin with, let us understand what is the Common Application Essay or personal statement, popularly known as the Common App Essay. It is the most important essay that is submitted by undergraduate applicants, who wish to attend certain US universities. As the name suggests, it is common for the universities that are members of the Common Application portal. This 650-word piece of writing is accepted by more than 800 universities in the USA! Now, this may appear both convenient and challenging, because the applicant has to decide the prompt and content very carefully. There are seven different common app essay prompts, out of which only one has to be attempted. So, one must make the right choice and ensure that the essay is well written and convincing enough to lead to success. While this may seem intimidating, you have nothing to worry about as we are here to help you in your essay preparation.
Common App Essay Prompts
Let us have a look at the Common App Essay prompts:
- Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, 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.
To gain more clarity, learn how to write a Compelling Essay for UG through video.
Looking at these Common App Essay prompts, you must be thinking that there is a lot of flexibility and choice, which can be puzzling enough when it comes to picking up one prompt. To do away with this confusion: Do not rush to answer the prompt first, rather, begin by thinking of your own values, goals, and experiences. Once you decide the perfect topic or experience to write, it will be easier to choose the right prompt to answer. Now the question is: what to think to choose the right topic? Continue reading to learn how to identify a common app essay topic that is unique to you - the one that only you can write!
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
Purpose of Common App Essay
First, let us understand the purpose of a common app essay. As an undergraduate student, the authorities are not expecting you to be the master of your chosen field; rather, they want to assess if you have the capability to succeed. Hence, the goal of a common app essay is to prove that you will be successful in college and beyond. Show which qualities will make you successful, and remember that different people follow different routes to success! Given below are five personality traits that predict a successful college experience. Do not try and show that you possess all of them; most successful students will have at least two or three of them. In your common app essay too, focus on one or two of them. As you read about these traits, feel free to jot down answers to the questions, or anything else that comes to your mind!
Check out the different types of essays here.
The Five Traits of a Successful Student
- Drive: It is your drive that pushes you to accomplish your dreams, irrespective of the challenges that you come across! Students having the drive or motivation grow with experiences. If you feel that you have the drive, answer what is the most significant challenge you faced, and the efforts you made to overcome it? How your experience transformed you and what did you learn out of it? What skill you developed and the actions you took to develop or nurture this skill?
- Intellectual Curiosity: Students with intellectual curiosity do not leave a chance to learn for they find it interesting. They strive to surpass their coursework to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts that speak to their interest. To show your intellectual curiosity, describe the subject or topic that you explore just for fun. Recount how you found yourself immersed in a topic and what have you learnt to date? Show how you lose track of time when you are indulging in that topic/subject?
- Initiative: Students who have the confidence and ability to challenge the status quo often focus on improving the existing situation, and generate outcomes. They are potential leaders, and carry the strength to take the first step! If this sounds like you, think of a time you took the lead to challenge something? What difference did you make and what was the learning?
- Contribution: Students having the intent to contribute (otherwise known as a social conscience) give back to the community. They make their communities, schools, and organizations better than before. If you have similar qualities, your common app essay should highlight the time when you made someone’s life better? How do you feel when you serve people or the community? How often do you do so, such that your presence will be missed in your community, when you will leave for college?
- Diversity of Experiences: Students who have experienced distinguishing life experiences and/or have a distinct background, are considered to be equipped with a ‘diversity of experience’. They are expected to add unique perspectives to the student community at the institution. If you have got a diversity of experience, write what have you done or experienced in your life that will make you stand out among other applicants? How have these experiences shaped you as a person? What is it that you know more about than anyone else in the room?
It is important to note that you simply cannot mention that you have the drive or intellectual curiosity in your common app essay. It is imperative to substantiate the qualities by focusing on personal experiences. Now that you have read the five traits, do any instances come to your mind? We recommend that you take your time thinking about your life and experiences, before you begin to write. It is not necessary that your experience should be larger than life, even small contributions and initiatives count. Remember that the authorities are trying to judge your thought process and personality. We have also provided a set of free brainstorming tools on our platform, for further help, if needed.
Take a look at some examples of common app essay topics that are as per the five traits described above:
Example 1 - After following the process election data analysis closely, I realized that the turn out in my school’s student body election was fairly low. Therefore, I decided to appeal to the students and change their outlook towards elections. Ties to: Intellectual curiosity, initiative, contribution
Example 2 - In my Irish dance class sessions, I am the only one that belongs to a mixed race. Although my presence raises eyebrows, I love the art form, and I am determined to succeed in it. Ties to: Diversity of experience, drive
Example 3 – During my after-school job at Whataburger, I noticed that new employees were not trained properly. I could recognize the loopholes and came up with a plan to fix it. I spoke to my manager about it and successfully presented my opinion. Ties to: Initiative, contribution
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Common Mistakes in Common App Essays
At Shiksha, we review scores of common app essay every year, and we have identified some common mistakes that students make. Given below are some common app essay topic traps to avoid:
- Covering too much: The prescribed word limit is only 650 words; however, it is best to finish your essay in around 500 words only. Try not to fit in everything in one essay. Focus on a single experience or topic in your common app essay that will reveal one of your strongest traits, using it as a lens to help the reader to get to know your personality.
- Too much drama: Students often think that they need to be dramatic and distinct from their everyday lives in their common app essay. A few of them write stories that feels like reading a fictional novel. In reality, several compelling and successful essays talk about things that might seem small or trivial, like a hobby, a fandom or a small moment or event in an applicant’s life that influenced him or her significantly. If the event that you are thinking to write in your essay did not have a positive impact on who you are now, it might not be the best topic for you.
- Writing an academic resume: Do not include all your achievements and accomplishments in your common app essay; it is not your resume. Students have a tendency to describe everything good about them and it defeats the purpose of the essay. The common app activities list is already available for that purpose. Hence, be honest, and narrate a story that shows you as a person who fails sometimes, but knows how to accept, learn, and grow through difficult situations.
- Spinning yarns: Another put-off for the authorities is when the students beat around the bush. Nobody wants to read about a topic, generically, or the little details of the applicant’s experiences, which are irrelevant to the context. Thus, students must be aware of what to include and should not write unnecessarily just to prove one’s mettle, or to reach the word limit. If you can describe your story, satisfactorily, in less than 500 words, it is not an issue.
Learn about the importance of word limits in a college essay here.
Also Read:
| How to Write a Common App Essay Part 2 | How to Write the UCAS Personal Statement? |
| How to Write College Supplemental Essays? | How to Write a Graduate School Statement of Purpose |
About the Author
Brad is a Co-founder and the CEO of Prompt – the #1 provider of admissions essay feedback in the world. Prompt's 150 writing coaches provide instructional, actionable feedback to help students improve their essays' content, structure, clarity, and grammar. He has advised hundreds of students who gained acceptance at highly-selective universities, and his team works with over 5,000 students per year on admissions essays. Brad is a former McKinsey Consultant and holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Management Science from MIT.
How to Write a Common App Essay: FAQs
Q. Will my setbacks affect my application negatively?
A. No, if you are talking about certain challenges or setbacks that you faced in your life, then they do not have any negative impact on your application as long as you show your growth and learning out of them. Be careful about the challenge that you are mentioning. For instance, if your academic scores went down at a certain point in time, you should show a logical reason behind it, and more importantly, how you coped up with the situation and bounced back.
Q. Which is the best prompt to answer for a common app essay?
A. There is no best prompt or preferred prompt. Each of them is treated equally by the admission authorities. The important thing to understand here is that your answer should be aligned with the prompt that you are choosing. Also, avoid writing on generic topics like environment or pollution. Your common app essay should be focused on your personal experiences.
Q. Can I talk about something entirely different than my course in my essay?
A. Yes, your common app essay is not your motivation letter to justify your interest in a particular subject. It is written to show your personality and character. Even if you are applying for a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, you can describe your love for sports in your essay, of course, under a relevant prompt. Make sure that your interest is backed by the efforts you have made to excel in your favourite sport. Highlight your dedication and accomplishments in the same.
Q. Is common app essay the only requirement for my admission?
A. No, other than your common app essay, a lot of universities also have their own set of essays and questions that you would need to answer. These are referred to as Supplementary/Supplemental Essays. You will find the prompts and specific word limits on the portal. Please note that you should not repeat your common app essay in any of the other prompts because the admissions committee will read all of them. Avoid mentioning similar content, and prepare unique answers for each prompt. Take help from experts, if needed.
Q: Is MIT costly for Indians?
Q: What GPA is needed to go to Ohio State?
There is no minimum GPA score for UG admission at Ohio State. However, International students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or equivalent) for graduate admission. Applicants may submit a standardized test score (GRE or GMAT) if their cumulative GPA is below 3.0 for the last degree.
Q: Does the University of Essex require IELTS?
International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:
English Language Test | Score |
|---|---|
IELTS | Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section |
The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:
English Language Test | Score |
TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 72 to 114 |
PTE | Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section |
Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities
Q: Is university of West of Scotland good for international students?
The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.
Q: What GPA is required for the University of South Dakota?
The University of South Dakota expects a GPA score of 2.5 from undergraduates and 3 from postgraduates on the 4-pointer scale. Along with the GPA scores, undergraduates must meet the basic eligibility and submit an ACT score of 21 or higher and an SAT score of 1070 or higher. In addition, they must submit the required documents, such as academic history, transcripts, letters of recommendation, English language scores, and more.
Q: Is Hertfordshire University hard to get into?
With a 70% acceptance rate, the University of Hertfordshire is not hard to get into and follows easy selection criteria during admissions. This does not mean the university accepts all the students applying for different programs. The selection is based on academic performance, English language requirements, references, and many more. Some of the programs at Hertfordshire even demand an experience of 4-5 years. Students must fulfill the eligibility criteria to enroll in any programme at Hertfordshire University. In addition, students with average performance can showcase their relevant experience or extracurricular activities participation to increase their selection probability.
Q: Is University of Minnesota Morris hard to get into?
According to various sources, University of Minnesota Morris has an acceptance rate of around 78% making it moderately selective for admissions. Some of the general admission requirements for international students are given as follows:
- Overall Student's GPA
- Letters of Recommendation
- High School Class Ranks
- Additional Academic Record
Students are required to apply for admission according to the deadlines given on the official university website.
Q: What is the processing time for the application process at Northern College, Canada?
Northern College can take up to 6 weeks to provide an offer letter to international students. Since thousands of applications are enrolled at the college for programs under different specializations, the college reviews each application and segregates them. The whole process is quite time-consuming. The segregation of applications is done based on the student’s academic performance, English language scores, extracurricular activities, and relevant experiences.
This account contains a repository of informative articles by external authors with domain expertise in various aspects of guiding students on how to go about pursuing their undergraduate and postgraduate studies ab... Read Full Bio
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Statement of Purpose
Letter of Recommendation
Student Visa Application
Admission Essay Writing
Student Curriculum Vitae
MIT is not costly for Indian students. Applicants can study BTech program at affordable tuition fees as compared to other BTech colleges in the USA. The MIT BTech fees is around INR 50 L to INR 52 L.