The Common Application, commonly known as the Common App, is a standardised college application platform used by over 900 universities and colleges in the United States and other countries. The Common App streamlines the application process for students by allowing them to submit a single application to multiple institutions.
One of the essential components of the Common App is the essay section, which provides students with the opportunity to showcase their writing skills and personality to admissions officers. College essays, including the Common App essay, constitute a vital element in the admissions process, as they provide admissions officers with valuable insights into a student’s personality, background, and potential.
In this blog, we will discuss all you need to do for an outstanding Common App essay, its prompts for the 2023-2024 application cycle, and strategies for brainstorming, pre-writing, and writing your essay.
Pre-writing your Common App Essay
- Brainstorming Common App Essay topics is an essential step in the pre-writing process. When brainstorming, consider your experiences, values, and goals, and try to come up with unique and meaningful stories that reflect who you are as a person. Some helpful brainstorming strategies include making a list of your interests, hobbies, and achievements, reflecting on significant life events, and asking friends and family for their opinions.
- Freewriting is another valuable pre-writing exercise that involves writing freely without worrying about grammar or structure. This technique allows you to explore your thoughts and ideas without censoring yourself, which can often lead to creative and unexpected insights.
- Creating a well-planned timeline for crafting your Common App essay is a crucial aspect of the pre-writing process. If you have six months or more before the application deadline, you can take a more relaxed approach to writing your essay. However, if you have only a few weeks or days, you will need to prioritise your time and focus on the most critical aspects of your essay.
Choosing your Common App Essay topic
Choosing your Common App essay topic can be challenging, but it is essential to pick a topic that showcases your strengths and unique perspective. You can choose to write about a significant life event, a personal challenge, or a moment of personal growth or discovery.
It is crucial to keep in mind the Common App essay prompts when choosing your topic. The prompts for the 2023-2024 application cycle are:
- If you possess a background, identity, interest, or talent that holds great significance to you and you believe that your application would be inadequate without its inclusion, we encourage you to share your story
- The insights gained from the challenges we face can form a crucial foundation for future achievements.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 realisation that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Writing your Common App Essay
Once you have chosen your topic, it is time to start writing your Common App essay. The type of essay you have to write will depend on the prompt you choose, but all essays should have a clear structure and a compelling narrative.
Here are some additional strategies for writing a successful Common App essay:
- Find your unique angle: Admissions officers read hundreds or even thousands of essays, so it’s important to find a topic that sets you apart from other applicants. Try to find a unique angle or perspective on a common topic, or choose a less common topic that reflects your interests and experiences.
- Be honest and authentic: Admissions officers want to get to know the real you, so it’s important to be honest and authentic in your writing. It is advisable to refrain from attempting to impress or cater to the preferences of the admissions committee, and instead, concentrate on articulating your genuine thoughts and emotions.Use concrete examples: Rather than making general statements, use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points. This will make your essay more engaging and help the admissions committee get a better sense of who you are.
- Stay within the word limit: The Common App essay has a word limit of 650 words, and it’s important to stay within this limit. Admissions officers read a lot of essays, so they appreciate concise and focused writing.
- Get feedback: It’s always a good idea to get feedback on your essay from someone else, such as a teacher, counsellor, or friend. They can provide valuable feedback on the clarity, organisation, and tone of your essay.
- Show, don’t tell: Instead of simply telling the reader about your qualities, experiences, or achievements, use vivid descriptions and concrete details to show them. This will make your essay more engaging and memorable.
- Edit and proofread carefully: Before submitting your essay, make sure to edit and proofread it carefully for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. You can also use online tools such as Grammarly or Hemingway to help you catch mistakes and improve your writing.
By following these strategies, you can write a compelling and memorable Common App essay that showcases your unique qualities and potential as a college student.
The Common App essay is a critical component of the college application process, and it provides students with a unique opportunity to showcase their personality and writing skills to admissions officers. At Rostrum, our expert mentors help you along every step of the way to an outstanding Common App essay. With individualised guidance, you can craft a compelling and authentic essay that sets you apart from other applicants and demonstrates your potential for success in college and beyond. To know more, schedule a free consultation today.
