Applying to college can be tough, especially when it comes to writing the Common Application Personal Statement Essay, also known as the CommonApp Essay. This essay holds a lot of weight, especially for juniors. But don’t worry!
Our Essay Guides offer detailed insights into each CommonApp Essay Prompt, helping you feel more confident and ready for this reflective journey ahead.
What is the CommonApp Essay?
The CommonApp Essay is the personal statement section of the Common Application that is sent to every college you apply to through the CommonApp. It’s not just about showing your writing skills; it’s also a chance to let admissions officers see who you are beyond your other application materials.
You’ve got a word limit of 650 for this essay. Aim for around 650 words, but if you’ve said everything you need to in 550 words, that’s totally fine.
The questions:
- If you’re one of those students who think your application is complete without showcasing your unique background, identity, interests, or talents, think again. Your story matters. Let’s hear it!
- Adversities often hold invaluable lessons for our future successes. Recall a time when you faced a struggle, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
- Have you ever found yourself questioning or challenging a belief or idea? What sparked this contemplation, and what were the outcomes?
- Reflect on a problem that you’ve tackled or wish to address. It could be an intellectual puzzle, a moral dilemma, or something deeply personal. Why does it matter to you, and what steps have you taken or could take to resolve it?
- Share an experience of achievement, incident, or discovery that has led to your personal growth and a deeper understanding of yourself or others.
- What topic, idea, or concept grips your attention so intensely that you lose track of time? Why does it fascinate you, and where do you turn for further exploration?
- Let your creativity flow! Write an essay on any topic of your choosing. It could be a piece you’ve already crafted, one inspired by a different prompt, or entirely new—a blank canvas awaiting your ideas.
Your Common App essay should focus solely on you. Admissions officers want to know about your personality, how you engage with your environment, your likes, dislikes, and goals.
This essay helps the admissions committee understand more about you beyond your activity sheet or chosen major. It’s a chance for them to see beyond just grades and test scores.
When to start
If you’re applying early to schools (EA, ED, or REA), aim to finish your CommonApp Essay by mid-October at the latest. It’s best to have it done by August or September ideally. Keep in mind that you’ll require time for the other parts of your application, like the Supplemental Essays (you can find more information on those here).
When it comes to the Common App Essay timeframe, there’s no universal rule. While some students whip up their essay within a month, I personally spent about 6-8 months refining mine through roughly 20 revisions. At Essay Embassy, we’re here to support you throughout the process, whether you’re just starting out or nearing completion. Our goal is to help you craft a strong essay that reflects your unique voice and experiences. Plus, with the guidance of a personal college advisor, you can stay on track with your deadlines and writing goals.
Knowing who you are as a writer and taking responsibility are both crucial steps. It’s important to start early. Whether you write slowly or quickly, it’s a good idea to think about the CommonApp Essay in your junior year, even if it’s just to understand the process and come up with ideas.
Brainstorming for the CommonApp Essay
Writing your CommonApp Essay demands time and deep self-reflection. Rushing through it won’t cut it; you can’t finish it overnight or even in a week. At times, you might feel dissatisfied with your progress, your chosen topic, or the feedback you get. Yet, this process offers a golden opportunity for personal and writing growth.
Getting started
Many students often feel tempted to dive straight into answering the prompts. But remember, you don’t have to rush. The questions in the CommonApp are purposely open-ended, so they can suit a variety of essays. In fact, the last prompt can be about anything at all.
Your essay can start from anywhere—a keepsake in your room, a hobby you love, a memorable school event, a trip you took, a beautiful sunset, your go-to meal, or even food you can’t stand. The Common Application essay is all about sharing your unique story.
Create a list of potential topics
When coming up with ideas for your CommonApp Essay, just let your thoughts flow. Write down anything that comes to mind, like recent memorable talks or moments that left a mark on you. Think about what you’re passionate about or what you’ve been learning lately. You can also consider any recent experiences that have influenced you, good or bad.
If you’re focusing on a particular prompt, use it as a starting point, but don’t feel stuck to it. Let your creativity run wild and explore different directions with your writing. The brainstorming stage is all about being open to new ideas, so don’t limit yourself.
Selecting a topic
After your brainstorming session, which concept really stands out to you? Which option do you think can truly shine a light on your story? Consider your personality and interests—start with them. If you’re passionate about your essay, chances are the reader will be too.
Still unsure about which topic to choose? It might be helpful to seek guidance from a personal advisor. By getting to know you better, your advisor can help craft an engaging essay that showcases your best qualities and sets you apart. A personal mentor can steer you in the right direction, advise on which themes work well, and spark new ideas through conversations you might not have considered writing about.
Writing the CommonApp Essay
Often, the basic structure of a successful CommonApp Essay is as follows:
- Life throws a curveball your way
- Your personal life feels the effects
- Taking time to ponder, to look inward
- You evolve and mature as a result
Let’s highlight how important it is to talk about your experience in the final section. This part gives Admissions Officers a good insight into who you are. Describe how the event made you feel emotionally, mentally, and physically. What parts of it stayed with you, and why?
If you’re finding it hard to write about how you felt in the essay, think about why this experience mattered to you. What made it stand out? How did it help you become a better person? How do you think you’ll keep growing?
Just let it out
As you start writing, let your ideas guide you instead of trying to control them. Many CommonApp Essay writers stumble by being too critical or editing too early.
Forget about word count for now; focus on getting all your thoughts down on paper. Write freely. Aim for 1,300 words or even more. Later, you can refine and organize your content, but first, you need material to work with. Once you’ve captured all your ideas, you can then decide which ones are truly essential.
Well done on reaching this milestone! You’ve completed the first step. Treat yourself to some ice cream and take a week off to allow your writing to breathe.
Cutting down and cleaning up
Alright, so you’ve poured out your thoughts, and now you’re staring at a whopping 2,000 words. What’s next? It’s time to revise.
Start by really understanding what you’ve written. Read it over a few times. What’s the core message of your story, and what do you want the admissions officers to grasp from it? Who have you evolved into through your shared experiences? And why does this topic matter so much to you?
Once you’ve nailed down the main idea of your essay, it’s time to trim the fat.
This is where you cut out anything that doesn’t belong. If you can’t justify why a particular sentence is there, chop it.
It might be tough to let go of sentences you’ve labored over, but trust me, it’s worth it. To borrow a phrase from English author Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, “Murder your darlings.” Essentially, edit with a ruthless eye. If it’s not serving the purpose of your essay, it needs to go or be revised.
Take your time
If you’re finding it hard to finish your essay, it’s totally fine to take a break. That’s why we suggest starting the CommonApp Essay in your junior year—it’s helpful to let your essay sit for a week. When you come back to it, you’ll see it with fresh eyes and a new perspective.
Stepping back and revisiting your writing can help you pinpoint parts that need refining, clarification, or smoothing, as well as what’s lacking!
CommonApp Essay Tips and Tricks
Make your essay interesting
Starting your essay with a captivating hook is crucial. Admission officers face the daunting task of reviewing hundreds to thousands of applications over several months. If your essay fails to grab their attention, it might as well not exist.
Show, don’t tell
Share your story with lively descriptions and emotions. Instead of saying “It was cold outside,” say “I shivered as the breeze pricked my skin.” Let your evidence be rich in feelings and details, painting a clear picture for your readers. This will make your essay more interesting, memorable, and unique.
Making your essay your essay
Writing an essay that truly represents you is important. While many students are involved in their school’s student government, it’s crucial to explore how this experience has shaped you personally. What makes your journey different from others? Even though your involvement may be listed on your Common App activities sheet, your essay is a chance to show how it’s impacted your personal growth. How does your unique perspective and growth add to the story of your application?
Keep your reader in mind
Admissions officers are real people, not robots. They have lives, moods, and feelings. A tired or grumpy admissions officer could greatly influence how they evaluate your application. It’s smart to ensure your essay (and entire application) is as strong as possible.
Take a moment to consider if there’s any part of your essay that might come across as offensive, too simple, aimless, weak, or lacking in research. Is any aspect of your essay unclear? You want to avoid being misunderstood. Any weakness could be scrutinized, so try reading your CommonApp Essay from the perspective of a cranky person who isn’t keen on admitting you to their school. If your essay can hold up under that level of examination, you’re making progress!
Stay true to your voice
Don’t worry about trying to be the “perfect applicant” or writing the “ultimate college essay.” Those don’t really exist! Colleges like to see diversity in their applicants, so just be yourself and share your unique experiences and perspectives.
Finishing your essay
You’ve made some progress with your draft. It’s not amazing yet, but it’s definitely improved and is far from being the worst. Now, how can we make your writing even better?
Get a second (or third! or fourth!) opinion
First, ask someone else to read through your writing.
Now, before you start showing your article to everyone, let’s talk about outside readers. The CommonApp Essay is all about you—it should sound like it’s from you. Admissions officers can tell if someone else has written your CommonApp essay.
Also, your choice of words sets you apart from others. If too many people edit your essay, you might lose your unique writing style, so be careful about who you ask for feedback. If someone gives you confusing feedback, feel free to ignore it. And to avoid upsetting your reviewer, let them know beforehand that you might not accept all of their suggestions.
At EssayEmbassy, our experts understand what your essays need. Throughout the editing process, we work to keep your voice while helping you make your essay the best it can be. We don’t write essays for students; instead, we provide guidance so you can present your true self to colleges.
In addition to an adviser, you can share your essay with your English teacher, a parent, a grandparent, a family friend, someone who’s good at writing, or your guidance counselor. Just keep in mind that these people aren’t usually experts in academia, so use your judgment when considering their feedback.
CommonApp Essay: Final Thoughts
Congratulations on finishing your CommonApp essay! Now it’s time to tackle those Supplemental Essays.
We know applying to college can be tough and time-consuming. But don’t worry, essayembassy.com is here to help! With a team of over 130 experienced college admissions essay writers, we’re ready to support you every step of the way.
