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Our updated guide on how to write the Common App essay contains everything you need to steer your students through the 2023/24 application cycle, including annotated examples.
One of the most effective ways of learning is by seeing things in action. And that’s no different when it comes to university applications. That’s why so many students – and their advisers – are keen to see things like Common App examples of essays and other application materials.
Well, you’re in luck. We’ve got just that, and much more advice and guidance, in this handy guide!
If you have students who are looking to study at a university in the US, then there is a high probability they will submit some of their applications through the Common App. After all, it’s the most widely used admissions platform for US university applicants (though it’s also possible to apply to destinations outside the US).
Over 800 higher education institutions accept applications through the Common App. This helps to speed up the admissions process, since students only have to submit relevant personal information once.
Download our free worksheet, complete with templates and tips designed to help your students plan and write a truly original and individual Common App essay.
In addition to relevant high school transcripts, test scores, information on extra-curricular activities and parent/legal guardian information, all students applying to university through the Common App must submit a standard application essay.
The Common App essay prompts changed back in 2021 for the first time since 2017, reminding us just how important it is to stay up-to-date with the latest developments.
But don’t worry, we’ve got your back!
In our updated guide to the Common App essay for the 2023/24 application cycle, we’ll explore the updated essay prompts and explain how you can support your students as they write their applications. We’ve also included some Common App examples for maximum clarity!
There are seven Common App essay prompts for 2023/24. Each is designed to give students the opportunity to explore who they are, what they want from a college education, and their core beliefs and values.
Each of the Common App essay prompts will encourage students to explore a different facet of their background and their personality.
Let’s explore each in more detail
This is a wonderfully open Common App essay prompt.
What’s it asking? In short, it’s inviting students to talk about any aspect of their culture, experiences or education that they feel is deeply meaningful to them.
Specifically, college admissions committees want to know how student’s experiences have shaped them and defined them. Let’s break up each component part of this essay prompt, and look at how students could approach them.
In short, this is anything about a student’s background that they feel has shaped them. It could be something about their family history, background or lineage. It might be a sport, interest or talent they had when they were younger that has informed them as a teenager.
This could be racial identity, sexual orientation, or even a religious belief. But students shouldn’t be afraid to expand their definition. Being a member of a sports team, a band, or even an online gamer could constitute an ‘identity’ for some of your students.
Again, a student’s interests can cover all manner of things. What’s most important when writing about interests is that it has to be something without which their application would be incomplete.
To use an example, you may have a student who is an avid bookworm. This is quite a general interest, so it would be necessary for students to talk about something very specific. What have they learned from their favourite books? How has reading shaped their worldview, or their sense of themselves?
This prompt, fundamentally, is trying to get students to think about how they overcome adversity and how they learn from their mistakes. Can students prove that they confront setbacks without giving up?
There are a number of ways students can approach this prompt. They could talk about one, big failure that completely redefined who they are, or a series of smaller, inter-connected failures that are somehow linked.
Examples of ways that students could answer this question are by talking about a class they failed, or a subject at school they have continually failed to master.
Alternatively, encourage students to think about a more social/emotional failure. Maybe they’ve had a falling out with a friend because they failed to consider the other person’s point of view or feelings, or maybe they’ve fallen out with a family member.
Again, the key here is specificity. Students who opt for this prompt shouldn’t spend a lot of time sweating what failure they pick – they need to focus on the specificity of what they learned, and how it changed them as a person.
Some students might be put off by this prompt because they may (mistakenly) feel that they haven’t been sufficiently politically active or championed a particular social cause.
But it’s important not to misunderstand this prompt. As with all of the Common App essay questions, this is an invitation for a student to talk about a more personal, singular worldview.
There are arguably two ways a student could approach this prompt.
Again, you should encourage your students to look for very specific, real-world ways that they can answer this question.
For example, it may be that they have done some voluntary or community work that has affected how they feel about political issues like homelessness or care for the elderly. They might have completed an internship that has taught them something about how to run/operate a business. They could even have run a social media campaign for a school event, and learned something about the power of marketing!
In short, there’s probably a story in their recent past somewhere, they just need to know where to look!
But here’s the most important thing to remember: this prompt is about the writer going on a journey. In a relatively short space of time, a student needs to tell a story of change, reflection and growth.
Our advice? Don’t tackle this prompt unless there’s a good story in there somewhere!
This was a new prompt added in the 2021/22 application cycle and it replaces the old prompt 4 from previous application cycles.
“Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.”
The Common App recently explained that they retired the old prompt because it wasn’t being widely chosen by college applicants.
Common App introduced this new prompt by explaining that it was “inspired by scientific research on gratitude and kindness, specifically the benefits of writing about the positive influence of other people in our lives,” with President and CEO Jenny Rickard adding: “particularly at this challenging time, we can help students think about something positive and heartfelt in their lives. And we can do it explicitly.”
In other words, this prompt is designed to encourage students to think about the role gratitude has played in their lives!
Particularly at this challenging time, we can help students think about something positive and heartfelt in their lives. And we can do it explicitly.”
Jenny Rickard: President & CEO, The Common App
“But, as with all of the Common App essay prompts, it’s important for them to reflect on how this gratitude has changed them. Remember that, as with all of the Common App essay prompts, it’s important for students to tell a story.
As ever with Common App essay prompts, you should encourage your students to be creative in their definition of something they’re grateful for.
For example, it could be a physical gift or a gesture of kindness, support or selflessness from someone. They could have learned a valuable or life-altering lesson from a significant person in their lives – and this person could be someone they’re very close to (e.g. a family member or close friend) or even a stranger or passing acquaintance who has shaped their life in some way.
But it’s important for any of your students tackling this prompt to remember that the ‘something’ or the ‘someone’ of their story isn’t the point of the story. Instead they should reflect on how that something or someone, that unique moment of kindness or inspiration has affected their personal growth.
And don’t forget that the prompt asks students to reflect on a moment that made them “happy or thankful in a surprising way”. The key word here is ‘surprising’. So encourage your students to think about a story that’s really unique to them.
Finally, remember that this story, whatever it may be, has to relate back to the sort of person that your student is today! How did this unexpected moment of gratitude impact their life?
Let’s say that one of your students decided to write about a time that a teacher was particularly harsh about an assignment or piece of schoolwork they handed in.
Perhaps the teacher’s feedback was so negative, it made the student feel very deflated or demoralised at that moment in time. Perhaps they worried that they were going to fail in this particular class, or questioned their ability.
But then this setback had the effect of making the student work harder, set their standards higher and meant that they really improved in that particular class or subject.
The student’s unexpected gratitude could come from the fact that their teacher taught them a resilience or a commitment to high standards, that they’ve found useful in their subsequent time at school. Maybe this newfound resilience defines who they are today – and has informed their higher education aspirations.
Prompt 5 is designed to get students to talk about a key milestone in their life, and how it affected them. In short, this question is asking a student – “when and how have they grown as a person?”
Again, situations that are as specific and meaningful as possible will really help an essay stand out. Some examples of some useful milestones students could write about for this prompt include:
It doesn’t have to be a big milestone either. Students could equally write about a small, but nonetheless significant moment in their lives, such as the moment that a parent or family member taught them to cook, or even just a memorable birthday.
This is a great prompt to encourage students to share their intellectual passions and interests. After all, it’s important to remember that US universities and colleges are interested in students who are intellectually engaged!
For students interested in this topic, the world is their oyster! But it’s important that, if they choose to answer this prompt, they approach it from an intellectual perspective. A student could write about their love of the Star Wars universe if they want to – but they need to explain why they find this intellectually stimulating or engaging.
For this prompt, it’s also important that students pick a topic that they are genuinely passionate about. It’s important they don’t choose this question because they want to show off!
As you can see from this prompt, it gives students an inordinate amount of freedom to talk about whatever they want!
If you are working with students who want to use this as a topic, then make sure that they are linking their essay back to them, their intellectual interests, personal achievements and background.
It’s important to remember some of the secrets to success in Prompts 1-6. Students should keep their answers specific, personal to them and, most importantly, find a way to tell a good story.
Before your students start their Common App essay, it’s worth encouraging them to make notes on how they can demonstrate the core qualities which admissions officers will look for in any application. Students need to think about how they can demonstrate the following.
The ability to collaborate, and demonstrate teamwork is something which university admissions staff will be looking for. Encourage your students to think about a moment where they learned the value of teamwork.
Ask your students to make a note of any extracurricular activities which may connect with their academic passions and interests. Extracurricular activities are a great way for students to demonstrate relevant leadership and organisational skills and reflect on any experiences or challenges which they have overcome.
The Common App essay needs to be a truly individual piece of work, and the ability to demonstrate leadership, or entrepreneurial drive, will in turn help students to illustrate that they have the ability to be innovative and forward thinking. Ask students to make notes on the following:
Students should think about how they can demonstrate a care for the wider community and/or the welfare of others, whether it’s through volunteering or any of their other extracurricular activities. Community service is a great way to demonstrate citizenship and a sense of social responsibility.
Students writing their Common App essay will be asked to demonstrate an understanding of other cultures, or the ability to speak another language. Encourage your students to think about any traveling or time abroad which may inform their university application.
Download our free worksheet and template that will help your students plan and write a truly original and individual Common App essay.
Whilst students have a range of essay topics to choose from, it’s also worth remembering that all the Common App essay prompts are designed to encourage respondents to cover several important themes.
So, as your students prepare to write their Common App essay, it’s important that they ask the following questions.
These questions should inform every section of the Common App essay, and will allow students’ responses to be that much more structured and coherent.
The importance of the opening line in the Common App essay can’t be understated. It’s a chance for applicants to demonstrate flair, originality and wit, and to really grab the reader’s attention. That’s why brainstorming the opening line is an important exercise in itself.
Check out these powerful Common App opening lines from students at some of our BridgeU partner schools. These openers also come highly rated from US admissions staff.
“I almost didn’t live through September 11th, 2001 – Stanford University
“I have a secret. Every day, after school, I come home late.” – Harvard University
Both these opening lines have short, sharp sentences which instantly grab the reader’s attention and offer intrigue as to the potential topic the essay could be covering. Both immediately offer the promise of an essay which will be story-driven and dramatic. Both openings also suggest a story which will be about a life-changing event in the writer’s life.
In short, these opening lines make the reader want to know more.
Vivid storytelling, and the ability to hone a narrative is vital when writing the Common App essay. Here are some essential components of a great essay which are worth considering and practicing.
“Swinging open the door of my sheltered dorm room, I dashed through the corridor, veering towards the lounge. My sister, intermittently coherent, was acquainting me with the morning’s events. It was the 7th of July, and four suicide bombs had detonated in London. The city itself, typically a bustling, urban jungle, had been paralysed; tourists, office-workers, and residents were trapped like foxes in their holes.”
This is a sample from an essay that discusses the terrorist attack in London on July 7, 2005. Not only does this essay tell a compelling story of the applicant’s experience of what was a traumatic and newsworthy event, but its use of vivid imagery and descriptive language is very powerful.
For example, consider the description that London “had been paralysed”; personifying the city of London in this way helps to demonstrate the writer’s empathy and awareness. It’s also a much more effective use of imagery than simply saying something like “London was at a standstill”.
Each day, I was used to reading and talking about current events. Understanding world events is my passion. Evaluating their importance is my responsibility. Today, however, these same events were threatening to tear my life apart.
I tried to imagine how any religion could not only condone but encourage these actions. I thought about how our Western culture had become irredeemably intertwined with other cultures, all of which seemed mutually uncomprehending. Wasn’t achieving a greater level of cross-culturalism meant to be a good thing?
These are two further excerpts from the same essay. In this extract, we gain an insight into the writer’s personal passions. These two extracts tell us about a time where the writer realised that something they were normally passionate about could, in their own words, tear their life apart.
The writer prides themself on their ability to make sense of world events – this was an event they struggled to make sense of, a moment when their status quo was challenged.
Collapsed on the sofa, I realised that the mission I had chosen, to convince my school community to connect with the rest of the world, to some extent was no longer necessary. July 7th, like September 11th, would do the job for me. I got through that day, as did my family, physically unscathed, but emotionally charged. We all have a choice: to connect with the rest of the world or to cut it off. The events of that morning reaffirmed my choice. Non-interventionism is no alternative. Hell is not other people.
The writer uses powerful storytelling techniques to end their essay, and shows that they end their account of the July 7 having gone on a journey. Having faced a moment where their life was thrown into chaos, the writer reaffirms their decision to connect with the rest of the world.
Put simply, it creates a compelling picture of both the writer’s worldview, and their aspirations for the future. It effectively demonstrates the writer’s core values by dramatising a moment when those values were called into question.
BridgeU’s integration with the Common App allows for an easier transfer of data, enabling counsellors to more easily send supporting documents, via BridgeU, to Common App institutions. This will help to smooth the application journey for students wishing to study at a Common App university.
As your students prepare to submit their Common App essays, make sure that they are paying attention to the following checklist.
Learn how BridgeU can help deliver better outcomes for your students and improved results for your school
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