Why does the Common App Essay—and other college essays—matter?
The Common App Essay prompts are diverse enough that they allow you to write about pretty much anything. Therefore, we encourage you to brainstorm your best stories first and then think about which question to answer. Admissions committees have no preference for which prompt you choose. Additionally, we encourage you to review additional successful .
Furthermore, keep in mind that the contains an optional, 250-word space to describe. Therefore, you do not need to use your Common App Essay to provide this context. That said, it’s also perfectly fine to write about or touch on COVID-19—if the pandemic is a backdrop that allows you to shine a light on what’s unique and interesting about you in the manner we described above.
The Common App essay can account for up to 30% of the importance of a college application, based on its weight amongst all other factors.
Common App Essay Prompts 2024–2025
streamlines the application process, allowing students to apply to multiple institutions using a single platform. One of the most crucial components of the Common App is the personal essay.
Need inspiration for your Common App personal statement? Click below for instant access to 25 full-length example essays including advanced breakdowns of why they resonate with admissions committees.
Need inspiration for your Common App personal statement? Click below for instant access to 25 full-length example essays including advanced breakdowns of why they resonate with admissions committees.
Gain instant access to 25 exclusive full-length examples covering all seven prompts, plus comprehensive analyses for each to help you craft stellar essays.
Common App Essay Guide Part 1: Ideation
Demonstrating your dedication to activities and causes makes your application stand out. We want to see your commitment and passion. Tell us how those experiences affected you as a student or as a person.
With that in mind, here are the Common App essay prompts:
Most essay responses are about 500 words, but this is only a recommendation, not a firm limit. Feel free to write as much as you need to tell your story.
What I wrote about for my Common App Essay
Secondary or supplemental essays: These are the essays that schools can choose to have you write on top of the core Common App Essay. They might invite you to talk more about an extracurricular activity on your resumé, to reflect on a quote from a famous alumna/alumnus of the college, or to share your thoughts on any number of wide-ranging topics.
5 Common App Personal Essay Red Flags
Throughout this guide, we’re going to refer to a few Common App Essay examples. These examples are closely based on essays we have worked on with students over the past two decades—students who successfully met their admissions goals, including getting into multiple Ivy League and other top-tier schools.
Common App Essay Prompts Announced
Personal statement (PS): When people refer to the personal statement, they’re talking about the 650-word Common Application Essay, which all schools using the Common App will see. Your personal statement is your major chance to articulate the qualitative aspects of yourself to the admissions committee and the admissions committee’s major chance to get to know you as a person. Throughout this guide, "Common App Essay," "Common App personal statement," and "personal statement" are used interchangeably.
So tell me your thoughts on this JHU Common App essay:
Some colleges only require a personal statement, but many colleges, particularly highly-selective schools, require additional essays, usually referred to as “”. (We have guides to tons of specific schools’ essays, plus examples and analysis, at that link.)
This Common App essay was for Washington University in St. Louis.
Because sometimes the prompts are useful, but Common App essay prompts 1 and 7 below allow you to write about basically anything. The prompts can be useful if you’re feeling totally stuck. But they can also limit your creativity, if you don’t explore some before reading them.