2021-2022 Common App Essay Prompts

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
   
2. 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?
   
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
   
4. 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? {NEW}
   
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
   
6. 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?
   
7. 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.

Some important things to keep in mind regarding the Common App Essay:

• The essay is an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic, and will help you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the college to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores?
• Choose the option that best helps you answer that question, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response, in 650 words or less.

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Crazy times, and a crazy summer!  Is it looking a little different for you than expected? No school, no summer job, no summer camp, no hanging out at the community pool or movie theater or coffee shop? You may find yourself with some extra time these days.  

The college admission process is also looking different than expected for fall, and there are still many uncertainties. Many colleges have announced they will be test optional for the first time, and the ones we haven’t heard from, well, it’s probably just a matter of time. This means that admission officers are faced with the task of distinguishing between highly qualified students without relying on test scores. How will they differentiate between thousands of applicants who have excellent grades and challenging classes on their transcripts? Your essay is one part of the application that can help you stand out.  

Use some free time this summer to work on your essays. The Common App essay prompts are the same as last year. If you haven’t already started on your Common App essay, now is the time. In addition, Common App has added a special “Additional Information” optional essay about how COVID-19 has impacted you. Should you write this extra essay? The short answer is probably yes, but it needs to be unique. You should also check to find out if any of the schools on your list require supplemental essays or short answer questions. If you are applying to colleges that do not use the Common App, check the college websites to get their essay topics. 

Take Action – Write something! Get a first draft of your college essays started now. This will give you plenty of time to get feedback from multiple people (parents, counselor, teachers, even friends). It will also give you a chance to put it aside for now and come back to it later.