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Common App announces 2024–2025 Common App essay prompts

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How to Answer the 2024-25 Common App Essay Prompts

Common App Prompts for 24/25

What's New

Common App Essay Guidelines

How to Answer the Common App Prompts

Importance of Common App Essay

In this guide, we'll help you navigate the 2024-2025 common app essay prompts, breaking down each prompt, and offering insights, tips, and strategies to craft a compelling narrative.

We'll also discover why the prompts remain unchanged from last year and how Crimson Education's mentors   — graduates from top universities   — can guide you in telling your unique story.

Overview of the 2024/25 Common App Essay Prompts

The Common App essay prompts serve as a lens through which applicants can share their unique stories, experiences, and perspectives. For the 2024/25 application cycle, the prompts are as follows:

• Personal Background or Talent : 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.
• Learning from Challenges : 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?
• Questioning Beliefs : Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Acts of Kindness : 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?
• Personal Growth : Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Passion and Curiosity : 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?
• Topic of Your Choice : 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.

Additionally, the Common App will retain the optional COVID-19 question within the Additional Information section . In this section you can share any meaningful personal experiences related to the pandemic and relevant to your applicant profile or background, which might include:

• Illness or loss within your family or support network
• Employment or housing disruptions within your family
• Food insecurity
• Challenges to mental and emotional health
• New responsibilities, such as part-time work or caring for family members
• Difficulties in accessing necessary technology or a conducive study environment
• Shifts in your major or career interests due to the pandemic's influence

What’s New in 2024/25?

You might notice that the 2024-2025 essay prompts have remained unchanged from the previous year . This consistency offers an advantage, as students can draw from a wealth of advice and examples from past years.

Past research has shown last year's prompt of 2023/2024 had an extremely high satisfaction rate, with over 95% of respondents from different groups being satisfied with the prompts. This research is cited as the main reason as to why the common app retained the same prompts of last year.

These prompts might change for 2025/26; Common App is continuously looking at the essays submitted, and what prompts students are choosing. This information will be reviewed and incorporated into how they design their future prompts.

5 Common App Essay Tips

General Guidelines for Answering Common App Essay Questions

• Word Count : The Common App essay has a word limit of 650 words. It's essential to stay within this limit to ensure your essay is read in its entirety. While brevity is key, make sure you provide enough depth and insight into your chosen topic.
• Be Authentic : Admissions officers read thousands of essays. What stands out is authenticity. Write in your voice and be true to your experiences. Avoid trying to write what you think they want to hear.
• Proofread : Spelling and grammar mistakes can detract from the content of your essay. Always proofread your work, and consider having a teacher, mentor, or trusted individual review it.
• Avoid Repetition : Your essay should provide new information or insights that aren't found in other parts of your application. It's an opportunity to showcase a different side of you.
• Stay Focused : While it might be tempting to cover multiple topics, it's better to focus on a single story or idea and delve deep into it. This provides clarity and depth to your narrative.
• Reflect : The best essays not only narrate an event or idea but also reflect on its significance. Discussing how it influenced your beliefs, values, or future aspirations adds depth to your essay.
• Draft and Revise : Rarely is the first draft the best version. Write multiple drafts , refining your story and message with each iteration.
• Avoid Controversial Topics : While it's essential to be genuine, be cautious about discussing highly controversial topics unless you can approach them with sensitivity and depth.
• Answer the Prompt : It might seem obvious, but ensure your essay answers the prompt. Admissions officers want to see that you can follow instructions while also showcasing your unique perspective.
• Look at Examples: Review examples of essays that have scored well in the past. These successful essays can provide invaluable insights into what makes an impactful and memorable personal statement.
• How to Ace the Common App Activities List

The Essay That Got Me Into Brown University

How to Answer the Common App Essay Prompts for 2024/25

For a detailed look at each prompt, visiting the official common app website is always a good way to make sure you’re following the most accurate and up-to-date information and guidelines before you spend lots of time writing!

How Do You Answer Common App Essay Prompt 1?

Prompt: 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., delving into your roots.

This prompt beckons you to explore your cultural roots, upbringing, and defining experiences . To spark ideas, consider:

• Where is your family from, and where did you grow up?
• Were there cultural elements that played a significant role in your life?
• What were the defining moments in your upbringing that shaped your identity?
• Were there specific individuals, artworks, or philosophies that influenced your growth?
• How did your environment or community mold your interests or talents?

Self-Reflection and Personal Evolution

Reflecting on your identity and its evolution can offer rich material for your essay. If you've experienced shifts in your identity or perspective, delve into the reasons behind these changes and their implications for your future aspirations . A significant event or realization that altered your worldview can be a compelling narrative focus.

Descriptive Lists as Brainstorming Tools

If you're grappling with where to start, jot down phrases or values that resonate with your identity . Words like "compassion," "resilience," or "innovation" can serve as anchors for your essay, guiding your narrative around pivotal experiences that exemplify these traits.

Writing quality is important for essays, but what helps students stand out more is the depth of their reflections and insights about themselves (and the evolution of those reflections and insights over time, which demonstrate growth). The essays that do that have always been the most memorable and successful.

- vincent lim, us strategy consultant at crimson education, narrative depth through personal stories.

Select a story or incident from your life that encapsulates the essence of the chosen descriptive word . For instance, if "cooperation" resonates with you, narrate an instance where teamwork within your family or community led to a significant achievement.

Distinguishing Your Narrative

While the overarching theme of identity might be common, your unique experiences and reflections will set your essay apart . Remember, this essay is an opportunity to showcase aspects of your life and character not evident elsewhere in your application . Avoid redundancy and strive for fresh, engaging content.

How Do You Answer Common App Essay Prompt 2?

Prompt: 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.

Prompt 2 requires identifying meaningful obstacles in your life, articulating lessons learned from them, and sharing how the lessons pave the way for future success.

Identifying Genuine Challenges

While it's tempting to narrate minor setbacks, such as narrowly avoiding tardiness, these stories often lack depth and don't offer insights into your character or values. Instead, focus on significant challenges that had a profound impact on your life:

• Did you experience a major culture shock, like relocating to an unfamiliar place?
• Were there struggles in building connections or finding friends in a new environment?
• Did you grapple with personal tragedies, health issues, or other profound challenges?

Embracing Vulnerability

It's natural to want to present your best self, but genuine growth often stems from acknowledging failures and setbacks . Demonstrating how you initially struggled, made mistakes, or even failed but then learned and grew from those experiences showcases maturity and resilience.

I sometimes read back some of my past students' essays, and they evoke different emotions. Some make me cry. Others make me laugh. The best essays resonate at an emotional level.

Highlighting personal growth.

Detail how you navigated the challenge. What catalyzed your transformation? Instead of merely stating that you overcame an obstacle, delve into the lessons it taught you .

• How have these lessons equipped you for future challenges?
• Would you approach similar situations differently now?

Expanding the Horizon

Challenges aren't always personal. They can encompass broader issues affecting your community, nation, or even globally. Discussing how you and those near to you collectively navigated such challenges, supported one another, and emerged stronger can offer a unique perspective.

Common App Essay Guide Part 1: Ideation

How Do You Answer Common App Essay Prompt 3?

Prompt: reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. what prompted your thinking what was the outcome.

Prompt 3 is an opportunity to highlight a decisive realization that led you to question or challenge established beliefs while showcasing your ability to act with courage and in accordance with a deep conviction.

Challenging Authority and Norms

This essay explores your journey in standing up against established norms or beliefs . It could be a personal belief ingrained since childhood or a societal norm you felt needed challenging.

• Did you confront a deeply-rooted cultural or religious belief?
• Were you influenced by literature, cinema, or personal interactions that made you question your long-held views?

Courting Controversy with Care

While the prompt encourages you to delve into potentially controversial topics, it's essential to approach them with sensitivity and respect . Whether it's politics, culture, or religion, ensure your narrative remains personal, focusing on your journey of introspection and growth.

Navigating Uncertainty

This prompt is as much about the questions as it is about the answers. Reflect on:

• How did you grapple with the uncertainty that came with challenging established beliefs?
• Who were your pillars of support or guidance during this period?
• Are you still on a journey of discovery, or have you found a new perspective?

Attributes of Open-mindedness

Your response will give admissions officers insights into your ability to think critically, remain open-minded, and evolve in your beliefs – qualities highly valued in the academic world.

How Do You Answer Common App Essay Prompt 4?

Prompt: 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.

Prompt 4 allows you to turn positivity in your life circumstances — as opposed to adversity — into an opportunity to showcase your capacity for gratitude and how gratitude shapes your character and actions.

The Element of Surprise:

Begin by reflecting on moments when someone's unexpected act of kindness caught you off guard.

• Was it the sheer selflessness of the act, or was it the combination of the gesture and its unexpected nature that evoked gratitude?
• How did this act redefine your understanding of family, friendship, community, or even the benevolence of strangers?

Delving Deeper into the Impact

While the act itself is significant, the emphasis should be on its ripple effect on your life .

• How did this gesture reshape your worldview, actions, or aspirations?
• Did it inspire you to pay forward the kindness or make changes in your life?

Some of my favorite student essays have a film-like quality. There is a lot more showing and telling. The reader can imagine what the student would be like in person and how they'd interact with others on campus from the life stories that they share. Does the essay pass the "camera test"? Can an admissions officer understand you as a person from your essays?

- - vincent lim, us strategy consultant at crimson education, reflect beyond the surface.

While narrating the act and your immediate feelings is essential, delve deeper into introspection . Reflect on:

• The broader implications of the act on your understanding of human nature.
• How did it influence your interactions with others or your contributions to your community?
• The long-term impact on your values, beliefs, and aspirations.

What I wrote about for my Common App Essay

How Do You Answer Common App Essay Prompt 5?

Prompt: discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others..

Prompt 5 specifically focuses on moments of realization and their profound impact on shaping one's understanding of self and others.

Choosing the Right Story

Begin by reflecting on pivotal moments in your life .

• Was there a significant challenge you overcame or an event that reshaped your perspective?
• Perhaps a seemingly small realization had profound implications for your worldview.
• While you can choose any event, ensure it's a story that hasn't been extensively covered in other parts of your application.

Depth Over Breadth

While the event or accomplishment is the starting point, delve deeper into its implications.

• How did this experience reshape your values, beliefs, or aspirations?
• What lessons did you derive, and how have they influenced your subsequent actions or decisions?
• Remember, it's not about having all the answers but about showcasing your ability to introspect and grow from experiences.

Navigating the Grey Areas

Life is complex, and personal growth often stems from navigating its intricacies.

• Avoid painting a picture of having achieved complete clarity or understanding.
• Emphasize the ongoing nature of personal growth and the continuous journey of understanding.

How Do You Answer Common App Essay Prompt 6?

Prompt: describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging 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.

Prompt 6 focuses on topics or ideas that captivate you to the point that you lose track of time — perhaps as evidence of what kind of topics and lines of inquiry and thought align with your passions, are most natural and compelling for you personally.

Selecting the Right Passion

Begin by reflecting on what genuinely excites you.

• Is it an ideology that resonates with your core beliefs?
• An academic topic that you've delved deep into?
• A fascination with a particular artist, book, or historical event? Ensure that your chosen topic is something you're truly passionate about, allowing your genuine enthusiasm to shine through.

Authenticity Over Pretense

Avoid the trap of selecting a topic merely because it sounds impressive. Admissions officers can discern genuine passion from pretense. The essay should be a reflection of your true interests , not a showcase of academic prowess.

Delving into Personal Experiences

Discuss how your chosen topic has influenced various facets of your life.

• How has it shaped your daily routines, conversations, or even dreams?
• Have you taken specific actions or initiatives to further explore this interest?
• How has this passion influenced your personal growth or future aspirations?

5 Common App Personal Essay Red Flags

How Do You Answer Common App Essay Prompt 7?

Prompt: 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..

Prompt 7 is the most open-ended of all, allowing you to venture into any topic of your choice, making it both an exciting and challenging option.

Embracing the Freedom

This prompt offers unparalleled freedom, but with that comes the responsibility of selecting a topic that is both engaging and meaningful .

• Reflect on experiences or ideas that have profoundly impacted you.
• Consider moments of personal growth, challenges overcome, or unique perspectives you hold.

While the temptation might be to cover a broad topic, focus on specific moments or ideas . Dive deep into introspection, exploring how these moments have shaped your worldview and aspirations.

Engaging Your Personal Voice

Your unique voice is your most potent tool here.

• Ensure your narrative is genuine and resonates with your personal experiences and beliefs.
• Avoid trying to fit into a mold or writing what you think admissions officers want to hear.

The Journey of Growth

Colleges value growth and potential. Reflect on:

• How your chosen topic or experience has influenced your personal growth.
• The lessons you've derived and how they've shaped your aspirations and future endeavors.

The Importance of the Common App Essay

The Common App 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 .

The essay isn't just another box to tick off in the application process ; it's a pivotal opportunity for submitting a more compelling and memorable application.

While grades, test scores, and extracurriculars provide a quantitative view of an applicant, the essay offers a qualitative glimpse into their character, aspirations, and experiences . It's the space where students can transcend numbers and voice their unique stories, challenges, and dreams.

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.

In a sea of applications, the essay is the student's chance to showcase their personality, values, and the experiences that have shaped them . It's a canvas where they can paint a vivid picture of who they are and what they bring to the table.

In essence, the Common App essay is more than just words on a page; it's a reflection of the individual behind the application. Your essay is a vital opportunity to stand out as an applicant — with the power to turn an application from ordinary to extraordinary.

Final Thoughts

The college application process is a unique opportunity to showcase who you are beyond grades and test scores. The Common App essay is a testament to your journey, passions, and the experiences that have molded you.

Everyone has a distinct story; this platform is your chance to narrate yours. Approach it with authenticity, introspection, and a genuine desire to convey your essence.

Not sure if your essay captures your essence? Want to ensure it stands out in a sea of applications? Get your essay reviewed by our team of experts to ensure it resonates with admissions officers.

And if you're at the beginning stages of your college application journey, consider booking a free consultation with our seasoned college counselors.

We're here to guide you in building a holistic application that amplifies your chances of acceptance at top-tier universities. Your dream college is within reach; let us help you get there.

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How to Answer the Common App Essay Questions

• Sasha Chada
• May 23, 2023

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Your essays matter when you apply to college, quite a bit. Your grades and test scores are often fixed by the time it comes time to apply, your recommendation letters out of your hands, for all you can do to ensure you get good ones . Your activities are in the past, the 11th hour not the right moment to pack your schedule. Your essays are your last and best chance to impact your college admissions chances. 

This begins with the Common App essay, generally referred to as the personal statement. This is a single essay which gets sent to every school you apply to on the Common App, and which may be used as well if you apply to additional schools through Apply Texas. This is the single most important essay you will write for your college applications, which causes a lot of stress when it comes time to get to writing. 

In this article, we’ll explore the prompts the Common App provides for this essay, and how to go about answering each. We’ll also look at some overall strategy when it comes to writing your Common App essay, what colleges look for, and finally how to choose the best prompt for you. Let’s get started!

What are the Common App essay prompts?

The Common App releases their prompts every year, though generally speaking they don’t change much, if at all, from year to year. Here are this year’s prompts, along with a brief clarification on what each one is actually asking: 

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.

This is an invitation to explore some facet of your identity, possibly through the lens of an extracurricular. If there is a word or phrase which you use self-definitionally, like “dancer” or “chemist” or “Vietnamese-American” you can use this prompt to explore why it defines you, and how you see the world because of it. This aspect or interest can be almost anything, so long as it is a core part of your identity, and has shaped you in some way.

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?

It is often said that we learn more from failure than success, and this prompt is a chance to explore that. You may not have faced any difficulties in your time in highschool, but if you did, and what you learned from them shaped who you are and how you have come to approach the world, then you should discuss these here. 

While this is a place to discuss challenges, we recommend only discussing obstacles you have overcome, and what you have learned in doing so. If you have other challenges which significantly impacted your education, you can discuss them in the additional information section.

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

This is an invitation to show self growth through an experience you had. We all have assumptions about the world, some of which prove to be unfounded when we are confronted with new experiences. Learning from times like this is a core part of growing up, and you are invited to recount your own experience here, to show how your own conceptions of the world have grown and matured.

While this is a chance to show growth, we do recommend editorial caution here as well. You want to show yourself as a mature person who has the potential to be a great part of a campus community, so we recommend avoiding subjects which may be too heavy for an admissions essay.

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?

This is a chance to write an essay about a mentor or friend. Be warned though, this is still an essay about you; you are the one applying to college, and it is you that admissions officers want to hear about. Even as you write about what someone else has done for you, you should still be the main focus of the essay. The impact of the other person on you is what the bulk of this essay should speak about.

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

This is another invitation to describe a time when you grew and matured as a person; both the instigating event, and how you responded to it. Colleges want to admit mature students capable of self-reflection, and this prompt is an invitation for you to show off a time you matured, and your own powers of introspection. 

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?

This prompt is an invitation to explore one of your passions in depth, and to describe both why you enjoy it, and how you’ve explored it further. This can be an extracurricular or an academic topic, but we recommend whatever the subject, it’s something you’ve explored on your own, outside of the classroom. Universities are looking for passionate students, ones who have displayed a strong love for learning, and this prompt is a chance to show what you care deeply about. 

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.

This is a chance to write anything, on almost any topic. That said, there are some things we suggest not writing about or submitting for this prompt: 

• An essay you wrote previously for school. You want to submit something original for the personal statement, and it should focus on you primarily. 
• A research paper (or similar). The personal statement is how you tell colleges who you are. While completing research is very impressive, there are better ways to show this off in your application. 
• Creative fiction. While this can be impressive and well written, it is not the point of a personal statement. 
• Poetry. If you want to show off your artistic skills to admissions officers, we recommend submitting an additional portfolio.

Now that we’ve covered what all the prompts are asking, we’ll go over how you can go about answering them.

General Essay Strategy for the Common App

We’ll start by giving you advice on approaching the essay as a whole, and then on which of the seven prompts you should answer.

In general, your essay for the Common App should do the following things: 

• Introduce you to admissions officers.
• Tell them what values you hold, and what traits best exemplify you.
• Tell them what you care about, and how you define yourself.
• Tell them what your passions are, and how you’ve pursued them.

You don’t need to do all of these things at once, but anyone who reads your personal statement should end up with some idea of who you are as a person, what values you hold dear, what you care about, and how you approach the world. This doesn’t need to be explicitly stated; indeed, it’s better to show this through the narrative you tell, rather than stating it outright.

We recommend starting out by deciding what information you want admissions officers to know about you; which of your values you want to show off, and which aspects of who you are are so important that they need to know about them. Once you’ve determined this, you can find a narrative which lets you portray all of this information naturally.

For further advice on choosing a topic for your essay, see our article on brainstorming for your personal statement . This is a process in and of itself, as the proper topic will allow you to express yourself well, so care needs to be taken when selecting one. 

Choosing the Right Prompt

We recommend approaching the prompt you choose to answer from the other side. You should decide what you are writing about first, and then say you are answering whichever prompt best suits the essay you have already written.

The point of the prompts for the Common App is different from those you receive in English class, or even those colleges assign for their supplemental essays. These prompts are meant as a starting point for brainstorming for your essay, not as strict rails you need to follow. The seventh prompt being a free response is the ultimate expression of this, and an acknowledgement that these prompts are not meant to constrain your responses. 

We do recommend using the prompts to guide the direction of your thoughts, as they portray what colleges are looking for. You should not stress about choosing the right prompt, or about whether you exactly answer what it asks, so long as your essay does a good job telling admissions officers who you are, and what values you bring to their campus. 

Note that Questbridge and ApplyTexas are slightly more restrictive with their prompts. While the questions they pose are still very open ended, and do parallel the prompts offered by the Common App, they are not quite as free as prompt seven, and you cannot simply choose to write about any topic. If you are planning on applying to schools through Questbridge or ApplyTexas, you should review their personal statement prompts first, and begin there with your writing. Due to the open nature of the Common App, any essay you write for Questbridge or ApplyTexas will fulfill their essay requirements. 

Final Thoughts

Writing college essays is always stressful, but the personal statement is the longest and weightiest of the essays you are expected to compose, and therefore generally induces the most stress. This begins, in our experience, when students first read the prompts, and then feel at a loss for what they can possibly write to answer such open-ended-questions to appeal to colleges.

We hope that this article has broken down what each of these prompts is actually looking for, and how you can go about answering them. By doing so, you have the tools to approach writing your personal statement with confidence, and the knowledge of what admissions officers want to see. Of course, writing an essay is a process, and choosing your topic is only the first step. If you want help finding the perfect topic, or polishing your essay to truly appeal to admissions officers, then schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can help you. We have mastered the art of crafting the perfect college essays, and are always happy to hear from you.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, common app essay prompts - what are my choices.

Okay, so it's time to think about the essays (ugh), and I heard the prompts might change every year? Can someone tell me what the Common App essay prompts are this year? Or at least, how can I find them and when are they usually released?

I can understand that thinking about college essays might feel a bit daunting, but it's a great opportunity to show colleges who you are beyond your grades and scores! The Common App usually releases its essay prompts relatively early in the year to give students ample time to think about and draft their essays. For the most current prompts, the best place to check is directly on the Common App website. However, historically, the prompts tend to stay consistent with only slight changes from year to year. For example, there is often a prompt that invites you to share a story about a challenge you've faced and what you've learned from it, and another that allows you to describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Best of luck with your essays!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Cornell Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Search cornell admissions, cornell first-year writing supplement prompts.

In the online Common Application Writing Supplement, please respond to both the Cornell University essay question and the essay prompt that corresponds to the undergraduate college or school to which you are applying.  

Cornell University Essay Question

In the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War, Ezra Cornell wrote, "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." For over 150 years, Cornell University has remained deeply committed to Ezra’s vision. Explain how your life experiences will help inform your contributions to a learning community devoted to “... any person … any study.” We encourage you to think broadly about your life experiences, including how local (e.g., family, school, neighborhood) or global communities you’ve been part of have helped shape your perspective. (350 word limit)

College- and School-Specific Essay Questions

College of agriculture and life sciences.

Required: Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. How will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University specifically serve to support your learning, growth, and the pursuit of your goals? (650-word limit)  

Instructions: The optional short-answer questions invite you to share additional information about your background, interests, and experiences as they relate to aspects of the Cornell CALS mission. The content of any responses submitted will be included in the holistic review of your application (which is also the case for any optional additional information submitted as part of your Common Application or uploaded through your Cornell Application Portal once you've applied).

Optional: At Cornell CALS, we aim to leave the world better than we found it, so we seek out those who are not simply driven to master their discipline, but who are also passionate about doing so to serve the public good. Please elaborate on an experience where you had a meaningful impact on people, a community, and/or an environment of importance to you. (200-word limit)

Optional: Cornell CALS is dedicated to purpose-driven study of the agricultural, life, environmental, and social sciences and welcomes students with interests that span a wide variety of disciplines. Given our agricultural history and commitment to educating the next generation of agriculturalists, please share if you have a background or interest in agriculture, regardless of your intended major. An "agricultural entity" for the purpose of this question is defined as cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock (e.g., farm, ranch, greenhouse, vineyard, etc.). 

Select all that apply:

• A primary source of income for my parent/guardian(s) comes from ownership of or employment by an agricultural entity.
• My extended family owns or operates an agricultural entity.
• I have experience working in an agricultural entity.
• I have interest in pursuing a career in an agricultural entity.                                           

Please feel free to share additional details (optional). (100-word limit)

College of Architecture, Art, and Planning

How do your interests directly connect with your intended major at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP)? Why architecture (B.Arch), art (BFA), or urban and regional studies (URS)? B. Arch applicants, please provide an example of how a creative project or passion sparks your motivation to pursue a 5-year professional degree program. BFA applicants may want to to consider how they could integrate a range of interests and available resources at Cornell into a coherent art practice. URS students may want to emphasize their enthusiasm and depth of interest in the study of urban and regional issues. (650 word limit)

College of Arts & Sciences

At the College of Arts and Sciences, curiosity will be your guide. Discuss how your passion for learning is shaping your academic journey, and what areas of study or majors excite you and why. Your response should convey how your interests align with the College, and how you would take advantage of the opportunities and curriculum in Arts and Sciences. (650 word limit)

Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy

Why are you drawn to studying public policy? Drawing on your experiences, tell us about why you are interested in your chosen major and how attending the Brooks School will help you achieve your life goals. (650 word limit)

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

What kind of a business student are you? Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should convey how your interests align with the school to which you are applying within the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management or the Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration). (650 word limit)

College of Engineering

Instructions: All applicants are required to write two supplemental essays. Each has a limit of 250 words. Essay 1 is required of all applicants. For Essay 2, you must choose between Question A and Question B.

Essay 1: Required response. (250-word limit)

How do your interests directly connect with Cornell Engineering? If you have an intended major, what draws you to that department at Cornell Engineering? If you are unsure what specific engineering field you would like to study, describe how your general interest in engineering most directly connects with Cornell Engineering. It may be helpful to concentrate on one or two things that you are most excited about.

Essay 2: Choose either Question A and Question B. (250-word limit)

Question A: Describe an engineering problem that impacts your local community. This could be your school, neighborhood, town, region, or a group you identify with. Describe one to three things you might do as an engineer to solve the problem.

Question B: Diversity in all forms is intrinsic to excellence in engineering. Engineering the best solutions to complex problems is often achieved by drawing from the diverse ingenuity of people from different backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities. How do you see yourself contributing to the diversity and/or the inclusion of the Cornell Engineering community? What is the unique voice you would bring to the Cornell Engineering community?

College of Human Ecology

How have your related experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology (CHE)? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? Your response should show us that your interests and aspirations align with CHE and your choice of major. (Refer to our essay application tips before you begin.) (650 word limit)

School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Using your personal, academic, or volunteer/work experiences, describe the topics or issues that you care about and why they are important to you. Your response should show us that your interests align with the ILR School. (650 word limit)

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Common App Essay Tips: 9 Expert Tips for Crushing Your Essay

In this piece, we will give you nine tips that can help you right away. We will go over the definition of the Common App essay, give you a more in-depth explanation of the essay, explain why it is important and give you some Common App essay tips you can use to help you with your application.

What is the Common App Essay?

The Common App essay is an essay that you will complete as part of the Common Application, often called the “Common App.” The Common App is an application that you fill out and which is accepted by more than 1,000 colleges and universities. Admission professionals who read your Common App essay will use it as part of the evaluation process to determine whether you would be a good candidate for admission to that particular college or university.

The Common App decides its essay prompts — the questions you will answer — in the months prior to you becoming a rising senior. 

The Common App has a 650-word limit, though you do not have to work all the way up to that limit. (However, we highly recommend that you either hit the 650-word limit or get really close to it, because if you are too short, you may not be fully showcasing your abilities.)

There is more to writing the Common App essay than simply spooling out the answer to what you (think) an admission committee wants to hear. You should demonstrate your ability to present growth and even have a point of conflict, where we are not sure what will have happened for you will turn out for the best. 

If you are worried about whether you actually have something to talk about, remember, everyone does, and it does not have to be overly dramatic, such as you finding the cure for world hunger. Remember, you just have to show evidence of personal growth, and just about everyone can relate to that.

Overview of the Common App Essay

When you create a login and password for the Common App, it gives you access to several sections, including the part you submit in the “Writing” tab of the Common App, where you will find the seven prompts for the current application season. If you are needing some additional help understanding how to have an excellent Common App, check out these 12 tips .

The current prompts are: 

• 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.
• 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?
• 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 realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• 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?
• 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.

Luckily, you get to choose from all of those prompts to find the right one for you. 

Once you decide on a prompt, you can: 

• Create your essay in a Google doc, Word document or another word processor. (Do not write your essay directly in the text box on the Common App. What happens if you accidentally submit it or lose it accidentally?)
• Make revisions to your essay in your Google or Word document, getting help with editing along the way.
• Submit your essay, remembering that the same essay goes out to all colleges and universities to which you want to apply. If you accidentally reference “UConn” in your Common App essay, it will go out to all the other colleges, not just UConn. You could easily ruin your chances at all colleges if you do something like that.
• Write your supplemental essays, which can be tailored to each college and university that you apply to.
• Finish up all the other parts of the Common App and hit the “submit” button prior to the college deadline. Note that the Common App opens on August 1 every year.

Why the Common App Essay is Important

The Common App essay gives you an opportunity to open up about your qualifications beyond what you submit on your transcripts. After all, you are so much more than an ACT, SAT score, or a grade point average. You are also more than what you do for your extracurricular activities. Expounding on the essay allows you to tell your own story — a story that is different from anyone else’s. Think about it. Nobody has your exact upbringing, school experiences, interactions with people you admire, stressors, goals, and dreams.

Other factors can also come to light when you write the Common App essay, and you might even surprise yourself! You may come up with ideas when you write that you did not even know were lurking inside your head! After all, you do not have to be a part of the Association of Writing and Writing Programs to craft an amazing essay.

9 Common App Essay Tips to Stand Out

Let’s go over some tips for writing the Common App essay. You can also use these tips as a step-by-step guide. 

Tip 1: Brainstorm your core values.

What are your core values? Before you do anything, including the essay prompt that you would most like to write on, choose the core values that mean the most to you. 

Core values outline your beliefs and tell you the differences between right and wrong. Honesty might be a core value that you try to embrace every single chance you get. Spend some time thinking about the core values that mean a lot to you. For example, you might list the following core values: 

• Spirituality
• Selflessness

Tip 2: Determine how you will distinguish yourself.

What is unique about you besides your core values? Are you really good at bike racing or art? Are you excellent at creating businesses as an entrepreneur might? Do you enjoy writing novels in your spare time? Maybe you do not feel as if you want to focus on your accomplishments. In that case, you may want to swing toward this prompt: 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?

That is the beauty of the Common App essay — you can choose to go many different directions with it.

Tip 3: Pick the best essay prompt for you.

Which essay prompt speaks to you the most? If you scan the list of topics, you want to find one that you can identify with. For example, if you were in a car accident your freshman year and missed six months of school, you may want to write about this challenge by answering the question regarding when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. 

You may want to take the option of writing about the topic of your choice if you want to share about how you restored your Model T Ford. Luckily, you have the opportunity to write about anything if you do not like the other topics. Be creative and consider thinking about the topic in another way. It might work to your advantage!

Tip 4: Outline your essay.

Once you choose a topic, outline your essay. It is a great idea to break it up so you write with purpose instead of wavering all over the place. For example, your outline might look like this: 

• Catchy introduction with a hook
• Evidence for first point
• Evidence for second point
• Importance of the topic
• Strong closing

Jot down ideas. As you plug in the exact information, carefully consider how your essay will show how you have demonstrated change or personal growth over time. Make sure you reflect on exactly how everything you have learned will translate into college and your future.

Tip 5: Do not repeat information.

One of the most overlooked Common App essay tip, remember not to repeat information that already exists in your application. Remember that will include other information in your application, including the classes you have taken in high school.

Only introducing new information in your essay is an essential Common App essay tip— do not repeat what already exists in other parts of your application. Your essay should provide new, compelling information for admissions officials to learn about you.  

Tip 6: Freely prewrite your essay.

Now, free writing is an important part of writing your essay, but keep in mind that it should also have some organization to it. It is one of our favorite Common App essay tips! As your English teachers have always told you, you should include an introduction, your thesis (or main) paragraph, body paragraphs (ideally, two) and a conclusion.

That gives you an internal gauge with how to handle your essay. If you do not have this in mind, you might find it difficult to write in the first place.

Introduction

It had been a really tough week in the dance studio. I couldn’t nail the grand jeté I had been working on the last several months. However, I knew where I should go on Sunday, where I go every Sunday: to my grandpa’s house. We spent hours casting tiny flies at the end of a rod, swish and flick, similar to a dancer’s graceful leaps. (Kind of like a grand jeté, come to think about it.)

(Why not tell a story? It makes admission committees sink right into your tale.)

Thesis, or main paragraph

What is your essay trying to say? What is the essence of it? What does it boil down to? (You get the idea.)

I learned compassion and humility at the river behind my grandpa’s house — he taught me the lessons that weave into the fabric of my being.

Body paragraph 1

Next, you would write your first body paragraph, relating to compassion, which you mentioned as one of your values. You could launch into how you learned compassion for the fish, but also reach back into other parts of your life, such as when you saw a particular student getting picked on in school, for example, and helped him build his self-esteem or get help. Don’t be afraid to use dialogue, like you are writing a story, to make it come alive for your readers.

Body paragraph 2

Next, you would write about your second core value — humility — and how you learned that from fishing with your grandpa and other circumstances in your life that give you opportunities to embody that core value. 

Now, you tie it all together. You can also explain how you will continue to embody both core values in your own life, from now into the future, including in college. Also stitch together how accomplishing the grand jeté will also foreshadow how you can live by your core values and how they will serve as a guide throughout your life.

Tip 7: Tighten it up.

Self-editing can go a long way to help you get ready for the next step in the process. If you spend a little time cleaning up your essay, making sure that it flows well and more. If you believe it hits all the right points, you will have done a lot in advance to fix up your essay. 

Read it out loud! Reading it out loud can help you decide when to cut too-long sentences, get rid of the adverbs, add in the right punctuation, simplify your words, and remove any redundancies.

What would your English teacher say? Go back to English 101 and fix anything you know could look better.

Tip 8: Get help with editing.

Even if you think you are a good writer, you still need editing help. Do not overlook this Common App essay tip. However, it is important to remember that you do not want to open your essay up to everyone you know. You may start getting confused if you receive too much feedback from various sources. Therefore, consider trusting just one or two people with your essay instead of ten. 

Along with Common App essay advice, Campus to Career Crossroads has editing resources to help you get your essays in tip-top shape. We help with essay strategy, content development, revising, proofreading, and helping you make your essay the best it can be.  

Tip 9: Set it aside.

Naturally, you do not want to hammer your Common App essay out two days before the deadline. So set it aside after you have written it. Kind of like giving something space after you have worked hard on it, try to wait a few days or a week before you put the final touches on the essay. One of our best Common App essay tips is that writing gets better with each revision.

Make sure you have plenty of time prior to the deadline. (Your application deadline depends on whether you are applying Early Decision or Early Action , usually November 1) or Regular Decision (usually January 1). All colleges have different deadlines, so check on the deadline for that particular college.

Crush Your Essay

Whether you are looking forward to writing your essay or trying to figure out how to make it easier to complete, it is a good idea to get a handle on a schedule to make it happen. You do not want to be kicking out your essay three days before the admissions deadline. Admissions officials can quickly read a rushed essay.

Remember, learning how to write a good Common App essay does not happen overnight. We will help you map out a concrete timeline. At Campus to Career Crossroads, we will put you on a firm schedule so that you can space out all of your responsibilities throughout your senior year.

Take a look at several frequently asked questions regarding Common App essay tips.

How do I make my Common App essay stand out?

One of the best Common App essay tips you can do to make your Common App essay stand out is to make it compelling. Think about what you like to read and make your essay as interesting to read as what you enjoy reading yourself. Also, choose the most interesting things about yourself to write about to engage your reader. 

What should I show in my Common App essay?

Steer clear of repeating what the admission committee already knows about you. For example, if you have taken four years of French, they will already know that about you by reading about the classes you have taken. On the other hand, if you spent your first nine years living in France, the admission committee may not see that from your application.

What are colleges looking for in my Common App essay?

What makes a good Common App essay? Ultimately, college admission committees are looking for people to round out their classes also known as institutional priorities . They will use your essay as one way (but not the only way) to identify whether you will fit the class or not. They will take a look at everything you bring to the table — your grades, transcript, supplemental essays, and more. However, it is important to make sure your essay is as good as you can possibly make it.

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