College Essay Prompts

2014-2015 Common App College Essay Prompts

Pick AND REVISE your best of the free writes and rough college essays we've done. Turn in in by Tuesday at the latest for my feedback.

NO MORE THAN 650 words...

• 1) Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.   
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• 2) Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure.  How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
• (Remember, do not pick a trivial failure or a failure that YOU caused through a serious flaw in judgement or character, and be prepared to take responsibility and reflect honestly and specifically on your weaknesses)
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• 3) Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea.  What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
• (Pick something you have expert knowledge about, avoid sounding preachy or angry, do not straying too far from yourself and the effect of this idea/ experience on you)
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• 4)Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content.  What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
• (Go broad and creative on this one: mental/emotional place? with a specific other person? In the middle of music or a painting? Do not skimp on the showing details---illustrate why this place is meaningful; do not come out and say it)
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• 5) Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
• (Remember that something small but specific to you might make for a more effective essay than reflecting on a collective societal experience ie. the meaning of 9/11, etc)

General College Essay Tips

-find the line between bragging and beating yourself up, or worse, leaving yourself out!

-find the tone somewhere between formal (in an essay, talking to the principal) and informal (talking to a good friend, writing in a diary): picture your reader as a adult with whom you feel comfortable with but you care about their good opinion.

-sound like yourself--get people who know you to read it and tell you if you're being phony. 

-Think about your "brand"-- what type of person are you? What does make you special? Why should they let you into college? Now, how can you convey that in writing?

-Be genuine. Do not make something up or twist something into the type of essay you think they want. 

-Show don't tell- pay attention to details, imagery, funny lines, 

-Pay attention to elements of style like varied sentence structure

-Be willing to write multiple drafts

-Think about what other people will write (my week building houses, my 50 hours of community service, my life on the soccer team) and either avoid these subjects or think about a new angle that your reader might not have heard before.

Good luck!