Common App Essay Brainstorming Tips

Do you need to get started on writing your Common App essay but don't know where to begin? Writing the Common App essay can be a challenging task right from choosing the prompt to writing your thoughts down. If you are a student who is in this situation and needs some guidance on how to kickstart the writing process, this post is here to provide you with some brainstorming tips for the Common App essay to help you in your essay-writing process. 

Common App Essay Brainstorming Tips

Choosing a Prompt

• Read the prompts: Read through all the Common App essay prompts before you begin. As you read the prompts, write down 4-5 bullet points that immediately come to mind as you read each prompt.

   

• Process of elimination: Cross out prompts that you are sure you will not be writing about. For example, if you found it difficult to write 4-5 bullet points about a particular prompt, it probably means you don't enjoy writing that prompt and it would be best to choose another prompt. 

   

• Choose the most relevant prompt: Highlight 2-3 prompts that you feel you can answer best. For example, is there a particular prompt where you had more than 4-5 bullet points to write about? Is there any prompt that you believe your life experiences will allow you to answer more authentically than the other prompts? From here, you can narrow your focus to the main prompt you want to answer. 

The Brainstorming Process

• Reflecting on experiences: Reflect on any experiences you have that are relevant to answering the prompt. Think about events that have shaped you as a person and challenged your thoughts or beliefs. 

   

• Describe your interests: Write down a list of the activities, hobbies, clubs, and volunteering experiences that you are passionate about. Writing about something you care about deeply will give a more authentic feel to your essay. 

   

• Core values: Identify some of your core values - what are some of the beliefs or morals that guide your actions? Talking about your core values could give the admissions officer a deeper insight into your character. 

   

• Personal growth: Write about times when you had to grow as a person. Did you face a setback that allowed you to learn a new lesson or think from various perspectives? Writing about personal growth shows your willingness to accept change and improve yourself, which are desirable qualities for college admissions. 

   

• Future goals: Think about what some of your future goals are. Are there any experiences from your past that will allow you to achieve your future goals? This shows admissions officers your drive to use past skills for future innovation. 

   

• Mind maps: Once you have your ideas jotted down, you should create a mind map. Write down key words or phrases and find links between the ideas you have written down so far. This can help you visualize connections between your ideas and ensure you write a cohesive essay. 

   

• Free writing: Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and use your mindmap to write whatever comes to mind. This could be anything from a few sentences to writing the introduction or body paragraphs of your essay. Once the time is up, read what you have written and spend more time developing each sentence or paragraph.

   

• Space it out: Give yourself time to brainstorm writing your essays. Don't try to write the whole essay in one sitting as this can be tiring. Brainstorm and edit your thoughts for a few days before you start writing the official first draft. This allows you to take rest and reflect on what you have written before you make any additional changes. 

We hope this guide helps you with your Common App planning and submissions. For tips on how to write the Common App essay, check out these posts here and here. To see how to structure a Common App essay after you are done brainstorming, read this post here. Good luck with your college applications!