Common App Essay Ideas

The Common App essay is a pivotal element of the college application, offering students a chance to express their individuality beyond grades and test scores. This personal statement allows applicants to share their unique experiences, values, and aspirations. Crafting a compelling and authentic essay can significantly enhance one's application, providing a deeper insight into the student's character and potential contributions to the college community. This post is here to give you some ideas on how to approach writing the Common App essay to help you get started with the process!

Common App Essay Ideas

Before getting started on the Common App essay, you must first choose a prompt. The full list of prompts can be found here. Once you have chosen a prompt that you would like to base your essay on, see the relevant section below for some examples of how to answer that prompt!

Prompt 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. 

1. Cultural identity: In this essay, you can discuss an aspect of your cultural identity that is important to you and has shaped your growth as a person. In this example, the student has discussed how being Sikh has shaped their life. 

    

2. Personal identity: In this essay, you can describe something about you as a person that has shaped your life experiences. In this example, the student has discussed how their name has affected their life. 

    

3. Hobbies and talents: In this topic, you can talk about a hobby or talent that is meaningful to you. For example, this student has described how playing the piano has brought them fulfilment. 

    

4. Standing out in a crowd: In this topic, you can explain how something about you made you stand out in a crowd and how you tackled the situation. In this example, the student has outlined how they embraced having a different accent. 

    

5. Childhood background: In this topic, you can discuss how the areas you lived and cultures you interacted with have shaped you as a person. In this example, the student has discussed the lessons they learned from moving around a lot and how it shaped their identity. 

Prompt 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? 

1. Sports: The student in this example has discussed the challenges they faced in golf and how they resolved them. You can discuss if you had similar challenges in other sports such as basketball, football, tennis, etc. 

    

2. Dance: In this example, the student has outlined the challenges they faced in ballet and how they resolved them. You can discuss if you had similar challenges in other types of dance such as participating in clubs, taking part in competitions, etc. 

    

3. Entrepreneurship: In this example, the student has explained their challenges as an immigrant and how they improved their skills to elevate their mother's business, which shows resilience and drive. You can describe if you have any experience setting up or helping with business operations, along with any challenges you faced and how you overcame them. 

    

4. Tackling failure: In this example, the student has explained how they overcame failure in daily life. The use of anecdotes in terms of the Scrabble game further solidifies the essay. You can explain an anecdote from your life in which you overcame failure. 

    

5. Academic challenges: In this essay, the student has discussed the problems they faced in mathematics and the steps they took to improve their understanding of the course. You can describe any academic challenges you may have had and how you improved your grades, for example through tutoring, reading extra material online, etc. 

Prompt 3

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

1. The Power of Art: In this example, the student has described how art and music have helped them challenge others' beliefs and express their individuality. You can discuss a time when a work of art or music has influenced your thoughts and challenged your beliefs. 

    

2. Positive social change: In this example, the student has outlined how they challenged the dress code imposed by their school. You can outline a time when you were in a similar situation and used your voice to foster positive social change in your community.

    

3. Physical appearance: In this example, the student has discussed how they overcame misconceptions by others due to their height and learned to embrace themselves for who they are. You can describe a time when you challenged other people's perceptions of you based on your physical appearance. 

    

4. Challenging family beliefs: In this topic, the student explained how they challenged the South Indian beliefs of their family by engaging in extracurricular activities that are not typically encouraged. You can describe a time when you had to challenge family values as well as how it turned out for you. 

    

5. Seizing the unexpected: In this example, the student talks about how they challenged a family member's view that life should always be planned out, and instead decided to seize the unexpected and look forward to new opportunities. You can describe a time when you took a leap of faith and pursued something risky, even though other people may have been telling you not to.

Prompt 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?

1. Kindness from a teacher: In this topic, the student has discussed how their driving teacher showed them kindness which helped them overcome their fears. You can write about a time when a teacher or mentor was kind or patient with you and how it helped you. 

    

2. Kindness from peers: In this topic, the student has discussed how a group of peers made them feel included in an area where they didn't know anyone. You can discuss a time when a peer or unknown person made you feel welcome in a social setting and how this shaped you. 

    

3. Saved from danger: In this example, the student describes how their dog Sam saved them from danger. You could talk about a time when a pet, friend or stranger saved you from harm and why you are grateful to them. 

    

4. Small gestures from strangers: In this example, the student has outlined how small gestures from strangers have made their train journey more pleasant. You can talk about a time when small acts of kindness from strangers have helped you feel more safe or comfortable. 

    

5. Support from family: In this topic, the student has discussed how their parents' support has enabled them to pursue their dreams. You can talk about a time when your family supported you and why you are grateful for their support. 

Prompt 5

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

1. Identity: In this topic, you can explain whether a specific event in your life has affected your identity. In this example, the student has outlined how watching a cow give birth helped them embrace their femininity, even though they didn't follow typical societal norms.

    

2. Personal growth: In this topic, you can explain a time when you grew as a person as well as what sparked this growth. In the linked example, the student showed how they overcame their social anxiety thus leading to personal growth. 

    

3. Overcoming fear: In this topic, you can describe a time when you had to overcome fear and how you felt by doing it. In this example, the student has described how they overcame their fear of public speaking and instead developed a passion for it. 

    

4. Passion for an activity: In this topic, you can describe a time when you were passionate about an activity that helped you grow as a person. The student in the example talked about how they were passionate about literature even when they were not understood by their peers, and discussed how this passion led them to teaching literature. 

    

5. Making a difference in the world: In this topic, you can discuss a time when you tried to make a difference in the world. In this example, the student discussed how their experience as a Boy Scout and in surfing guided them towards making a difference through positive environmental change. 

Prompt 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?

1. Pursuing passions: In this example, the student talks about how they gained interest in music and their journey of making music with their teacher and their best friend. You could talk about a time when someone inspired you to pursue your talents and how they helped guide you through the process. 

    

2. Academic interests: In this example, the student discusses their interest in global politics and why it captivates them. You could discuss a time when you pursued an academic interest as well as teachers or mentors who supported you along the way. 

    

3. Connecting hobbies and social justice: In this example, the student described how their passion for reading helped them realize social prejudices in literature and how that reflects in the real world. You could talk about a time when one of your passions helped you realize the need for a change in social justice. For example, a passion for watersports could help someone realize the need for social justice in environmental protection issues. 

    

4. Extracurricular activities: In this topic, the student describes how they engaged in the extracurricular activity of debate as well as how they participated in symposiums which further developed their interest. You could discuss a time that you were engaged in an extracurricular activity and why it captivated you. You could also describe if you held any leadership positions within that role. 

    

5. Personal interests: In this topic,  the student talks about their interest in technology and how this led them to pursue other IT-related work. You can talk about a time when your personal interests helped you determine the career path you wanted to take. 

Prompt 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.

This is a very broad and open-ended prompt that can be answered in many ways. Some examples of how students have chosen to answer this prompt are shown below, but keep in mind that you can answer this prompt in many more ways, as well as even designing your own prompt to answer!  

1. Facing your fears: In this example, the student discusses how they overcame their fear of pigeons and how this helped them in their business ventures. You can talk about a time when you had to face your fears and how this helped you grow as a person.

    

2. Converging ideas: This student talks about the confluence of ideas and how this led them to better understand the world. You can talk about an event that gave you a deeper understanding of the world or the environment around you. 

    

3. Personal growth: In this example, the student discusses how they overcame challenges with learning a new language and used their new skills to help others. You can talk about a time when you underwent significant personal growth and how you helped others with your new skills or knowledge.

    

4. Problem-solving: In this example, the student discusses their passion for science and the problems they faced in conducting their IB internal assessment. You could talk about a time when you faced a challenge in pursing your passion and how you solved problems that came your way.

    

5. Innovative approaches to situations: In this example, the student outlined how they overcame challenges by planning and being adaptive. You can discuss a time where you had to take an innovative approach to a situation in order to solve a problem or grow as a person. 

We hope that this guide has provided you with some ideas on what to write your Common App essay on. For more example essays, check out the Clastify website here. Good luck with your applications!