Common App Essay Prompt 1 Guide

Are you applying to college through the Common App portal and need to complete the Common App essay? If so, you may have looked over the 2024-25 essay prompts, which can be found here. Whether you have already decided that you want to write about Prompt 1 or if you are just researching to see which prompt fits your experiences best, this post is here to give you an in-depth guide about how to answer Prompt 1 so that you can craft a compelling essay! 

Common App Essay Prompt 1 Guide

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. (250-650 words)

To effectively answer this prompt, you should keep the following points in mind. 

• Grab attention: Start your essay off with a story, memory, or statement that grabs attention. More information on how to craft a good hook can be found here. You could describe a moment that made you realize how important this background, identity, interest, or talent is to who you are. 

   

• Describe in detail: You should describe your chosen identity, talent or background in detail, whether it’s your cultural background, a personal identity, or a special talent. This will give the reader context for the rest of your essay. 

   

• Explain the meaning: Talk about why this aspect of your life is meaningful to you. Explain why this identity, talent, or background is meaningful to you. This will help the reader understand why you chose to talk about this specific aspect of yourself out of all the potential things you could choose to write your essay on. 

   

• Effect on your identity: Talk about how this aspect of your life has shaped your sense of self. How does it affect your day-to-day life and relationships with the world around you? Describe how this background, identity or talent defines you as a person.

   

• Provide examples: Share concrete examples that show the importance of this background, identity or talent in your life. A good example can be found here, where the student has used an example of how they advocated for their identity by supporting a cause for their cousin.

   

• Explain challenges faced: If this background, identity or talent has made you come across stereotypes or face any challenges, describe how you overcame these obstacles. This shows resilience and personal growth. A good example of overcoming challenges can be found here. 

   

• Personal growth: Describe any personal growth as a result of this background, identity or talent. How has it shaped your values and belief systems? For example, did it help you develop qualities such as resilience, kindness, the ability to stand up for yourself, etc? 

   

• Connect to the future: Describe how your background, identity or talent has helped you develop skills and qualities that will be useful to you in future. How can you use these skills and qualities to contribute to the college campus? A good example of a student using their background, identity or talent to connect to their future university goals can be seen in this essay here. 

   

• Highlight your uniqueness: Describe how this background, identity or talent makes you unique. This will set you apart from other applicants and ensure you have an engaging essay. 

   

• Giving back to the community: If applicable, show how you have used your background, identity or talent to help out others in your community. A good example of this can be found here.