How to Start the Common App Essay

The Common App essay is a critical component of the college application process, providing students with the opportunity to showcase their unique experiences, perspectives, and aspirations. This personal statement allows applicants to go beyond grades and test scores, offering a narrative that highlights their individuality and potential contributions to a college community. If you are one of those students who need to write the Common App essay, this post is here to help give you some tips on what to be mindful of throughout your essay-writing process. 

Things To Keep In Mind

Choosing a prompt

• Have a look at the full list of essay prompts released by Common App. The prompts can be found here.

   

• Select a prompt that resonates deeply with your personal experiences or values, and allows you to showcase your true self and tell your unique story. An example of how the student highlighted their individual story can be found here.

   

• Pick a prompt where you can highlight your strengths, accomplishments, and growth. A good example of a student highlighting their achievements can be seen here.

   

• Ensure the prompt allows for thoughtful reflection and meaningful insights.

   

• Select a prompt that relates to your goals, aspirations, or the qualities you want to convey to admissions officers.

   

• If applicable, choose a prompt that lets you discuss challenges you've faced and how you've overcome them. An example of how the student discusses their challenges can be found here.

   

• Choose a prompt where the essay you write will complement the rest of your application and provide a well-rounded view of who you are.

Drafting and writing the essay 

• Jot down key experiences, memories, and themes related to the chosen prompt. 

   

• Start with a list of bullet points of the main ideas you want to include in the essay. Develop them into sentences once you have written down all the main points you want to address in your essay. 

   

• Organize your thoughts with a clear structure, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. An example of an essay with a clear structure can be seen here.

   

• Begin with an engaging opening or hook phrase that grabs the reader's attention. An example can be found here. The student has also repeated the hook phrase of "A cow gave birth and I watched" in the conclusion, which helps strengthen the essay and reinforce the main message the student wants to convey.

   

• Use vivid details and specific examples to bring your story to life. Demonstrate your qualities and experiences through anecdotes and actions rather than just stating them. A good use of anecdotes can be found here.

   

• Include personal reflections and insights to show your growth and learning.

   

• Ensure your essay stays within the word limit of 250-650 words while being concise and impactful. Aim to write about 500-550 words in your first draft to give yourself room for any additional sentences that may need to be added during the editing process. 

   

• Ensure each paragraph flows into the next one and the conclusion reinforces the main message you are trying to convey in the essay. A good example can be found here as the student's conclusion reinforces how playing the piano helped them find fulfilment. 

   

• Create as many drafts as necessary before submitting the final draft for feedback. Revise multiple times to refine your ideas, and edit for grammar, punctuation, and clarity. Use a spellchecker software to help you proofread.