How to Write a Common App Essay in One Day

Are you a high school senior looking to apply to college using the Common App? If so, you may have heard of the Common App essay which is an essay of 250-650 words that each applicant via the Common App needs to complete. If the application deadline is approaching and you still haven't started writing your Common App essay, this guide is here to give you some tips on how to brainstorm and start writing your Common App essay when you are pressed for time. 

How to Write a Common App Essay in One Day

In an ideal situation, you should not be writing your Common App essay in one day. Starting early gives you enough time to brainstorm, draft, and edit your essay before the final submission deadline. However, if you find yourself experiencing writer's block or are swamped with academic deadlines, it may have been difficult to find the time to get started on the Common App essay. See the tips below on how you can condense the essay-writing process into one day!

Brainstorming

• Read the prompts: Read through all the Common App essay prompts before you begin. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and write down a few bullet points that come to mind as you read each prompt.

   

• Process of elimination: Cross out prompts that take more time for you to generate ideas. For example, if you found it difficult to write some bullet points about a particular prompt within 10-15 minutes of your timer, it would be best to choose another prompt so that you don't lose time thinking of ideas for a prompt that doesn't resonate with you.

   

• Choose the most relevant prompt: Pick 2-3 prompts that you feel you can answer best. Are there any specific prompts where you had more than a few bullet points to write about? Is there any topic that felt more natural to discuss? Narrow the prompts down until you find the prompt you are the most satisfied with. For more tips on brainstorming after you have chosen a prompt, check out this post here. 

Writing and Editing the Essay

• Organize your thoughts: Once you have narrowed down the prompt, come up with a list of anecdotes and examples you can talk about. Have an idea of what each body paragraph will discuss. Write down a few transitional phrases that you can use when starting new paragraphs.

   

• Have a strong introduction: Start your essay off strong with a good hook. Examples of how to do so can be found here. Ensure that your introduction gives the reader an overview of what is to come in the essay and sets the scene for your narrative. For more tips on writing an introduction, check out these posts regarding the format, strategies, and examples of good introductions.

   

• Have engaging body paragraphs: Ideally, each body paragraph should focus on an idea related to the main prompt, with all the body paragraphs having a good flow between each other. Additionally, ensure that there is a smooth transition between your introduction, body, and conclusion. For a guide on how to structure the Common App essay, see this post here. 

   

• Craft a memorable conclusion: You want to ensure that your conclusion leaves a lasting impact on the reader and helps reinforce the main message of your essay. For more tips on writing a conclusion, check out these posts regarding the format, starters, and examples of good conclusions.

   

• Avoid clichés: When you are in a rush, it might be tempting to look up commonly discussed topics or phrases to use in your Common App essay. However, it is advisable not to do so as it will not help your essay stand out amongst the crowd. Instead, you should try to come up with your own creative phrases to help your essay be more unique. Examples of clichés to avoid can be found in this post here.

   

• Proofreading: Use a spellchecker or other software to check for grammatical and spelling errors. Usually, it would be best to print a copy of your essay and edit using pen and paper but if you do not have enough time for that then using a digital proofreader could help speed up the process. See this post for tips on how to edit your essay.

   

• Getting feedback: If you are writing the Common App essay in one day, there may not be enough time for you to ask your teachers or counsellors for feedback. Instead, you can try asking your parent/guardian to read over your essay and let you know if anything doesn't sound right. Try to avoid asking friends or classmates for advice on how your essay sounds as they may not have the same experience an adult has when it comes to proofreading and pointing out hard-to-catch errors. 

   

• Final checks: Finally, ensure that your essay is properly formatted before submission. Our recommended formatting guidelines can be found here. We have also created a recommended rubric and criteria that you can refer to when you are writing your Common App essay so that you don't waste time trying to figure out what admissions officers may be looking for when they read your essay.