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If you are planning to apply to college in the upcoming months, you are probably aware that you will need to complete some college essays as part of the admissions process. However, you may be wondering when these essay prompts are released each year. If this sounds like you, this post is here to outline when college essay prompts are released so that you can plan your essay writing accordingly.
When Are College Essay Prompts Released?
College essay prompts are usually released by August 1st of each year. For example, the Common App essay prompts become available on August 1st which is the yearly date when a new application cycle begins. Similarly, many other colleges also release their essay prompts around August 1st, which can include supplemental essay prompts as well (prompts that may need to be answered in addition to the Common App essay prompts).
Releasing essay prompts on this date ensures that students have at least 3-4 months to work on their essays, being mindful that some application deadlines can be as early as November 30th for students applying under Early Action or Early Decision. Students applying under Regular Decision will have a few more months to work on their essays, as application submission deadlines are usually February 1st.
What To Do Once The Essay Topics Are Out
Choose a prompt: Read over all the given prompts and identify a few that stick out to you. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and write down as many bullet points/ideas as you can for each prompt. Once you have done this you will have an idea about which prompts you can write about more naturally, which will help you choose which prompt to base your essay on. For some tips on brainstorming, see this post here.
Start early: Even though it may seem like there is a lot of time to write your college essays, you will eventually get busy once the academic year starts and you have to focus on academics as well as on your college applications. Make sure you start brainstorming ideas and drafting your essay early to allow yourself time to write, get feedback on, and edit your essay before the final submission is due.
Avoid clichés: Ensure that your essay tells a story that is unique to you. Do not try to use clichéd statements or phrases to make your essay sound fancier. Examples of what to avoid can be found in this post here.
Have a clear structure: Ensure your essay has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Check out this post here that provides useful tips and further links to several posts outlining the formatting of a college essay.
Edit carefully: Once you have finished writing your essay make sure that you carefully edit it to eliminate errors that could make your work look unprofessional. See this post here for some editing tips.
We hope this guide has helped you identify when college essay prompts are released. Good luck with your college applications!
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