Hey! I'm starting to think about my college essays and I'm a bit stuck on which Common App prompt to pick. They all seem to blur together, and I want to choose one that will really let me stand out. What are some tips for deciding on the best prompt for me?
Absolutely, it's a common struggle to decide which prompt to use for your Common App essay. The best advice is to focus less on the prompts and more on what you want to communicate about yourself. The prompts serve as a guide, but it's your story that matters.
Think about significant experiences, values, or achievements that you'd like to share with admissions officers. Consider what you want colleges to know about you -- apart from your grades and test scores. What strengths, personal growth, passions, or meaningful experiences would you love to highlight? Once you know that, you can pick the prompt that best fits your narrative.
For example, if you've had a unique experience that changed your perspective or challenged your beliefs, you might choose Prompt #3: "Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?"
On the other hand, if there's a major part of your life that has been largely influenced by your cultural background, you could choose 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."
One key piece of advice is not to choose topics that are too common, like sports victories, unless you have a unique angle. For example, rather than writing about winning a championship, write about how being on the bench during the majority of the season gave you a unique perspective on teamwork.
Finally, try writing a draft response to multiple prompts. See which response feels most engaging and represents you best. Often, through the process of writing, you'll discover which story feels the most authentic to tell. Happy writing!
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