Hey everyone, I'm a junior, and I'm starting to think about my college application essays. What are some popular topics that students usually write about in their Common App essays? I want to brainstorm some ideas before the new prompts are released. Thanks in advance!
Hi there! It's great that you're getting a head start on your college application essays. The Common Application generally has some prompts that encourage students to write about a wide range of topics. Here are some popular themes that students often choose when writing their essays:
1. Personal growth or transformation: Many students write about overcoming a challenge or experiencing a defining moment that has made them grow as individuals. This could be anything from a personal struggle, academic challenge, or difficult experience.
2. Identity: Some essays revolve around an aspect of an applicant's identity, such as cultural background, race, religion, or sexuality. This can involve explaining how your identity has shaped your experiences, values, or understanding of the world.
3. A meaningful extracurricular activity or passion: Students can choose to write about an extracurricular activity or passion that they have devoted a significant amount of time and effort to. This could include discussing an athletic or artistic pursuit, a club they founded, or a volunteer experience.
4. A strong personal value, belief, or philosophy: This may involve explaining your commitment to a cause, sharing your perspective on an important issue, or expressing your personal philosophy on life.
5. An impactful experience that demonstrates the importance of education: Students might discuss an experience that helped them understand the significance of education, such as a powerful class, teacher, or project that changed their perspective on learning.
For in-depth advice on tackling your Common App essay, check out this CollegeVine article: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-common-application-essays
However, it's important to remember that writing a unique and engaging essay requires more than just choosing a popular theme. Rather than selecting a topic based solely on its popularity, focus on selecting a subject that is meaningful, interesting, and personal to you. Your goal should be to showcase your genuine voice, experiences, and personality so that your essay stands out among the many applications. Good luck!
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