Common App Essay Prompts: Craft a Compelling Application Essay

The Common Application (Common App) is one of the most widely used college application platforms in the United States, allowing you to apply to multiple colleges and universities through one centralized application. One component of this is the Common App essay, which helps you showcase the unique experiences and qualities that make you a great candidate for your programs of interest. 

Stand out with your essay by exploring the Common App essay, how it fits into your application, current Common App essay prompts, and steps to take to write a compelling piece.  

What is the Common App?

The Common App is a non-profit online platform used by over 1,100 colleges and universities to streamline the admissions process for students. By using the Common App, you can fill out one application, including your demographic information, academic history, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, recommendations, Common App essay, and any school-specific information. 

Once you create your account, you’ll have the opportunity to add up to 20 schools of interest, which will then appear on your dashboard. Each school may have a few individual questions to supplement the Common App, but the majority of the application is streamlined for all schools.

Does the Common App change every year?

Some components of the Common App change each year on August 1st. If you have an existing account, the colleges you selected, previous applications, and any Common App tab responses (such as demographic information) will remain. However, the application deletes responses to college questions and writing supplements as some prompts change yearly. 

However, while the application changes yearly, many components stay similar or the same. You can find common themes that recur, such as asking about experiences that led to personal growth or challenges you’ve overcome. You can look at past prompts to get an idea of topics you may choose to write about, and some of the prompts may even repeat for a few years.

When are Common App applications due?

Individual school deadlines vary, but most Regular Decision Common App applications are due mid-January to early February. Early Decision applications are due mid-November and Early Action applications are due early December. For example, in 2025, Early Decision apps were due November 15, Early Action apps were due December 1, and Regular Decision applications were due January 15. 

What is the Common App essay?

The Common App essay, also called the personal essay, is a component of the Common App that involves a 250- to 650-word essay responding to one of several prompts. The prompts are broad, giving you a chance to elaborate on meaningful experiences or characteristics that help you stand out. 

What is the purpose of the Common App essay?

The purpose of the Common App essay is to highlight your values, experiences, and character in a way that goes beyond your extracurricular activities and academic pursuits. This is your chance to show admissions counselors why you would be a great addition to their campus community. 

This essay is the only time admissions officers hear from you directly, and it can be a powerful way to form a more complete picture of who you are. If you’ve faced challenges that impacted your performance, have unique interests specific to that university’s offerings, or want to share an aspect of who you are that isn’t apparent in the rest of your application, this is your opportunity.

How many Common App essay prompts are there?

The Common App currently includes seven essay prompts, but you only answer one of them. These prompts are designed to be flexible and provide a space for you to write about topics that are meaningful to you.

Certain colleges or universities may have additional essay questions tailored to their school. In many cases, supplemental questions are shorter, and the Common App essay is the “main” writing piece you provide.

Overview of Common App essay prompts 2024–2025

As of the 2024-2025 cycle, applicants choose from one of the following prompts [1]. Each prompt is different, allowing you to find the one that resonates with the story you would like to tell:

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.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Reflect on something someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What is the Common App Ready?

The Common App Ready is a toolkit to help you successfully complete your application. It includes directions for domestic and international students, more detailed instructions, an application dictionary, and advice on choosing schools.

Choosing the right Common App essay prompt for you

When choosing a prompt, remember what’s important is that you pick a prompt that allows you to share a unique personal experience that demonstrates more about you to the admissions committee. To take yourself from initial ideation to a polished final draft, consider the following steps.

1. Brainstorm meaningful or challenging experiences you’ve had.

Before beginning, take a moment to reflect on personal experiences, values, and defining moments that have impacted you. You can do this by jotting down different events in your life, hosting an interview with yourself, making a list of your hobbies and passions, and thinking about perspectives you have that you think stand out. You can even ask family members or friends about memorable experiences they have of you or traits they think are special.

2. Explore each prompt and how your experiences fit into it.

Take a look at available prompts and see which ones spark your interest. You might immediately resonate with many of them or find one or two that prompt you to think about specific stories. Consider the topics you brainstormed and how they might fit into each prompt.

3. Freewrite a response to multiple prompts.

Freewriting is a writing exercise where you write continuously for a set amount of time, allowing you to brainstorm through writing. This flow of ideas, without emphasis on form or style, helps you overcome creative hurdles and get all your ideas on paper. Freewriting encourages you to sound authentic in your essays without trying to be “perfect” on the first go. You can choose to freewrite for all of the prompts or choose a few that resonate with you. 

4. Narrow in on one prompt and create your first draft.

Once you’ve spent time freewriting on several prompts, you can review what you’ve written to narrow down your final topic. When deciding on a final topic, consider a few areas:

• Does this prompt encourage a specific anecdote that showcases something about you? 

• Can you connect this prompt to a challenge or conflict you overcame?

• Does your chosen story show personal growth and development?

Identify a prompt that naturally allows you to “show, not tell” and demonstrate positive qualities and insight without appearing pompous or overly dramatic. Finding a middle ground can help you connect with your audience and share meaningful experiences in an impactful way.

5. Seek feedback from trusted advisors.

Seeking feedback from others can ensure your story comes across the way you intend. Your advisors, whether your English teacher, school counselor, or other trusted mentor, can provide constructive steps to improve your essay and ensure the admissions committee understands the story you’re trying to convey.

You can seek feedback at several stages of the writing and revision process. After your first draft, you might look for feedback about whether your ideas are clear, convincing, and expanded enough to make sense. 

6. Revise the final draft.

Based on your initial feedback, you can revise your draft and continue paring down your essay to its key points and details. Following this stage, you can seek additional feedback about writing style and transitions, followed by formatting and final thoughts, until you feel your essay is ready to submit.  

Tips for crafting a stand-out essay

Creating a stand-out admissions essay takes time—some students even start six months before the essay is due. To help build a strong essay, consider these tips. 

• Show, don’t tell: Use engaging language that helps the reader understand your feelings and experiences through small anecdotes rather than direct statements.

• Create an engaging introduction: An engaging introduction sets the tone of your essay, immediately creating a positive impression and hooking readers into your story.

• Avoid clichés: This is your chance to share your unique qualities with the admissions committee. Speaking in clichés may detract from your individual perspective.

• Avoid overly formal writing: If you sound robotic, less of your personality comes through, and the admissions committee may feel less connected to you.

• Proofread carefully: Carefully proofreading your essay ensures that punctuation or grammatical errors don’t detract from your submission.

Practice your writing skills on Coursera

The Common App essay prompts allow you to showcase your unique personality, experiences, and values in a way that connects with the admissions committee. You can continue to build your writing and communication skills with courses and Specializations on Coursera, which can help you create an essay that sets you apart. To begin, consider the Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization by the University of Michigan.