Kodeclik Blog
10 Tips for Responding to Common App Essay Prompts Effectively
If you are in the middle of sending out your college applications, you know there are various prompts that the Common App uses to help you to structure your essays. The prompts were unchanged from the 2023-2024 year into the 2024-2025 season.
Students must select one of seven prompts and write 250-650 words. While this might seem daunting initially, many students find themselves wanting more space once they begin writing.
Common App Prompts for this year
Below are the common app prompts for this year.
Why Some Say Ignore the Prompts
Common App essay advisors are in two camps. One group of people suggest that you should write freely and then match a prompt. This group argues that admissions officers barely notice which prompt you chose. Here’s one (verified) admissions officer on reddit saying that they don’t quite care about the prompt.
The Case for using Prompts
A second group argues that the prompts actually serve as helpful writing guides. They provide a framework that can make the writing process more manageable and less stressful. They suggest to think of prompts as ways to structure your thinking and guide your narrative:
Will you get downranked if you choose the 7th prompt?
Note that the 7th prompt is a sort of “catch all” or generic prompt. Again there are two camps. Some people believe that responding to this makes it difficult for the application evaluator to judge the candidate while others believe that students come with a myriad of backgrounds and acknowledge that the other prompts might not be as suitable as the 7th prompt to describe their background and experiences. But it is true that while the "topic of your choice" prompt (#7) appears to offer ultimate freedom, its lack of structure can actually make writing more challenging. The other six prompts provide helpful boundaries and direction, making it easier to focus your thoughts and craft a compelling narrative.
So what should I do?
Rather than viewing prompts as restrictive, consider them as tools that can help shape your story. Having some guidelines can actually make it easier to express yourself effectively rather than feeling lost in the vast ocean of possible topics. In fact the wording of the prompt in many cases point out the different aspects you can weave into your narrative. Below are some guidelines for each of the prompts.
Prompt 1: Background, Identity, Interest, or Talent
When writing about your background or identity, focus on aspects that aren't already evident in other parts of your application. For example if you are strong academically do not repeat your GPA or your AP credits in the essay. Similarly, if your application already shows you're a star basketball player don't write about winning championships. Instead, perhaps write, for instance, about how maintaining the neighborhood basketball court became your way of building community connections. Or explore how your love for origami helped you understand geometry at a deeper level.
Second, “show” not “tell”. Let the reader make the inference. Do not make the inferences for them. For instance, instead of writing "I learned resilience from my immigrant background," show it through specific scenes: "Every morning at 5 AM, I watched my mother practice English pronunciations in front of our bathroom mirror, repeating words until her tongue could wrap around them perfectly. By evening, she was confidently presenting sales pitches at her new job”.
“Depth” over “breadth” is important. Rather than stating "My Vietnamese heritage is important to me," delve deeper: "The scent of fish sauce and lemongrass from my grandmother's kitchen became my anchor in a new country. Each Sunday morning, as she taught me to fold perfect spring rolls, she wove stories of our family's history into each careful twist".
Finally, reveal something deeply meaningful that has shaped who you are, but avoid simply listing achievements or describing surface-level interests. The key is to reveal something unique about yourself that colleges wouldn't otherwise know, while demonstrating how this element has influenced your perspective or actions.
The strongest essays connect personal experiences to broader insights. For example, instead of just describing your experience as a first-generation American, show how navigating between cultures helped you develop a unique perspective on community building or problem-solving.
Remember, the goal is to reveal layers of your identity that aren't visible elsewhere in your application, while allowing readers to draw their own conclusions about your character through vivid, specific examples.
Prompt 2: Challenges, Setbacks, and Failures
This essay should focus on how you handled adversity and what you learned from it, rather than just describing the challenge itself. Choose a significant obstacle that genuinely impacted you, but avoid trivial setbacks or stories that might reflect poor judgment. Make sure the setback would be considered a setback by people of many different age groups. In other words, while failing a test or losing a game might feel significant now, focus instead on challenges that demonstrate deeper personal struggle - like adapting to a new culture, overcoming a long-term illness, or rebuilding after a significant loss. The challenge should resonate with readers of any age, not just your peers.
Again “show”, not just “tell”. Begin with a brief but vivid description of the challenge, using specific details to set the scene. Rather than writing "I was nervous about moving to a new country," show it: "I stood in the crowded hallway, the unfamiliar language swirling around me like a storm, clutching my schedule written in characters I barely understood". Spend no more than one-third of your essay describing the challenge itself because you need to talk about how you conquered it.
Focus on your response to the challenge and your evolution through it. Show how your actions and mindset changed over time. For example, instead of stating "I became more resilient," describe how you developed new strategies, sought help, or adapted your approach. Include specific examples of how you implemented these changes and their results.
But avoid overdoing it. Keep a balanced, forward-looking tone throughout the essay. While acknowledging the difficulty of your challenge, avoid dwelling on negative aspects or seeking sympathy. Instead, emphasize how the experience shaped your character and equipped you with tools for future success. Remember, colleges want to see your ability to learn and grow from adversity, not just survive it.
The strongest responses demonstrate resilience, self-awareness, and personal growth while maintaining a positive tone throughout the narrative.
Prompt 3: Questioning or Challenging Beliefs
This prompt works best when discussing an actual confrontation or dialogue about beliefs, rather than just internal reflection. In other words, it cannot be an internal monologue you had with yourself where you revised your opinion about something or somebody. For example, write about the time you respectfully disagreed with your grandfather's views at a family dinner, or when you challenged a long-standing tradition in your school community.
Structure your essay around three key components: First, describe the specific moment or situation that triggered your questioning - perhaps a classroom debate or community meeting. Then, detail your approach to the challenge, showing how you engaged in respectful dialogue rather than confrontation. Finally, explain the concrete outcome, whether it led to change or simply deeper understanding between differing viewpoints.
Focus on how the exchange of ideas led to growth on both sides. Instead of writing "I convinced them they were wrong," show how the dialogue evolved: "As we discussed our different perspectives on the school dress code, I began to understand the administration's safety concerns, while they recognized the policy's unintended impact on religious expression." The strongest essays demonstrate maturity in handling disagreement.
Focus on respectful disagreement and intellectual growth rather than conflict for conflict's sake.Stay away from topics that might appear petty (like arguing about Instagram or TikTok media trends) or overly controversial such as gun control, abortion, etc.
Also don’t overdo it: avoid portraying yourself as the lone hero standing against injustice - instead, focus on the nuanced process of understanding and addressing different perspectives.
Prompt 4: Gratitude
When writing about gratitude, focus on unexpected moments of thankfulness rather than obvious ones. The essay should explore both the initial act of kindness and, more importantly, how it changed your perspective or motivated your subsequent actions.
Avoid cliché topics and instead focus on specific, personal experiences that genuinely surprised or moved you.
Checkout “My Unsung Hero” on your radio or podcast that describes random acts of kindness by strangers for motivation.
Instead of writing about obvious instances like a parent's support or a teacher's guidance (they are meant to be supportive after all!), focus on unconventional moments - perhaps the cafeteria worker who noticed when you were having a bad day, or the bus driver who waited an extra minute every morning so you wouldn't miss your ride.
Structure your essay in two distinct parts: first, paint a vivid picture of the surprising act of kindness, using specific details to bring the scene to life. Then, explore how this moment shifted your perspective or inspired your actions. For example, instead of just describing how someone helped you, show how their action sparked a chain reaction of positive changes in your own behavior.Perhaps a stranger's random act of kindness inspired you to create a "pay it forward" initiative at your school, or maybe an unexpected gesture of support changed how you approach helping others.
Remember that the focus should remain on your growth and changed perspective rather than just the kind act itself.
Prompt 5: Personal Growth and Understanding
This prompt works well as a before-and-after story, showing clear transformation. Choose an accomplishment or event that marked a genuine turning point in your understanding of yourself or others. The focus should be less on the achievement itself and more on the growth and insight gained from the experience.
Again, be specific and leave the inference to the reader. For instance, instead of writing "I used to be shy," paint the scene: "I spent lunches in the library's far corner, hiding behind books rather than facing the cafeteria's social battlefield." Then show specific moments that catalyzed change, leading to who you've become.
Select a genuine turning point that fundamentally shifted your perspective. Rather than focusing on obvious achievements like winning a competition or getting a good grade, dig deeper. Perhaps it was the moment you realized your younger sibling had started mimicking your negative habits, or when a failed community project taught you more about leadership than any success could have.
Show tangible evidence of your transformation through specific examples. Instead of stating "I became more confident," describe how you now mentor new students through their first debate tournaments, remembering your own trembling hands from years before. The key is to demonstrate growth through actions rather than declarations.
Resist the urge to write about winning moments. Instead of discussing how you won the science fair, explore how a failed experiment taught you to embrace uncertainty in research. The focus should be on internal growth rather than external validation.
Prompt 6: Engaging Topic or Concept
When writing about an intellectual interest, demonstrate genuine passion and curiosity rather than just academic achievement.
A compelling essay might begin with a specific moment, e.g., discovering patterns in Pascal's Triangle during a boring algebra class. Show how this sparked deeper exploration: describing late nights coding visualizations of number sequences, joining online math forums to discuss theories, or creating math puzzles for younger students. The essay should demonstrate how this passion extends beyond grades - perhaps showing how you see mathematical patterns in nature, architecture, or music.
Or if you are a music whiz, you can show your deep engagement with your subject. "Between rehearsals, I found myself deconstructing Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, mapping out how each instrument's voice contributed to the whole, discovering how mathematical patterns in the composition created such emotional impact". Connect this to broader aspects, like how understanding music theory changed how you listen to everyday sounds or how composing helped you process complex emotions. Or perhaps that got you interested in history and understanding the times in which these famous musicians lived.
Explain not only what fascinates you but also how you pursue this interest and why it matters to you personally. The best responses show deep engagement and initiative in learning, while connecting the topic to broader aspects of your life.
Prompt 7: Topic of Choice
As mentioned earlier, while this prompt offers complete freedom, it requires more self-discipline to execute effectively. Without built-in structure, you need to ensure your essay still reveals important aspects of your character and experiences. Avoid using this as an opportunity to submit an academic paper; instead, focus on personal insights and meaningful stories that showcase who you are.
In summary, here are some key guidelines as you embark on your college admissions journey!
1. Follow Word Count and Format
Keep your essay between 250-650 words, with 500 words being ideal for most essays. Use clear paragraphs separated by line breaks since the platform doesn't allow indentation.
2. Be Professional
Maintain a professional tone while being personal. Avoid emojis, hashtags, caps, italics, or bold formatting in your submission. Your writing should be formal yet authentic.
3. Be careful in story selection
Choose a topic that genuinely connects with your personal story. A well-written essay about a common topic is better than a poorly written essay about a unique topic.
4. Structure your content
Structure your essay with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. However, unlike academic essays, your conclusion should focus on lessons learned rather than summarizing points.
5. Do Not Reference Institutions
Never mention specific colleges in your essay since multiple institutions will read it.
6. Avoid Controversial Topics
Avoid debatable issues like religion, politics, or other controversial subjects that might make admissions officers uncomfortable.
7. Be Authentic!
While you can read example essays for inspiration, never copy others' ideas or stories. Your unique perspective and experience should shine through.
8. Conduct external reviews
Have someone you trust review your essay to identify potential weaknesses and areas for improvement.
9. Take time to select the appropriate prompt
Choose a prompt that allows you to tell your story naturally rather than forcing your story to fit a prompt.
10. Show Don't Tell
Focus on specific details and scenes that demonstrate your qualities rather than simply stating them. Your story should reveal your character through actions and experiences rather than declarations.
