How to Start Your Common App Essay: Tips and Strategies

Introduction

Your Common App essay is one of the most important pieces of your college application. It’s your chance to show admissions officers who you are and what makes you unique. But with so many prompts to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. In this article, we’ll explore tips and strategies for writing a successful Common App essay.

Describe a Meaningful Event and Explain How it Shaped You

One of the most popular prompts for the Common App essay is to describe a meaningful event and explain how it shaped you. Here are some tips for getting started:

Brainstorming Ideas

Begin by making a list of significant events in your life. These could include big moments like winning a championship or graduating high school, but also small moments that have had a lasting impact on you. Write down as many ideas as you can think of and then narrow them down until you find one that stands out.

Picking an Event

Once you’ve brainstormed some ideas, pick the one that has the most potential for a great essay. Consider the details of the event and how they relate to your life story. If you’re having trouble deciding, talk to friends or family members about their experiences and see if any of them resonate with you.

Writing About the Event

Now that you’ve chosen an event, it’s time to write about it. Start by describing it in detail, including the setting, people involved, and what happened. Be sure to use vivid language and interesting details to make your story come alive.

Explaining the Impact it Had on You

After you’ve described the event, it’s time to explain how it shaped you. Think about how this experience changed your perspective or influenced your goals. What lessons did you learn? How did it help you become the person you are today? This is the most important part of your essay, so spend some time reflecting on its impact before you begin writing.

Share an Experience That Demonstrates Your Values

Another popular prompt for the Common App essay is to share an experience that demonstrates your values. Here are some tips for getting started:

Deciding Which Quality or Value to Highlight

First, think about which quality or value you want to highlight. This could be something like perseverance, resilience, courage, or generosity. Make sure it’s something that is meaningful to you and that you can easily connect to an experience. Once you’ve chosen a quality or value, move onto the next step.

Choosing an Experience

Now that you’ve identified a quality or value, think about an experience that demonstrates it. This could be a challenge you faced, a risk you took, or a moment when you showed courage or generosity. Try to pick an experience that has a clear beginning, middle, and end so that you can easily craft a narrative arc.

Crafting the Narrative

Once you’ve chosen an experience, it’s time to craft a narrative around it. Begin by setting the scene and introducing the characters involved. Then, describe the action and provide details about the experience. Finally, explain how it demonstrated your quality or value. Be sure to use vivid language and interesting details to keep the reader engaged.

Showing How it Demonstrates Your Quality

The last step is to explain how the experience demonstrates your quality or value. Think about how this experience impacted you and what lessons you learned from it. What did you learn about yourself? How did it shape the way you view the world? This is the most important part of your essay, so take some time to reflect on its significance before you start writing.

Tell a Story of a Challenge You Faced and How You Overcame It

Another popular prompt for the Common App essay is to tell a story of a challenge you faced and how you overcame it. Here are some tips for getting started:

Identifying a Challenge

Begin by thinking about a challenge you faced in your life. This could be a personal challenge, like dealing with a difficult situation at home, or an academic challenge, like struggling with a particular subject in school. Once you’ve identified a challenge, move onto the next step.

Explaining the Context and Details

Now that you’ve identified a challenge, it’s time to explain the context and details. Describe the setting, characters involved, and action that took place. Be sure to use vivid language and interesting details to keep the reader engaged.

Describing What You Learned

After you’ve described the challenge, it’s time to explain what you learned from it. Think about the lessons you learned and how they changed your perspective. What did you learn about yourself? How did it shape the way you view the world? This is the most important part of your essay, so take some time to reflect on its significance before you start writing.

Reflecting on How You Overcame It

The last step is to reflect on how you overcame the challenge. Think about the steps you took and the resources you used. What strategies did you employ to overcome the challenge? How did these strategies help you grow and develop? This is the key to crafting a successful essay, so spend some time reflecting on its significance before you start writing.

Explain the Importance of an Activity or Interest in Your Life

Another popular prompt for the Common App essay is to explain the importance of an activity or interest in your life. Here are some tips for getting started:

Choosing an Activity or Interest

Begin by thinking about an activity or interest that is meaningful to you. This could be a hobby, sport, job, volunteer work, or anything else that has been important to you. Once you’ve chosen an activity or interest, move onto the next step.

Outlining Its Significance

Now that you’ve identified an activity or interest, it’s time to outline why it’s important to you. Think about the impact it has had on your life and how it has shaped your perspective. What lessons have you learned from it? How does it make you a better person? This is the most important part of your essay, so take some time to reflect on its significance before you start writing.

Writing About the Impact It Has Had on You

After you’ve outlined the importance of the activity or interest, it’s time to write about the impact it has had on you. Describe the setting, characters involved, and action that took place. Be sure to use vivid language and interesting details to keep the reader engaged. Explain how this activity or interest has shaped your life and what lessons you have learned from it.

Discuss a Time When You Took a Risk and What You Learned From It

The final prompt for the Common App essay is to discuss a time when you took a risk and what you learned from it. Here are some tips for getting started:

Choosing a Risky Situation

Begin by thinking about a risky situation you faced. This could be a personal risk, like standing up for something you believe in, or an academic risk, like trying something new or challenging yourself in a different way. Once you’ve chosen a risky situation, move onto the next step.

Describing the Risk and Its Consequences

Now that you’ve identified a risky situation, it’s time to describe the risk and its consequences. Describe the setting, characters involved, and action that took place. Be sure to use vivid language and interesting details to keep the reader engaged. Explain the risks associated with this situation and how you responded to them.

Exploring the Lessons You Learned

After you’ve described the risk and its consequences, it’s time to explore the lessons you learned. Think about how this experience changed your perspective or influenced your goals. What did you learn about yourself? How did it shape the way you view the world? This is the most important part of your essay, so take some time to reflect on its significance before you start writing.

Conclusion

Your Common App essay is one of the most important pieces of your college application. It’s your chance to show admissions officers who you are and what makes you unique. With the right approach, you can write an essay that stands out from the crowd. We explored tips and strategies for writing a successful Common App essay, including how to describe a meaningful event, share an experience that demonstrates your values, tell a story of a challenge you faced and how you overcame it, explain the importance of an activity or interest in your life, and discuss a time when you took a risk and what you learned from it.