While it may be college decision and commitment season for the seniors, it’s college planning season for the juniors, and with that comes thinking about your essay for the fall. The Common App has released the prompts for the Fall 2025-Spring 2026 application cycle, and here they are:
- 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.
- 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?
- Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
- Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
- Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
- 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?
- 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.
Here are 5 tips to help you get on track to writing an outstanding essay.
#1: Develop your theme.
Pick a prompt, pick a central focus, and stick with it throughout the whole essay. Consistency will make for a better essay, rather than just dumping words onto a page.
#2: Have a hook and tell a story.
Open your essay with something sure to catch the reader’s attention. A boring, standard intro will not keep a reader (who’s probably reading hundreds or even thousands of essays) entertained. Tell a personal story, one that engages the reader and makes them want to read more. To get an idea, look up strong college essays online.
#3: This isn’t a traditional essay.
Unlike the essays you might write for English classes, this isn’t the same thing. You only have a maximum of 650 words to get your point across, so be precise. This is a chance to tell the reader who you are, so give it your personal touch. Here, there’s no need for a thesis. A college essay is like a personal statement.
#4: Check your work.
Be sure to check your grammar and reread your essay before submitting it. Even better, have someone proofread your essay. Other people catch mistakes we might miss. Read your essay out loud as well. Does it flow? Does it all work together? If not, go back and smooth it out.
#5: Be yourself.
College admissions officers are looking for genuine essays that show who you are as a person. While lying in an essay might seem like a good idea, it can come back to hurt you later. Don’t be afraid to be honest and vulnerable about your experiences.
Hopefully, these tips will prepare you to write the best possible essay! Best of luck on your college application journey.
