Essay or Personal Statement

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Introduction

A student may be asked to write one or multiple essays in the college application process. College essays are one of the few times a student gets to show who they are and their voice in their application. Admissions teams are looking at a student’s ability to write an essay and for individuals with characteristics that can contribute to their campus. The most common essay is called the Personal Statement. This essay is about 500-650 words long and is submitted to all schools on the Common Application. Colleges may ask students to complete additional essays in their college-specific questions. These essays vary in length and are available to students August 1 the summer before their senior year. For more information on the personal statement and other types of essays, please see below.

A reputable page for all college essay questions is the College Essay Guy. Please visit his website for free webinars, videos, and articles about a variety of college essay needs.

College Essay Guy

College Essays

Personal Statement

Overview

A "personal statement" on the Common App refers to the main essay that applicants write on the Common Application platform, which is essentially a detailed written piece where you share your story, values, experiences, and motivations to showcase who you are beyond just your grades and test scores to the admissions committee at colleges that use the Common App; it's your primary opportunity to "tell your story" to potential schools.

NOTE: Some schools are no longer requiring a Personal Statement. It is highly recommended a student still write one as it shows effort and the values and experiences a student brings.

Key Points

Function: It allows you to go beyond the numbers on your application and demonstrate your character, passions, and unique perspective
Length: Usually around 650 words
Prompts: You choose one essay prompt from a set provided by the Common App to guide your writing
Importance: Considered a crucial part of the college application process, as it can significantly influence admissions decisions

Prompts

The Common App Prompts are released in the February of a student's Junior Year. However, these prompts typically do not change drastically. Here are the Prompts from the 24-25 application cycle. A student will choose 1 of these for their essay.

Prompt 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.

Prompt 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?

Prompt 3

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

Prompt 4

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?

Prompt 5

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

Prompt 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?

Prompt 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.

Brainstorming

There are many fantastic resources for students to use when brainstorming their essays. A worksheet including College Essay Guy brainstorming exercises can be accessed through the button below.

Personal Statement Brainstorm Worksheet

See the buttons below for additional video resources to help with brainstorming:

How to brainstorm personal statement ideas

Crash course in writing a personal statement

Additional Resources

"Why this College" Essay

Overview

"The purpose of the 'Why us?' or 'Why this college' essay is to demonstrate—through specific details and examples—why you’re a great match for a particular school. In some cases, the “Why us?” essay is an important way to demonstrate interest in a particular college. The 'Why this college?' essay, and variations of this prompt, also happens to be one of the most popular supplemental essay questions asked of students on the college application." - College Essay Guy

Resources

Academic Interests Essay

Overview

An "academic interest essay" on a college application is a supplemental essay where you detail your specific intellectual passions and areas of study you wish to pursue in college, demonstrating your curiosity and desire to engage deeply with a particular academic field, effectively showing the admissions committee your "scholarly" side and how you plan to explore those interests at their institution; it's a chance to showcase your academic potential beyond just grades and test scores.

Key Points

Purpose: To reveal your intellectual curiosity, specific academic interests, and how you plan to engage with them in a college setting.
What to include: Specific academic areas: Clearly identify the subject(s) you're most passionate about.
Personal experiences: Share stories or events that sparked your interest in this field.
Research and knowledge: Demonstrate your understanding of the subject by mentioning relevant concepts, theories, or researchers.
Future goals: Explain how you plan to explore your academic interests further in college, including potential research opportunities or courses you'd like to take.

Resources

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Essay

Overview

A "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" (DEI) essay for college applications is a personal statement where you discuss your understanding of diversity, how you've actively engaged with different perspectives, and how you plan to contribute to creating a more inclusive environment on campus, highlighting your unique experiences and commitment to fostering equity among diverse student populations.

Key Points

Personal experiences with diversity: Share specific stories from your life that illustrate how you've encountered different cultures, backgrounds, or viewpoints, and how these experiences shaped your perspective on diversity and inclusion.
Demonstrate active engagement: Explain concrete actions you've taken to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, whether it's participating in community initiatives, advocating for marginalized groups, or challenging bias in your own circles.
Self-reflection and growth: Discuss how you've learned from your experiences with diversity, acknowledging areas where you might have needed to grow or change your perspective.
Commitment to the college community: Articulate how you plan to contribute to a diverse and inclusive campus environment once you are a student, including potential involvement in student organizations or initiatives focused on DEI.

Resources

Community Essay

Overview

A "community essay" on a college application is a supplemental essay where you describe a specific community you belong to, your role within it, and how your experiences in that community have shaped you, essentially demonstrating how you would contribute to the college campus community as a student; it's a way for colleges to understand your values, leadership potential, and ability to engage with others beyond academics.

Key Points

Focus on a specific community: This could be your neighborhood, family, school club, religious group, online forum, or any other group where you actively participate and feel a sense of belonging.
Highlight your contributions: Explain what you've done to positively impact your community, whether it's leading initiatives, volunteering, advocating for change, or simply being a supportive member.
Personal reflection: Share how your involvement in this community has shaped your personal growth, values, and perspective.
Connect to college life: Explain how the skills and experiences gained from your community involvement will translate to your participation in campus life at the college you're applying to.

Resources

How to write the Community Essay (guide with examples)
Community Essay Video (starts at 1:08)

Interest / Activity Essay

Overview

A "Interest/Activity" essay on a college application is a personal statement where you delve deep into a particular extracurricular activity, hobby, passion project, or significant interest outside of academics, explaining how it has shaped you, the skills you gained from it, and why it is important to you, essentially showcasing your character and dedication beyond just grades; the goal is to demonstrate your depth and growth through this meaningful pursuit.

Key Points

Focus on one activity: Don't try to list multiple interests; choose the one that has had the most profound impact on you and elaborate on its significance.
Go beyond the surface: Don't just describe what you did; explain the challenges you faced, the lessons learned, and how the activity impacted your personal development.
Show your passion: Convey your genuine enthusiasm for the activity and how it aligns with your values and goals.
Connect to your future: If possible, explain how this interest might relate to your academic pursuits or future career aspirations.

Resources

Personal Challenge Essay

Overview

A "Personal Challenge" essay for a college application is a narrative piece where you detail a significant obstacle or difficulty you faced in your life, focusing on how you overcame it, the lessons you learned, and the personal growth that resulted from the experience, ultimately demonstrating your resilience and character to the admissions committee.

Key Points

Choose a meaningful challenge: Select a challenge that genuinely impacted you and allowed for substantial personal growth, avoiding clichés like a bad grade or a minor setback.
Show, don't tell: Use vivid details and descriptive language to bring your experience to life, allowing the reader to feel the emotions and understand the impact of the challenge.
Focus on the process of overcoming: Describe the steps you took to address the challenge, the obstacles you faced, and the strategies you employed to persevere.
Reflect on lessons learned: Analyze the experience and articulate what you gained from it in terms of personal insights, new perspectives, or developed skills.
Positive tone: Even when discussing adversity, maintain a hopeful and optimistic outlook, highlighting how you emerged stronger from the challenge.

Resources

How to Write an Overcoming Challenges Essay
How to Write the Overcoming Challenges Essay + Example - college transitions