This is part 4 of our “The Complete Guide to the Common App Personal Statement Essay” series. If you missed the first two installments, check them here. In this article, our Director of Coach Training and long-time Prompt Writing Coach will explain the differences between each of the Common App essay prompts and provide example topics for each.

If you’re looking at the list of Common App Personal Statement prompts and have no idea which one to choose, you can breathe a big sigh of relief. Why? It doesn’t really matter. Colleges do not prioritize any one prompt over the other. In fact, some admissions readers have confided to us at Prompt that they don’t even look at which prompt the student selected! 

What is important then? That the prompt you choose is a vehicle for demonstrating your strongest traits and potential for success. Most students are better off brainstorming their content and then choosing the prompt that best fits. This allows you to center and amplify your traits, rather than having to force them into the prompt you chose. 

So, do yourself a favor, bookmark this article, go and brainstorm, and then come back to figure out which prompt matches your narrative and theme. 

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.

A commonly used prompt and great path for students to take as it engages you with a topic you’re already interested in! The most important thing for you to keep in mind is to show how your background, identity, interest, or talent has shaped your character, growth, and actions. In other words, this shouldn't be an essay about playing the piano, being the child of immigrants, or being an animal rights activist. Instead, it should be an essay about how that activity/interest/identity has shaped your worldview, challenged you, offered unique growth opportunities, or allowed you to demonstrate or refine your strengths.

Prompt #1 Example

‍For an accomplished pianist, they might write about how they realized that some families can't afford the costs of instruments and lessons. This led them to fundraise to purchase a piano for a local community center and volunteer to teach others. This would shift the narrative from a generic description of their talent to a specific and compelling showcase of their contribution to community and initiative, two of Prompt’s five traits  colleges look for in their applicants!

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?

This is another commonly used prompt and can be incredibly impactful if used thoughtfully. However, it has come to be known as "the trauma story" by many students who think they need to focus on the dramatic details to be memorable. While you should provide a quick summary of the obstacle you faced for context, most of the essay should focus on that final question: how you moved forward and changed as a result. 

Prompt #2 Example

‍A student might want to write about losing their mother as a child, showing how experiencing grief taught them valuable coping skills. We would want 75% of the essay to be focused on the “after” of this experience, perhaps showing how the power of grief and connection translated to them working as a mentor to middle schoolers while in high school. 

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

This prompt is less common but can lead to a rich essay. Once again, the focus should be on the “after” of this experience, showing how a shift in ideals and values has challenged their intellectual journey and shaped their actions. 

Prompt #3 Example

‍A student who was challenged to defend their political beliefs in a social setting might be tempted to argue their beliefs yet again in the essay. This would provide a narrow scope for readers. Instead, this student could focus on how being challenged and shifting their perspective, however slightly, has led to finding new allies or communities and pushed them to step up as a leader.

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?

This prompt is fairly new, having been added in 2021. This is a challenging prompt to do well, as it may encourage students to focus on others’ actions rather than their own. The key to Prompt #4 success is to focus most of the essay on “affected or motivated you” (what did you do?) rather than the action taken by another person.

Prompt #4 Example

‍A student who wants to write about the impact their grandfather had on them might get stuck writing about all their wonderful memories with their grandfather. Instead, we’d want to see how a core memory sparked personal interests, actions, or mindsets that had an impact beyond their relationship. For example, if their grandfather taught them the value of doing something slowly but correctly the first time, they might share how they worked for two months to plan, fund, and paint a mural at their school.

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

This prompt works well for students with a single catalyzing experience that broadened their worldview, prompted them to develop a new skill or personal strength, or helped them consider new paths. As we've noted for other prompts, focusing on the "period of personal growth” is essential for readers to understand why this was such a catalytic moment for you. 

Prompt #5 Example

‍A student who has a passion for cooking might write about failing at a tricky recipe and realizing that they rush into things too often without preparing themselves. Once they had this realization, they started applying themselves more thoughtfully in their schoolwork and also felt more confident at their part-time job.

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?

This prompt is fairly popular and is great for intellectually curious students. However, some students fall into the pitfall of spending too much time explaining their chosen subject rather than delving into their personal growth through that subject. Instead, focus on how you have acted on your curiosity, and what you have learned about the world and yourself through those actions.

Prompt #6 Example

‍A student who spent last summer tracking local bird migration patterns might be tempted to explain their research findings in their essay. However, this won’t show much about the student. Instead, they could focus on how they overcame their fear of public speaking to present their research at a local council meeting! An essay that shows how their passion fuels their personal growth will resonate far more profoundly with readers than an essay that painstakingly charts the path of bird migration.

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.

Few students choose this prompt, but it’s a great option if you have a compelling essay that doesn’t already fit into one of the other options. The broadness of the prompt, though, can often lead to a chaotic essay. If you choose this option, it is critical that you revise until your draft has a compelling theme that centers your core trait. 

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