It’s here! It’s finally here! Time to talk about our favorite Common App essay prompt, #7. This prompt truly lets you do whatever you want, but that doesn’t mean you can just go nuts with it. We’re here today with our tips and tricks for brainstorming and writing the best open-ended essay possible.
As you know, the Common App essay is one of the most crucial parts of your Common App. It goes out to almost all the schools on your list, and it’s also the only part of your Common App that’s all you. The activities, additional information, and demographic sections are all essentially stats, and they don’t have a lot of personality. The Common App essay is where you really get to shine. So let’s dive headfirst into the scariest (but best) Common App prompt:
We’re almost through our series on all seven Common App essay prompts, and today we’re talking about Prompt #6. A sleeper hit prompt, we actually really love this one. As you all probably are well aware by now, our favorite prompt is always #7, but we know that a lot of students really value having the structure a traditional prompt offers them. If this prompt is right for you, we think it’s a great one to write.
If you’re reading this, you likely already know what the Common App is, but this next part always bears repeating. Nearly every school on your list will require the Common App essay, so it’s very important to make it very good. We’re not here to add extra pressure (you’re probably doing that yourself); we just want to stress the importance of this part of your application. On to Prompt #6!
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.
Okay, so we want to start, as we often do, with our what-not-to-dos. Yes, this prompt is entirely open-ended, but that doesn’t mean you can actually do whatever you want with it. It still needs to be a college essay, after all. We know the prompt says you can share an essay you’ve already written, however, do not do that. They do not want to read, nor will they be impressed, with the essay you wrote about To Kill a Mockingbird.
We also do not recommend using this prompt to share any information they might already know about you, isn’t about you, is actually some kind of secret brag, or that belongs in Additional Information. This includes stories about things in your activities section, talking about what you already told them you want to study, anything about a trauma or hardship (which btw, you don’t need to write about these things to get into college), or a heartwarming tale about your grandparents.
With these caveats in mind, let’s talk about how to brainstorm this prompt.
Common App Essay Prompt 7 Example Topics
Okay, so now you’re facing down the barrel of “almost anything” as a topic for this essay, and you have no idea where to start. That’s totally fair! Our students have written about so many different things, from hot dogs to commutes to cooking eggs, so we know anything can work. The most important thing to remember is that the Common App essay is a creative writing exercise, and it needs to be a story. Story essays are more compelling, more interesting to read, and are generally more fun to write, too.
When we guide our students through this process, we like to ask them questions about all sorts of mundane things, like what their room looks like, what they do with their friends, their favorite stories with their parents, any hobbies they might have, and we keep diving deeper and deeper. One exercise we have our students do is ask their friends and family for five words they’d use to describe them. Once you get your list of words back, you’ll usually find a lot of overlap, and that can lead you towards the story you need to write. If four out of your five friends think you’re brave and funny, then maybe that time you led everyone on a slightly disastrous hike might make a good story.
It’s also important to think about what it is about you that you want to highlight. This essay serves to humanize you a little bit, make you more than just numbers on a page. Think of values and ideals you have that they otherwise might not know about! You can also think about your contradictions – maybe you’re a STEM kid, but you really love painting watercolors, or you’re going into business, but you’re also the star of every school musical. Maybe there’s a hobby, activity, or tradition you have that’s a little unusual or so integral to who you are that you want to write about. Students have written about their quest to ride the tallest rollercoaster, a fake detective story about missing puzzle pieces, or that time they hacked into their brother’s chess.com account.
Our story also needs to be small – we don’t want any big, sweeping epics that span years. Think of a moment in time, like that two-hour hike, or you in the midst of painting that majestic watercolor, or the first time you auditioned for the musical. Smaller stories are easier to tell and write! Speaking of writing…
Common App Essay Prompt 7 Example Guide
Writing the Common App is easier said than done. Honestly, the bulk of the work you’ll do mentally is in the brainstorming phase, but that doesn’t mean writing won’t be a challenge. The most important thing to remember is (and we’ve said it before!) that this needs to be a story, and a story has a designated beginning, middle, and end. You have 650 words to make an impact!
The beginning of your Common App essay should set the scene for the reader, giving them lots of sensory details that drop them into the middle of the moment. If you’re telling the hiking story, you might start with some dialog between you and your friends, asking if you’re lost. Or you could describe each step you take, how your legs feel, etc. Think about what you can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste and include all those details.
The middle of your essay should keep the action going. If the issue in the beginning of the hiking story is that you’re lost, then the middle will be about your quest to get not-lost. Maybe you drop a new conflict into the mix, like you’re out of water or you can’t find yourself on the map anymore. This part of your essay should continue with the sensory language you had in your introduction.
Your conclusion should end with a good resolution. We know not all stories have happy endings, but all stories that are Common App essays should have happy endings. Circle back to your intro – has your problem or conflict been solved? Did you make it back to the car? Finally get to that scenic overlook?
If you're feeling stuck on how to begin your essay, don't stress! You don't have to start with the introduction. In fact, it's often easier to craft a compelling intro once you have the rest of your story laid out.
Once you've completed your draft (which will probably be over 650 words), it's time to edit. Read your essay out loud to catch any awkward or stilted parts and make adjustments. You might even find it helpful to retype the document word for word. Go through this editing process 3-4 times before seeking feedback from a friend, parent, teacher, or another trusted person. Just a heads-up: don't let too many people review your essay—stick to one or two reviewers to avoid getting overwhelmed by conflicting feedback.
Now that your essay is polished and ready, it's time to submit! Best of luck!
Prompt #7 is our absolute favorite one, because you have unlimited potential to show your prospective school your true personality. We know this one can be hard to come up with ideas for, but if you sit down, think about who you are and what you care about (and maybe ask some friends), a clear idea will come to you.
We are experts in writing creative and unique college essays. If you need help brainstorming or writing your Common App essay, reach out to us today.