We’re back with another post in our series decoding and exploring each prompt in the Common App, and this time we’re tackling prompt #3. Honestly, we’ve typed the word prompt so much it’s lost all it’s meaning, but we press on. Here at TKG, we are huge prompt #7 people (aka, write an essay of your own design) because we love that you can do so much with it. But, we know some students don’t love something so unstructured. Prompt #3 might be a good option for you, but we have some caveats to mention.
We’re sure you probably already have at least an inkling of an idea of what the Common App is, but we want to reiterate that your Common App essay is one of the parts of your application every school will see. And, it’s the only part that shows off who you are as a person, and isn’t just a bunch of stats and data points. That means it needs to be well-written, well-thought-out, and practically perfect. If there’s one part of your Common App to fret over, it’s probably the essay!
Now, let’s dive into Prompt #3:
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
We want to be super upfront with you–we don’t love this prompt. It is a very good vehicle to tell a story (which is what all great Common App essays do!), but this is also… maybe a trap question?
Okay, maybe not a trap, but it’s a tricky one to navigate. First of all, this is a question that a lot of schools ask in their supplemental essays. Like, a lot of schools, probably more than one on your list, will ask you. The biggest reason we don’t like this prompt is because you will burn a lot of material for future supplements. Each part of your Common Application should tell us something new about you, and if you write something here, you can’t use it again anywhere else. That doesn’t mean you can’t use this prompt though! But just a word of warning!!
The other way this prompt can lead you into a trap is by having you write about an issue or social ill rather than yourself. A good Common App essay is always about you, the person, and not some larger thing outside of who you are. This prompt can also lead to you sounding ignorant. Yes, you changed your mind, but if you write about how you never really considered racism in your community or how homelessness was bad… that won’t come across well! And, you also probably shouldn’t talk about how you changed your mind about any big hot-button issues like abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, etc., even if you think your new opinion might be the more mainstream idea. Avoiding controversial topics is always smart–you have no idea what the admissions counselor reading your essay thinks or believes, so best to stay away from anything that could easily upset or enrage someone.
Now, that does not mean you can’t write a really good essay for prompt #3, we just want to give you these words of warning because they’re common issues we see with students who try to tackle this one on their own. Let’s explore how to best brainstorm ideas for this prompt that won’t put you in the trap zone.
Common App Essay Prompt 3 Example Topics
The best way to write this prompt, and any Common App essay, is by telling a story with a designated beginning, middle, and end. With prompt #3, some students linger on the “here’s my bad wrong opinion, I’m self-flagellating, look how dumb I was” part for waaaay too long and don’t even touch on the last part of the prompt: what was the outcome? We don’t want that!
Before we start thinking about actual topics, having a vague idea of an outline can help spur some ideas. So, here’s a very easy way to sort this prompt into those boxes:
Your previous belief
The information/experience that challenged you
What you did do about it
As you think of the story you want to tell, it might help to think about the traits about yourself that you want to highlight. Are you adaptable? Funny? Thoughtful? Ask your friends and family to describe yourself in five or so words, see what overlaps, and then think of stories that feed into that trait.
Like most Common App essays, your topic will be better (and easier to write about) if you think small, especially with issue essays. You could write about a big issue, like the environment, but the story itself should be very small. Think global, act local, right? Maybe you watched a documentary or learned in class about the giant floating garbage patch and decided to make a huge change re: your home recycling and waste practices. When you got home, you launched a campaign for your mom, dad, and sister to start being more mindful about what you use and how often you throw things out, or maybe you successfully convinced everyone to try a “Buy Nothing” week or month.
You can even go SMALLER (ironic to use all caps) and choose something a little… silly, even! Maybe you used to be a super picky eater, but after a trip to a friends house where salmon was the only dinner option, you’ve become a connoisseur of all things seafood. Changing your mind or challenging a belief doesn’t always have to be something huge! Maybe you changed your ~aesthetic~ after deciding to truly understand your personal style, or maybe you converted to Android after years of iPhone loyalty.
Now that you have some ideas (hopefully!) let’s talk about the actual writing of the essay.
Common App Essay Prompt 3 Example Guide
Got your idea? Great! But translating it onto paper is the real challenge, isn't it? Crafting your Common App essay can be daunting (but don't worry, we've got your back!). Let’s break down how to write it. You have 650 words to weave a compelling story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Thankfully, as we mentioned, it’s fairly easy to put this prompt into those boxes.
When you start your essay, we want a glimpse into your previous belief or practice. Let’s run with the picky eater-salmon idea we had. Maybe you have some bad experience with seafood, or you’ve just never been adventurous with food, preferring easy fare like pizza or burgers. Your starting sentence could be something as simple as: “My mom’s making salmon for dinner, is that okay?” and then you launch into the context that makes that seem like a one-sentence horror story to you. Don’t forget lots of descriptive details! We want to feel like we’re there with you–describe the sweat forming on your brow, the anticipation in your stomach, the lingering smell of seafood and teriyaki as you walk into your friend's house.
In the middle, this is where we’d talk about the challenge itself, in this case, the dinner. You want to be descriptive (we’re going to repeat this a lot) as you tell us how you sat down, braced yourself, and decided to eat this food you swore you’d never let touch your lips. Then, like that one scene in Ratatouille, the flavors explode all around you and you realize how wrong you’ve been.
In your ending, we want to tie the story up nicely and answer the last part of the prompt: what was the outcome? Word to the wise: this essay is not going to be super good if you don’t change your mind. We know the prompt technically just asks about challenging or questioning a belief, but ending with the same belief you started with doesn’t make a super compelling essay. We want to end on a high note of change and growth, so if your story doesn’t include that, don’t include that story. For our new salmon fan, maybe you come home from the sleepover with some fresh fish you bought at the market on the way back, and decide to try your hand at cooking it. Or take the whole family out for sushi!
Here are some practical writing tips. If you’re stuck on the introduction, consider writing it last. It might sound odd, but sometimes it’s easier to craft the beginning once you know how your story ends. If you can’t think of the perfect attention-grabbing intro sentence, just move on to the next one. The right intro will come to you later.
When you finish your draft (and it will likely be over 650 words), it’s time to edit. Read your essay out loud to catch any awkward or stilted parts, and then revise them. You can even retype the document word-for-word! Go through your editing process 3-4 times before asking a friend, parent, teacher, or another trusted person to review it and give feedback. However, try not to have too many people review your essay – stick to one or two to avoid conflicting feedback and feeling overwhelmed.
Once you’ve edited and refined your essay, you’re ready to submit! Good luck!
While Prompt #3 might not be our favorite, since it’s such a common supplement question, there are still a lot of creative ways you can answer this one! Stick to a smaller story, don’t go too wide with your chosen topic, and make sure the essay is about you, not the issue at hand.
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.