How to Successfully Answer Common App Essay Prompt #3

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How to Successfully Answer Common App Essay Prompt #3

Today we’ll continue our dive into sound strategy behind each of the personal essay prompts offered by the Common App. Choosing the one that helps you tell the most persuasive story filled with meaning and subtext is a major step to creating an advocate in the admissions officer who reads it.Here’s how the third prompt reads: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? Do you have a story that fits this scenario? Perhaps one of your proudest accomplishments was convincing someone to change their viewpoint on something that mattered to you. Perhaps the viewpoint that changed was your own. Let’s take a closer look at a few important points to keep in mind as you approach this prompt.

Focus on the Action, not the Belief

Avoid the trap of dedicating too much of your word limit trying to convince the reader that your belief is correct. Let your actions speak for you.Perhaps you helped someone improve a relationship with a member of a different race or religious group. Maybe you opened a family member’s eyes to the dangers of homophobia or political closed-mindedness. These are great ambitions and will help make the world a better place. But for your essay, keep the focus on the work you did – how you educated yourself, what interventions you pursued, how you’ve applied what you learned to positively impact others, etc.The reader doesn’t want a manifesto on your belief system. She will assume you’re passionate about your subject by virtue of you choosing the write about it. What sets you apart is how you’re able to turn that passion into specific action then reflect on it.

What’s the Outcome?

Challenging a belief that you or someone you love holds dear can be a powerful growth experience. As you tell this story, be sure to give special attention to the aftermath as well as the inciting incident. Your reader wants to understand what you learned and how you’ve been applying that information.Perhaps there isn’t a happy ending to your story. That’s OK. But what have you learned from the difficulty you’ve endured? Would you approach the situation differently in the future? What new tactics might you try next time? What have you discovered about the people whose beliefs you challenged?If the event in question hasn’t yet had a resolution, reflect on where you currently are in the process. Perhaps you’re using your newly earned power in student council to bring changes to your school that haven’t all been enacted yet, for example. In this case, give the reader a glimpse into the work you continue to do and how you’re preparing yourself for your eventual success.

Don’t Assume

Not everyone will share your belief system. Write your essay with the humility and openness that demonstrates your understanding of this. Especially with regard to religion, politics, and cultural issues, there is much room for interpretation and many intelligent people will disagree on what is truly “right.”As you craft your essay, don’t assume you’re writing to someone who agrees with you. Likewise, don’t assume that because the reader doesn’t share your opinion that he or she is biased against you. Focus your effort on showing how you’ve acted on your beliefs to persuade someone else in a positive direction.What motivated you to take action? Why do you feel so strongly about the issue at hand? And how has it affected your path as a learner, directly or indirectly? A trained admissions officer will search for these revelations in your essay and value them even if she does not personally share them. However, it’s up to you to make your motivations clear or you run the risk of having them lost in interpretation.There are no right or wrong topics in response to this prompt. But, as should be expected, admissions officers will scrutinize both your actions and what they reveal about you very carefully in reading your essay. In defending or challenging the belief you write about, are you portraying yourself as someone who would make a good roommate, classmate, or teammate? Are you showing yourself as a person who is flexible and accepting of others even while fiercely defending what she believes?Keep your main goal in mind – gaining admission -- as you tell a story undoubtedly deeply personal to you. If you do, you’re well on your way to writing a captivating essay.The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.Ready to get started? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute conversation today!Want to stay informed? Subscribe to our newsletter.See what others are saying about us

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