How to Successfully Answer Common App Prompt #2
How to Successfully Answer Common App Prompt #2
Today we’ll continue with part two of our series unpacking the Common App main essay questions. Here’s how the second prompt reads:“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?”It might seem counterintuitive at first but reflecting on moments of failure or struggle can be a positive addition to an application otherwise dedicated to your accomplishments. Showing the reader how you’ve grown clues them in on your humanity and motivation as well as your ambition.If you have a story about a difficult challenge you’ve overcome—even if it was of your own making—this may be a great prompt for you to use to craft your personal statement. Read on for some of our best tips on how to make your answer shine.
Failure is the Set Up, Not the Payoff
The focus of your story should be how you turned your failure or obstacle into something positive. What did you learn? How did it change your course? What new action or direction did it spur?Avoid spending too much of your essay detailing what went wrong. Remember, you only have 650 words. Use each word judiciously. Think of the struggle you faced as “Act 1” of your personal statement. You’re setting the scene and the hero of your story (you) faces a major hurdle. The rest of the story is about how you overcame it.For the purposes of admissions, you want to show why you are better suited to thrive in college. Overemphasizing what went wrong without pivoting to the resolution will produce the opposite effect. In your essay—and in life—treat failure as the set up for a positive payoff, full of learning, self-compassion, and growth.Similarly, if your story is about arduous or unfair circumstances you’ve had to endure, illuminate the ways you are taking control of your own situation however you can. An unfortunately high number of students battle challenges that make learning more difficult than it should be. You might find yourself in that category for one or more reasons. But you are still responsible for doing your best; focus on how you’ve done that in this essay rather than the obstacle.
Avoid Excuses
It’s tempting to give reasons, pronounced excuses, when things don’t go as we planned. Maybe your teacher really wasn’t that great in the class where you got that C. Perhaps your boss really didn’t like you when you got reprimanded at your internship. It’s possible that you really have had it harder than everyone around you.Your personal statement is not the vehicle to lodge complaints against the universe for its unfairness. Rather than gain sympathy, it will cause an admissions officer to question your readiness to handle the new and unknown challenges awaiting you at their school.Take ownership over your mistakes without making excuses. Then focus on the solutions you devised to improve your situation. If you don’t have a firm handle on how you have been growing (or are growing) from the situation, it’s probably wise to choose a different essay prompt.No one expects you to be perfect. It’s OK that you’ve made mistakes. Reflecting on them transparently and making changes takes strength and courage—the kind of traits that make great additions in any learning community.
Forecast Future Success
Because no one is perfect, we all have stories that could appropriately answer this prompt. So making this question stand out requires connecting it to something other than the obstacle or failure. Your answer needs to demonstrate to the reader how you are better equipped to succeed because of your failure.Ask yourself the following:
- What new knowledge do I have about an area of passion because of this setback/obstacle?
- What kinds of people am I now inspired to serve because of this obstacle/setback?
- What other skills or survival strategies have I developed?
- How can I apply what I’ve learned to my college career?
Infuse your personal statement with answers to these questions. Demonstrate that what you’ve gone through has empowered you, not limited you.Writing about the pain, embarrassment, shame, neglect, or loss you felt as a result of your obstacle may prove cathartic and, when done well, can shed great insight on you as a person that benefits your application. If you have such a story you feel compelled to share, give yourself ample time to craft your essay properly. This could be the difference between making allies of your admissions officer or alienating them.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