Top 3 Tips for Common App Prompt 1
Top 3 Tips for Common App Prompt 1
The first Common App question reads as follows: “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.”
This prompt will resonate with many students and, when done correctly, offers the admissions officer a wonderful glimpse into a major component of who you are. We strongly believe that you should focus first and foremost on identifying your best story, then craft it to the most appropriate prompt. If you are sure want to respond to this question, we’ve got some tips you should keep in mind before you get too deep into the writing process.
Paying attention to these three insights will give you the best chance to craft an essay that moves admissions officers.
It Can’t Just Be Meaningful, It Must Be Memorable
Everyone will have identities, interests, and talents that mean a lot to them. We encourage you to cultivate those to the fullest and take pride in them as you do. That said, for them to make for a great topic for your Common App essay, they must pass an even higher bar.
You are writing your essay to garner advocates from among admissions officers who will read thousands of essays in any given cycle. The odds are likely that someone else will have a similar theme based on their identity, interest, or talent as you will.
Don’t take for granted that your story will automatically stand out just because it’s your most meaningful piece of evidence. Think from the perspective of an admissions officer in deciding which details, traits, and subtexts to infuse into your story.
As a rule of thumb: the more common the talent or interest, the harder it will be to write an impressive personal statement about it. Writing about sports, theater, student council, Model UN, or community service (that you didn’t create from the ground up) generally yields predictable themes and takeaways for admissions officers, making it difficult for these topics to capture their imagination. If your best options for answering Common App prompt 1 fall into these categories, consider a different prompt. If not, you may want to dig deeper to find what really makes your topic personal.
The “Why” Matters Even More than the “What”
Because there is hardly such thing as a totally original idea, the reason behind why you have pursued your interests and talents or embraced your identity are more important to your reader than the specific topic itself. Students who focus on vividly illustrating their “why” stand a much better chance of captivating admissions officers.
Finding your “why” will require some introspection, more than is required of most students even in their AP and honors English classes. You must dig deep – beyond the “I just like it” or even “I wanted to give back to others” – to share insight into who you are and how you hope to use your gifts to impact the world.
Achieving the level of vulnerability and reflection that moves the needle at highly selective institutions is best not done in a vacuum. It will require multiple drafts and a willingness to be pushed to consider yourself as you read to someone who doesn’t know you. We encourage our students to ignore the word count in their early drafts, freeing them to reflect without restrictions as we search for hidden themes and connective tissue that paint a dynamic picture of their “why.”
Find Your Identity within Your Identity
Many students will feel compelled to write about their cultural identity, sexual orientation, religious background, or other similarly personal markers. It can feel rewarding to share this information about yourself. However, you must dig deeper for your story to have the impact you desire.
How have you taken initiative to educate yourself about what it means to be a member of the group you chose to write about? In what ways have you overcome adversity to express your identity? How have you connected to others as a result of this self-exploration? And how has this influenced your goals and future plans?
Not all of these questions may apply to you. But by asking them, you will begin to create material from which you can write a more personal personal essay. If you aren’t ready for this level of self-exploration, that’s ok! You should consider writing about a topic that you’re more comfortable probing deeply into. Working with an admissions expert may help you feel more confident choosing your topic and charting a course to writing your strongest 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.
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