university of minnesota common app essay

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Not sure how to approach the University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompts? With tips from an Ivy League graduate, CollegeAdvisor.com’s guide to the University of Minnesota essay prompts will show you how to write s trong University of Minnesota application essays and in crease your chances of University of Minnesota admission.

For more resources on UM, click here . Want help crafting your University of Minnesota supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a free consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities Essay Guide Quick Facts:

• The University of Minnesota has an acceptance rate of 70%— U.S. News ranks University of Minnesota Twin Cities as a competitive school. 
• We recommend answering all University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompts with thought and care.

Does University of Minnesota require essays?

Yes. In addition to the Common App Personal Statement, there are two University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompts. Although the University of Minnesota essay prompts are optional, we suggest writing all the University of Minnesota application essays. This will help boost your chances in the University of Minnesota admissions process. 

Need tips on writing your Common App essay? Check out our blog article .  

How do I get into the University of Minnesota?

The University of Minnesota admissions process is like any other. You should apply via either the Common App or the University of Minnesota portal, the Golden Gopher Application . The platform you use will not affect your University of Minnesota admissions chances.  

You should include your extracurriculars and awards. You should also highlight what makes you unique. Additionally, you should write strong University of Minnesota supplemental essays. Your application should show University of Minnesota admissions officers who you are and how you’ve grown throughout high school. 

You do not, however, need to submit your ACT/SAT scores, letters of recommendation, or academic transcript. Some of those materials may be required for other colleges, but not for University of Minnesota admissions. You can view the University of Minnesota admissions process in more detail here . 

How many essays are there for University of Minnesota?

There are two University of Minnesota essay prompts. Both of these University of Minnesota application essays are optional. However, we suggest that you write both University of Minnesota supplemental essays. This will help increase your odds in the University of Minnesota admissions process. 

You can view the University of Minnesota Twin Cities supplemental essays on the Common App website . 

What does the University of Minnesota look for in essays?

In the University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompts, your readers want to see clear, well-written prose. They also want to see how you’ve grown during your high school career. In your responses to the University of Minnesota essay prompts, University of Minnesota admissions officers want to see what makes you special. You should highlight what makes you unique as you complete the University of Minnesota essay prompts. 

Be authentic

Your University of Minnesota application essays should also show that you’ve done research on the school. Colleges like to know why they are special to you. So, use the University of Minnesota application essays to discuss why UM would be the best fit for you. Most of all, you should strive to sound genuine and thoughtful in your University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompts. Strong essays will boost your chances in the University of Minnesota admissions process. 

University of Minnesota Supplemental Essay 1 (Optional)

Please include an explanation of why you would like to study the major(s) you have selected. You may also use this space to indicate your interest in other major(s) in the colleges listed above. (Maximum 150 words)

How do I write the University of Minnesota essays?

This University of Minnesota application essay is the classic “Why Us” question with a little twist. Rather than asking why the school attracts you, this University of Minnesota supplemental essay asks about your chosen major. Here are a few guidelines to follow as you complete this University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompt. 

To best answer this University of Minnesota essay prompt, you should read all you can about your major on the UM website . You could even read about the courses you would take in your chosen program. This will help you write an informed response for this University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay.

Avoid general statements such as “I think the University of Minnesota has a great biology program.” Instead, use details to show what makes the UM biology major special. The more specific you can be, the better.

In this University of Minnesota supplemental essay, you might also address what made you want to pursue this major. You could also include an anecdote that sparked your passion for whatever you intend to study. Don’t just talk about what you want to study; instead, highlight why this field matters to you.

Don’t list

As this University of Minnesota essay prompt notes, you can also express interest in more than one major. You should, however, remain concise. After all, you only have 150 words, so make the most of them. You don’t want your University of Minnesota application essay to just list all the majors which might appeal to you. Instead, make sure you address the why of this University of Minnesota essay prompt rather than just stating the what. 

For example, if you are applying to major in Electrical Engineering, you should first read the entire department website . You could also check out their faculty news and student & alumni news pages to get a full overview of the department. The University of Minnesota Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering offers two degrees: Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (BEE degree), and Bachelor of Computer Engineering (BCompE). Make sure you use the right language when discussing your future major in your University of Minnesota application essay. 

Connect your interests to career goals

If you know you want to study Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Justice, you should, again, read the website . You could discuss how this major will prepare you for a career in healthcare or policy. As you research, look at what makes this program unique. For instance, you could address how this program lets you pursue advanced courses in one of four different clusters. Then, you could talk about which cluster interests you and why. 

Overall, for this University of Minnesota supplemental essay, ensure you have done detailed research about your chosen major. You only have 150 words to respond to this University of Minnesota essay prompt. However, you can maximize the space you have by doing in-depth research. Be specific, concise, and detailed.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities Essay Prompt Key Questions :

• Does your essay demonstrate that you’ve done research on the school?
• Do you explain what unique programs at UM interest you? 
• Does your draft provide details about what you hope to do on UM’s campus?  

University of Minnesota Supplemental Essay 2 (Optional)

The University values diversity, broadly defined to include diversity of experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and talents. Enrolling a diverse community of scholars interested in learning with and from each other fosters discussion and discovery inside and outside of the classroom. Please share briefly how you might contribute to, or benefit from, our community of scholars. (Maximum 150 words)

This University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompt is twofold. First, you should describe how you will enrich the University of Minnesota community. Then, you should address how you will benefit from a diverse learning environment.

The wording of this University of Minnesota essay prompt suggests that you can answer only the first or second part. However, we suggest you address both sections of this University of Minnesota essay prompt to strengthen your essay. Your readers want to see that you’ve addressed all parts of the prompt.

This University of Minnesota supplemental essay may be listed as optional. However, you should still complete it. Some students might ignore this prompt, so writing this essay can help you stand out. 

A diverse learning experience is the cornerstone of any college campus. Your response to this University of Minnesota essay prompt should show why this diversity matters to you on both an academic and personal level.

Pick something unique

For the first part of this University of Minnesota supplemental essay, choose something that makes you unique. This might be an identity, a view, an experience, or even a rare talent. Then, you should discuss how this aspect of yourself would enrich UM’s campus. How will you use your chosen skill or experience to engage with other students? Your readers want to be able to see how you will fit in into their student body. This means your University of Minnesota application essays should show how you will add to UM’s campus. 

Then, turn to the second part of this University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay. In this part of your essay, describe how a diverse college experience will benefit you . Perhaps you come from a very homogeneous area, either racially, politically, or economically. How will engaging with those from other backgrounds broaden your views and enhance your education? Despite the word limit, you should still address both parts of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities essay prompt. 

University of Minnesota Twin Cities Essay Prompt Key Questions:

• Does your essay describe an experience, background, or talent that you have which would enrich the University of Minnesota campus?
• Have you shown a desire for growth and collaboration during your time as a student at UM?
• Do you use concise and specific language to maximize the space you have in this prompt? 

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Supplemental Essay Final Thoughts

The University of Minnesota supplemental essays can seem daunting. However, don’t let that keep you from applying. The University of Minnesota supplemental essays will help you show who you are to the University of Minnesota admissions team. The University of Minnesota supplemental essays can boost your application if you have a below-average GPA or SAT score .

Use this guide as a step-by-step aid for the University of Minnesota supplemental essays. Start writing earlier than you think you should. Given the University of Minnesota acceptance rate, these optional University of Minnesota supplemental essays are even more crucial.

Some students might ignore this part of the University of Minnesota admissions process. So, writing these essays will strengthen your application. Don’t be afraid to ask for edits; it’s helpful to have someone check your University of Minnesota supplemental essays for grammar, tone, and clarity. Good luck!

This guide was written by Laura Frustaci , Harvard ’21. This guide to the University of Minnesota supplemental essays shows you how to write strong essays and increase your chances in the University of Minnesota admissions process. For more resources on UM, click here . Want help crafting your University of Minnesota supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.

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How to Write the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Essays 2020-2021

We’ve updated this post! Read the  2021-2022 UMN Twin Cities essay guide .

The University of Minnesota is a public university with two separate campuses three miles apart in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. The Minneapolis campus is divided into the East and West Bank by the Mississippi River. Considered a “ Public Ivy ,” UMN ranks #70 according to U.S. News.

UMN is considered the top University of Minnesota school, with 19 academic divisions, from the College of Continuing Education to the College of Veterinary Medicine. The alumni of the university have been credited with major discoveries and inventions such as Melvin Calvin with the Calvin Cycle and Robert Gore’s GORE-TEX.

The university has a 52% acceptance rate. The middle 50% of admitted students had an SAT score of 1270-1480 and ACT scores of 26-31. All students must respond to one required essay, and Nursing students will have an additional 3 essay. The University of Minnesota also offers a University Honors Program and certain scholarships that you do not need to apply for separately. Want to know your chances at UMN? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Want to learn what UMN will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering UMN needs to know.

All Applicants

Please include an explanation of why you would like to study the major(s) you have selected. you may also use this space to indicate your interest in other major(s) in the colleges listed above. (150 words).

This is a classic example of the “ Why This Major? ” essay question. In approaching this prompt, try to think of it as straightforwardly as possible; the university wants to briefly know what your reasoning behind studying your major is, and whether you are considering other fields as well. Colleges ask this question to differentiate applicants who might have similar grades and test scores. 

Note that you only have 150 words, so keep your answer succinct. The key here is to be specific to UMN’s offerings as well as your prior experiences and current interests. A common blunder is to mention money or prestige — avoid these topics at all costs. The admissions officers want to see that you are genuinely passionate about what you do or want to pursue.

To effectively answer this prompt, you need to show admissions officers why you like the subject rather than merely telling them. Focus on why you enjoy the subject: What niches in this subject area appeal to you most? Why do you have a personal connection to it? Use imagery and descriptive language to create an immersive level of detail that engages your readers.

You also need to connect your passions to UMN’s school-specific offerings. This underscores your interest in the school to admissions officers. A great way to research for this response is by perusing the school website. You can also communicate in-person or virtually with admissions staff, alumni, or current students to get a better idea of how you and your interests fit into UMN. For instance, a prospective food science major could respond like this:

“Ever since I can remember, cheese has been my favorite food. Whether I’m spreading a smoked gouda on a cracker or melting some creamy parmesan into a bowl of noodles, cheese consistently provides me with a reliable, hearty meal. Last summer, my sister and I experimented in the kitchen and made our own mozzarella; that intricate process sparked my desire to learn more about the science behind food. I want to further explore my passion for this delectable substance through UMN’s CFANS Food Science program. Through classes like Sensory Evaluation of Food Quality, I can learn what factors go into a nutritious cheese and how to taste the difference between a healthy and spoiled block of cheddar. Through the Baumler Lab, I can explore whether antimicrobials in chili peppers can help keep a wheel of brie fresh for an extra week or two.”  

This response deftly weaves the student’s current passion and knowledge of cheese with potential future endeavors they could carry out in college. The essay tone is casual but the use of specific detail demonstrates passion. The author grounds each hypothetical activity to a specific UMN offering.

If you have another major you are considering, split the 150 words to devote enough time to both subjects. However, keep in mind that you might not be able to elaborate on each one enough to craft a thorough response. Try explaining why both subjects are interesting to you, and if you have any space left, you may want to write about how the subjects relate to each other, and why studying one gives you a deeper understanding of the other. This will tie the essay together, and give a clearer picture to admissions officers as to why you would like to pursue both.

For instance, a student could first write about studying mathematics, then follow-up with writing about art as a second interest. Additionally, the student could end with how mathematics influences art in symmetry, space, and perspective, and how the study of mathematics is necessary for creating art.

With this in mind, you are equipped to write a stellar response to UMN’s supplement prompt. Good luck! If you’re applying to Nursing, stick around for a breakdown of those prompts. 

Nursing Major Applicants

Nursing prompt 1:, why have you chosen to pursue a nursing career explain how your experiences shaped your decision. (250 words), general strategy.

This question, like most questions for specialized programs, is intended to assess your commitment to a difficult, long-term path–as a high school senior. As such, your primary focus here should be to convey, with concise focus and concrete examples, your commitment to and passion for this path.

Furthermore, in such a short space, it’s crucial that you remain focused. There might be a million reasons that you want to be a nurse–and that’s great! Just don’t list them all here. Your reader won’t assume that this response is an exhaustive list of all the reasons you want to be a nurse–instead, they’ll assume that you’ve chosen one or two of the most compelling experiences you’ve had to illustrate the core motivation behind this aspiration.

This brings me to the final important thing to note: With why -driven essays, your focus should be on digging beyond basic explanation. Try to show not only the experiences that have inspired you but also what your deepest motivations and aspirations are. What drives you? What makes you tick? What do you aspire to do with your life? Use specific examples to offer insight into these important, deeply personal questions, even as you explain why you want to be a nurse.

Picking Examples

Though strong responses will have an abstract/aspirational dimension, your response should still be grounded in concrete examples. This means that your writing process should still begin with some brainstorming as you search for concrete examples. Think back: is there an obvious experience that made you go “Aha! I want to be a nurse?”

Strong experiences to focus on can include:

• Family or close friends in health-related fields who have inspired you.
• Your own medical experiences, as a patient.
• Experiences with close family members or friends who have been patients and who have been cared for by excellent nurses.
• An internship or shadowing experience.
• An academic or pre-professional course that exposed you to nursing.

The experiences you choose to depict should be vivid and meaningful enough that you can offer a brief, but detailed, description that shows the reader how they impacted you. As such, a brief glimpse of a nurse on a break from work or an impression you got from watching a TV show might be too superficial to develop as an experience that “shaped your decision.”

One note of caution: Note that the next prompt asks about how your “studies and activities” have prepared you for a career in nursing. This means that you’ll get a chance later to focus on specific academic or extracurricular things that have given you the skills and knowledge to dive into nursing studies. Here, your focus should be on motivations and interests, not preparation.

Digging a little deeper

Once you’ve chosen your example, take a moment to consider what this experience touched in you. Was it your desire to help others? Your anger at the suffering in the world? Your fascination with biology and the mechanisms of the human body? These sorts of more abstract motivations are what, ultimately, will provide a deep, satisfying answer to this question’s “why.” However, you need to “pull” these sorts of deeper points out of your examples.

• Describe a moment of reflection as you sat in your bed while a nurse drew your blood. You could watch her care and consideration intently, moved by it, but also fascinated by the procedure itself. This “moment” could be framed as helping you realize that these two passions could go together.

Structuring your response

A strong response will seamlessly interweave introspection/deeper reflection and concrete examples. In order to plan your essay, you should consider the relationship between your motivations/interests and the example(s) you’re giving. It’s sort of a “chicken and egg” question, but your job is to decide which came first.

• In this case, you might start by describing that initial impulse, then jump into the example of your shadowing experience, then reflect on how it shaped/specified your long-term aspirations.
• In this case, it might make sense to dive right into the “moment” when you found yourself in a hospital, fascinated by the procedures going on around you/happening to you. Then, you can extrapolate from this example, discussing what you realized about yourself and your long-term goals.

Nursing Prompt 2

How have your studies and activities prepared you for a career in nursing (250 words).

This is a fairly straightforward question. However, as with the previous question, the key here is to not go overboard. Your focus should not be to exhaustively list everything that has prepared you in any way for a career in nursing. Instead, pick 2-4 specific academic and/or extracurricular activities to discuss.

Crucially, this should not just be a list: for each example, go into detail. Explain what specific skills or information each experience you cite has given you; explain how this has prepared you to become a nurse.

Choosing your examples

This essay should cite specific studies and activities, so your first order of business should be to pick which studies or activities you want to discuss. However, your examples shouldn’t be chosen just because they “seem” like the good nursing prep. Instead, try working backward.

First, think about what skills and knowledge you have that would make you a good nurse. Then, think about how you acquired these competencies. Whatever comes out of this last reflection will be a potential “study or activity” to include in your response. Given the framing of the prompt, however, you should try to focus on clearly defined things, like courses or extracurriculars, rather than on personal experiences.

Strong examples could include:

• Your anatomy course.
• Your internship at a local hospital.
• Your job, which has given you strong administrative skills (record-keeping is essential for nursing!).
• Your biology course.
• Your food science course, which has taught you a lot about nutrition (also key for nursing, though not always adequately covered!).
• Membership in a club like Best Buddies that lets you connect with and help those who might be differently-abled than you are.

Importantly, avoid choosing redundant examples. Each course or activity that you describe should touch on a different aspect of your preparation.

Writing your Essay

Once you’ve chosen your examples, the key is just to weave them together. The key, however, is to make sure that for every example you give, you do three things: (1) Explain the study experience activity in some detail; (2) describe what skills or knowledge you gained; and (3) explain how this has prepared you to become a nurse.

If several of your examples do show similar knowledge/skills, you can group them together.

• You can explain how this knowledge base will allow you to rapidly develop efficient mastery of everyday procedures that nurses must conduct.
• Then, you could explain how this comfort with comforting and helping others will allow you to be an effective and compassionate nurse.

If your examples all feel quite disparate, that’s fine. Each paragraph can focus on a different skill/area of knowledge–just be sure that all three components (example, detailed description, and explanation of how this will allow you to be a good nurse) are present. Then, try to add transitions and tie all your examples together in a strong, specific, personal conclusion.

Nursing Prompt 3

Please provide a brief reflection about why you feel the university of minnesota school of nursing will be the best fit with your degree and career plans. (250 words).

First, a note about what this prompt is not asking: This prompt is not asking you to explain why you want to be a nurse (you’ve already done that, hopefully, in your first response!) or why you like the University of Minnesota in a broad sense. This is a very specific question about why this particular program fits your degree and career plans .

Given this, your response should contain three elements:

(1) A statement of your career and degree plans;

(2) a reflection on key elements of the University of Minnesota’s Nursing Program; and

(3) an explanation of how these elements facilitate the achievement of your plans).

These elements can be combined in different ways, but all strong essays will contain all three in some form .

Defining your goals

Unlike most essays here, this one doesn’t require the incorporation of specific examples, though you might end up giving specific examples of what you aspire to do with your life.

Instead, you should begin stating your goals. What do you aspire to do with your nursing degree? Note that you need to go beyond “I want to be a nurse” as your career plan–this is already self-evident. Instead, you should explain the particular kind of nursing you want to practice, or, more abstractly, the kind of impact you want to have on your patients.

Furthermore, you might also mention aspirations beyond simply working as a nurse: perhaps you would like to eventually advocate for better nursing practices on a policy level, or work in a more managerial or administrative role in a hospital. Feel free to be as specific as you like here. The more clearly you set your “targets,” the more focused, personal and powerful your essay will be.

Familiarizing yourself with the program

Though you are hopefully already familiar with the program, take some time to brush up on its essential features. Identify particular requirements that really fit your goals. Go beyond what is readily accessible on their website’s front page.

Try making a list of all the unique features of the program that excite you and that you know you couldn’t find on a regular undergrad-nursing school path. Then, dig a bit deeper. Find specific mentors, courses, labs, etc., that really excite you.

Once you have this list, go back to the goals that you’ve defined. Which of these resources fit your goals? Can you draw a line from one particular offering of UMTC’s Nursing Program to achieving that aspiration?

Linking Program features to your goals

This brings us to the final step: explaining exactly how the features of the Nursing Program fit your goals. Remember, the key here is to show how this program will better fit your aspirations than a normal path (undergrad, then nursing school). You should not spend too many words explicitly making negative statements about a “normal” path–however, you should avoid elaborating on things that a “regular” path could also provide to you.

For example:  

• If you’re really interested in supporting patients suffering from cognition-altering brain conditions, you might want to talk about how the opportunity to work closely with faculty from an early point in your education will really steep you in different approaches to brain trauma. Emphasize how this sort of close study and mentorship simply wouldn’t be possible in another program; you could explain how this sort of close work early in your studies will allow you to focus, as you continue to take classes, on problems and questions that arise as you start to learn more about current approaches to brain maladies and trauma.
• If your long-term goal is to work in hospital administration, trying to raise nurse’s voices in hospital decision-making, then you might focus on aspects of the program that will allow you to become more familiar with administrative dimensions of nursing. 

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University of Minnesota Common App Essay Examples

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Filter exemplars, the drive to succeed: from academic setback to sporting triumph, overcoming fear: embracing imperfection and finding confidence, the dual systems: expressing myself as "mohamed omar", ubuntu, and windows.

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Common App Essays | 7 Strong Examples with Commentary

Published on November 19, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

If you’re applying for college via the Common App , you’ll have to write an essay in response to one of seven prompts.

Table of contents

What is the common application essay, prompt 1: background, identity, interest, or talent, prompt 2: overcoming challenges, prompt 3: questioning a belief or idea, prompt 4: appreciating an influential person, prompt 5: transformative event, prompt 6: interest or hobby that inspires learning, prompt 7: free topic, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

The Common Application, or Common App , is a college application portal that is accepted by more than 900 schools.

Within the Common App is your main essay, a primary writing sample that all your prospective schools will read to evaluate your critical thinking skills and value as a student. Since this essay is read by many colleges, avoid mentioning any college names or programs. Instead, save tailored answers for the supplementary school-specific essays within the Common App.

Regardless of your prompt choice, admissions officers will look for an ability to clearly and creatively communicate your ideas based on the selected prompt.

We’ve provided seven essay examples, one for each of the Common App prompts. After each essay, we’ve provided a table with commentary on the essay’s narrative, writing style and tone, demonstrated traits, and self-reflection.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

This essay explores the student’s emotional journey toward overcoming her father’s neglect through gymnastics discipline.

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.

When “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” began to play, it was my signal to lay out a winning floor routine. Round off. Back handspring. Double back layout. Stick!

Instead, I jolted off the floor, landing out of bounds. Over the past week, I hadn’t landed that pass once, and regionals were only seven days away. I heaved a heavy sigh and stomped over to the bench.

Coach Farkas saw my consternation. “Mona, get out of your head. You’re way too preoccupied with your tumbling passes. You could do them in your sleep!”

That was the problem. I was dreaming of tumbling and missing my landings, waking up in a cold sweat. The stress felt overwhelming.

“Stretch out. You’re done for tonight.”

I walked home from the gym that had been my second home since fourth grade. Yet my anxiety was increasing every time I practiced.

I startled my mom. “You’re home early! Wait! You walked? Mona, what’s going on?!”

I slumped down at the kitchen table. “Don’t know.”

She sat down across from me. “Does it have anything to do with your father texting you a couple of weeks ago about coming to see you at regionals?”

“So what?! Why does it matter anymore?” He walked out when I was 10 and never looked back. Still, dear ol’ Dad always had a way of resurfacing when I least expected him.

“It still matters because when you hear from him, you tend to crumble. Or have you not noticed?” She offered a knowing wink and a compassionate smile.

I started gymnastics right after Dad left. The coaches said I was a natural: short, muscular, and flexible. All I knew was that the more I improved, the more confident I felt. Gymnastics made me feel powerful, so I gave it my full energy and dedication.

The floor routine became my specialty, and my performances were soon elevating our team score. The mat, solid and stable, became a place to explore and express my internal struggles. Over the years, no matter how angry I felt, the floor mat was there to absorb my frustration.

The bars, beam, and vault were less forgiving because I knew I could fall. My performances in those events were respectable. But, the floor? Sometimes, I had wildly creative and beautiful routines, while other times were disastrous. Sadly, my floor routine had never been consistent.

That Saturday afternoon, I slipped into the empty gym and walked over to the mat. I sat down and touched its carpeted surface. After a few minutes, my cheeks were wet with the bitter disappointment of a dad who only showed up when it was convenient for him. I ruminated on the years of practices and meets where I had channeled my resentment into acrobatics and dance moves, resolved to rise higher than his indifference.

I saw then that my deepest wounds were inextricably entangled with my greatest passion. They needed to be permanently separated. While my anger had first served to launch me into gymnastics, before long, I had started serving my anger.

Anger is a cruel master. It corrupts everything it touches, even something as beautiful as a well-choreographed floor routine.

I changed my music days before regionals. “The Devil” no longer had a place in my routine. Instead, I chose an energetic cyberpunk soundtrack that inspired me to perform with passion and laser focus. Dad made an obligatory appearance at regionals, but he left before I could talk to him.

It didn’t matter this time. I stuck every landing in my routine. Anger no longer controlled me. I was finally free.

Word count: 601

This essay shows how the challenges the student faced in caring for her sister with autism resulted in an unexpected path forward in her education.

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?

I never had a choice.

My baby sister was born severely autistic, which meant that every detail of our home life was repeatedly adjusted to manage her condition. I couldn’t go to bed without fearing that Mindy would wake up screaming with that hoarse little voice of hers. I couldn’t have friends over on weekends because we never knew if our entire family would need to shift into crisis mode to help Mindy regain control.

We couldn’t take a family vacation because Mindy would start hitting us during a long car ride when she didn’t want to sit there anymore. We couldn’t even celebrate Christmas like a normal family because Mindy would shriek and run away when we tried to give her presents.

I was five years old when Mindy was born. For the first ten years, I did everything I could to help my mom with Mindy. But Mom was depressed and would often stare out the window, as if transfixed by the view. Dad was no help either. He used his job as an excuse to be away from home. So, I tried to make up for both of them and rescue Mindy however I could whenever she needed it.

However, one day, when I was slowly driving Mindy around with the windows down, trying to lull her into a calmer state, we passed two of my former classmates from middle school. They heard Mindy growling her disapproval as the ride was getting long for her. One of them turned to the other and announced, “Oh my God! Marabeth brought her pet monster out for a drive!” They laughed hysterically and ran down the street.

After that day, I defied my parents at every turn. I also ignored Mindy. I even stopped doing homework. I purposely “got in with the wrong crowd” and did whatever they did.

My high school counselor Ms. Martinez saw through it all. She knew my family’s situation well. It didn’t take her long to guess what had probably happened.

“Marabeth, I get it. My brother has Down syndrome. It was really hard growing up with him as a brother. The other kids were pretty mean about it, especially in high school.”

I doubted she understood. “Yeah. So?”

“I’m guessing something happened that hurt or embarrassed you.”

“I’m so sorry. I can only imagine how you must have felt.”

It must have been the way she said it because I suddenly found myself sobbing into my trembling, cupped hands.

Ms. Martinez and I met every Friday after that for the rest of the year. Her stories of how she struggled to embrace living with and loving her brother created a bridge to my pain and then my healing. She explained that her challenges led her to pursue a degree in counseling so that she could offer other people what no one had given her.

I thought that Mindy was the end of my life, but, because of Ms. Martinez’s example and kindness, I can now see that Mindy is a gift, pointing me toward my future.

Now, I’m applying to study psychology so that I can go on to earn my master’s degree in counseling. I’m learning to forgive my parents for their mistakes, and I’m back in Mindy’s life again, but this time as a sister, not a savior. My choice.

Word Count: 553

This essay illustrates a student’s courage in challenging his culture’s constructs of manhood and changing his course while positively affecting his father in the process.

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

“No son of mine is gonna march around a football field wearing tail feathers while all the real men are playing football!”

I took a step backward and tried not to appear as off-balance as I felt. In my excitement, I had blurted out more information than my father could handle:

“Dad! I made the marching band as a freshman! Nobody does that—I mean nobody!”

As soon as I had said it, I wished I could recall those words. How could I forget that 26 years earlier, he had been the starting wide receiver for the state-champion Tigers on the same field?!

Still, when I opened the email on that scorching hot August afternoon, I was thrilled that five months of practicing every possible major and harmonic minor scale—two octaves up and two octaves down—had made the difference. I had busted reed after reed, trying not to puff my cheeks while moving my fingers in a precise cadence.

I knew he had heard me continually practicing in my room, yet he seemed to ignore all the parts of me that were incongruous with his vision of manhood:

Ford F-150 4x4s. Pheasant hunting. The Nebraska Cornhuskers.

I never had to wonder what he valued. For years, I genuinely shared his interests. But, in the fall of eighth grade, I heard Kyle Wheeling play a saxophone solo during the homecoming marching band halftime show. My dad took me to every football game to teach me the plays, but that night, all I could think about was Kyle’s bluesy improv at halftime.

During Thanksgiving break, I got my mom to drive me into Omaha to rent my instrument at Dietze Music, and, soon after, I started private lessons with Mr. Ken. Before long, I was spending hours in my room, exploring each nuance of my shiny Yamaha alto sax, anticipating my audition for the Marching Tigers at the end of the spring semester.

During those months of practice, I realized that I couldn’t hide my newfound interest forever, especially not from the football players who were going to endlessly taunt me. But not all the guys played football. Some were in choir and theater. Quite a few guys were in the marching band. In fact, the Marching Tigers had won the grand prize in their division at last year’s state showdown in Lincoln.

I was excited! They were the champions, and I was about to become a part of their legacy.

Yet, that afternoon, a sense of anxiety brewed in my belly. I knew I had to talk to him.

He was sweeping the grass clippings off of the sidewalk. He nodded.

“I need to tell you something.”

He looked up.

“I know that you know about my sax because you hear me practicing. I like it a lot, and I’m becoming pretty good at it. I still care about what you like, but I’m starting to like some other things more. I hope you’ll be proud of me whatever I choose.”

He studied the cracks in the driveway. “I am proud of you. I just figured you’d play football.”

We never talked about it again, but that fall, he was in the stands when our marching band won the state championship in Lincoln for the second time. In fact, for the next four years, he never left the stands during halftime until the marching band had performed. He was even in the audience for every performance of “Our Town” at the end of my junior year. I played the Stage Manager who reveals the show’s theme: everything changes gradually.

I know it’s true. Things do change over time, even out here in central Nebraska. I know because I’ve changed, and my dad has changed, too. I just needed the courage to go first.

Word count: 626

The student demonstrates how his teacher giving him an unexpected bad grade was the catalyst for his becoming a better writer.

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

I stared in disbelief at the big red letter at the top of my paper: D. 

Never in my entire high school career had I seen that letter at the top of any paper, unless it was at the beginning of my first name. 

I had a 4.796 GPA. I had taken every pre-AP and AP course offered. My teachers had praised my writing skills! However, Mr. Trimble didn’t think so, and he let me know it:

“Darwin, in the future, I believe you can do better if you fully apply yourself.” 

I furiously scanned the paper for corrections. Not even one! Grammar and syntax? Perfect. Spelling? Impeccable. Sentence and paragraph structure? Precise and indisputable, as always. 

Was he trying to ruin my GPA? Cooper was clearly his favorite, and we were neck and neck for valedictorian, which was only one year away. Maybe they were conspiring to take me down. 

Thankfully, AP Composition was my last class. I fled the room and ran to my car. Defiant tears stained my cheeks as I screeched my tires and roared out of the parking lot. When I got home, I shoved in my AirPods, flopped on my bed, and buried my head under the pillow. 

I awoke to my sister, Daria, gently shaking my arm. “I know what happened, D. Trimble stopped me in the hall after school.”

“I’m sure he did. He’s trying to ruin my life.”

“That’s not what he told me. You should talk to him, D.”

The next day, although I tried to avoid Mr. Trimble at all costs, I almost tripped over him as I was coming out of the bathroom.

“Darwin, can we talk?” 

He walked me down the hall to his room. “Do you know that you’re one of the best writers I’ve ever had in AP Comp?” 

“Then why’d you do it?” 

“Because you’re better than you know, Darwin. You impress with your perfect presentations, and your teachers reward you with A’s and praise. I do frequent the teacher’s lounge, you know.” 

“So I know you’re not trying.”

I locked eyes with him and glared. 

“You’ve never had to try because you have a gift. And, in the midst of the acclaim, you’ve never pushed yourself to discover your true capabilities.”

“So you give me a D?!”

“It got your attention.”

“You’re not going to leave it, are you?”

“Oh, the D stands. You didn’t apply yourself. You’ll have to earn your way out with your other papers.” 

I gained a new understanding of the meaning of ambivalence. Part of me was furious at the injustice of the situation, but I also felt strangely challenged and intrigued. I joined a local writer’s co-op and studied K. M. Weiland’s artistic writing techniques. 

Multiple drafts, track changes, and constructive criticism became my new world. I stopped taking Mr. Trimble’s criticism personally and began to see it as a precious tool to bolster me, not break me down. 

Last week, the New York Public Library notified me that I was named one of five finalists for the Young Lions Fiction Award. They described my collection of short stories as “fresh, imaginative, and captivating.” 

I never thought I could be grateful for a D, but Mr. Trimble’s insightful courage was the catalyst that transformed my writing and my character. Just because other people applaud you for being the best doesn’t mean you’re doing your best . 

AP Composition is now recorded as an A on my high school transcript, and Cooper and I are still locked in a tight race for the finish line. But, thanks to Mr. Trimble, I have developed a different paradigm for evaluation: my best. And the more I apply myself, the better my best becomes. 

Word Count: 627

This student narrates how she initially went to church for a boy but instead ended up confronting her selfishness by helping others.

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Originally, I went to church not because I was searching for Jesus but because I liked a boy.

Isaac Ono wasn’t the most athletic boy in our class, nor was he the cutest. But I was amazed by his unusual kindness toward everyone. If someone was alone or left out, he’d walk up to them and say hello or invite them to hang out with him and his friends.

I started waking up at 7:30 a.m. every Sunday morning to attend Grace Hills Presbyterian, where Isaac’s father was the pastor. I would strategically sit in a pew not too close but close enough to Isaac that when the entire congregation was instructed to say “Peace be with you,” I could “happen” to shake Isaac’s hand and make small talk.

One service, as I was staring at the back of Isaac’s head, pondering what to say to him, my hearing suddenly tuned in to his father’s sermon.

“There’s no such thing as a good or bad person.”

My eyes snapped onto Pastor Marcus.

“I used to think I was a good person who came from a respectable family and did nice things. But people aren’t inherently good or bad. They just make good or bad choices.”

My mind raced through a mental checklist of whether my past actions fell mostly into the former or latter category.

“As it says in Deuteronomy 30:15, ‘I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.’ Follow in the footsteps of Jesus and do good.”

I glanced to my left and saw Margaret, underlining passages in her study Bible and taking copious notes.

Months earlier, I had befriended Margaret. We had fourth-period Spanish together but hadn’t interacted much. She was friends with Isaac, so I started hanging out with her to get closer to him. But eventually, the two of us were spending hours in the Starbucks parking lot having intense discussions about religion, boys, and our futures until we had to return home before curfew.

After hearing the pastor’s sermon, I realized that what I had admired about Isaac was also present in Margaret and other people at church: a welcoming spirit. I’m pretty sure Margaret knew of my ulterior motives for befriending her, but she never called me out on it.

After that day, I started paying more attention to Pastor Marcus’s sermons and less attention to Isaac. One year, our youth group served Christmas Eve dinner to the homeless and ate with them. I sat across from a woman named Lila who told me how child services had taken away her four-year-old daughter because of her financial and living situation.

A few days later, as I sat curled up reading the book of James, my heart suddenly felt heavy.

“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?”

I thought back to Pastor Marcus’s sermon on good and bad actions, Lila and her daughter, and the times I had passed people in need without even saying hello.

I decided to put my faith into action. The next week, I started volunteering at the front desk of a women’s shelter, helping women fill out forms or watching their kids while they talked with social workers.

From working for the past year at the women’s shelter, I now know I want to major in social work, caring for others instead of focusing on myself. I may not be a good person (or a bad one), but I can make good choices, helping others with every opportunity God gives me.

Word count: 622

This essay shows how a student’s natural affinity for solving a Rubik’s cube developed her self-understanding, academic achievement, and inspiration for her future career.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

The worst part about writing is putting down my Rubik’s cube so that I can use my hands to type. That’s usually the worst part of tackling my to-do list: setting aside my Rubik’s cube. My parents call it an obsession. But, for me, solving a Rubik’s cube challenges my brain as nothing else can.

It started on my ninth birthday. I invited three friends for a sleepover party, and I waited to open my presents right before bed. Wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows flew through the air as I oohed and aahed over each delightful gift! However, it was the last gift—a 3 x 3 x 3 cube of little squares covered in red, green, blue, yellow, white, and orange—that intrigued me.

I was horrified when Bekka ripped it out of my hands and messed it all up! I had no idea how to make all the sides match again. I waited until my friends were fast asleep. Then, I grabbed that cube and studied it under my blanket with a flashlight, determined to figure out how to restore it to its former pristine state.

Within a few weeks, I had discovered the secret. To practice, I’d take my cube with me to recess and let the other kids time me while I solved it in front of them. The better I became, the more they gathered around. But I soon realized that their attention didn’t matter all that much. I loved solving cubes for hours wherever I was: at lunch, riding in the car, or alone in my room.

Cross. White corners. Middle-layer edges. Yellow cross. Sune and anitsune. 

The sequential algorithms became second nature, and with the assistance of a little black digital timer, I strove to solve the cube faster , each time attempting to beat my previous record. I watched speed solvers on YouTube, like Australia’s Feliks Zemdegs and Max Park from Massachusetts, but I wasn’t motivated to compete as they did. I watched their videos to learn how to improve my time. I liked finding new, more efficient ways of mastering the essential 78 separate cube-solving algorithms.

Now, I understand why my passion for my Rubik’s cube has never waned. Learning and applying the various algorithms soothes my brain and centers my emotions, especially when I feel overwhelmed from being around other people. Don’t get me wrong: I like other people—just in doses.

While some people get recharged by spending time with others, I can finally breathe when I’m alone with my cube. Our psychology teacher says the difference between an extrovert and an introvert is the situations that trigger their brains to produce dopamine. For me, it’s time away, alone, flipping through cube patterns to set a new personal best.

Sometimes, the world doesn’t cooperate with introverts, requiring them to interact with many people throughout the day. That’s why you’ll often find me in the stairwell or a library corner attempting to master another one of the 42 quintillion ways to solve a cube. My parents tease me that when I’ve “had enough” of anything, my fingers get a Rubik’s itch, and I suddenly disappear. I’m usually occupied for a while, but when I finally emerge, I feel centered, prepared to tackle my next task.

Secretly, I credit my cube with helping me earn top marks in AP Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics. It’s also responsible for my interest in computer engineering. It seems I just can’t get enough of those algorithms, which is why I want to study the design and implementation of cybersecurity software—all thanks to my Rubik’s cube.

Just don’t tell my parents! It would ruin all the fun!

Word count: 607

In this free topic essay, the student uses a montage structure inspired by the TV show Iron Chef America to demonstrate his best leadership moments.

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.

Iron Chef America: College Essay Edition

The time has come to answer college’s most difficult question: Whose story shows glory?

This is … Iron Chef America: College Essay Edition!

Welcome to Kitchen Stadium! Today we have Chef Brett Lowell. Chef Brett will be put to the test to prove he has what it takes to attend university next fall.

And the secret ingredient is … leadership! He must include leadership in each of his dishes, which will later be evaluated by a panel of admissions judges.

So now, America, with a creative mind and empty paper, I say unto you in the words of my teacher: “Let’s write!”

Appetizer: My first leadership experience

A mountain of mismatched socks, wrinkled jeans, and my dad’s unironed dress shirts sat in front of me. Laundry was just one of many chores that welcomed me home once I returned from my after-school job at Baskin Robbins, a gig I had taken last year to help Dad pay the rent. A few years earlier, I wasn’t prepared to cook dinners, pay utility bills, or pick up and drop off my brothers. I thought those jobs were reserved for parents. However, when my father was working double shifts at the power plant and my mom was living in Tucson with her new husband, Bill, I stepped up and took care of the house and my two younger brothers.

Main course: My best leadership experience

Between waiting for the pasta water to boil and for the next laundry cycle to be finished, I squeezed in solving a few practice precalculus problems to prepare for the following week’s mathletics competition. I liked how the equations always had clear, clean answers, which calmed me among the mounting responsibilities of home life. After leading my team to the Minnesota State Finals for two years in a row, I was voted team captain. Although my home responsibilities often competed with my mathlete duties, I tried to be as productive as possible in my free time. On the bus ride home, I would often tackle 10 to 20 functions or budget the following week’s meals and corresponding grocery list. My junior year was rough, but both my home and my mathlete team needed me.

Dessert: My future leadership hopes 

The first thing I ever baked was a chocolate cake in middle school. This was around the time that Mom had just moved out and I was struggling with algebra. Troubles aside, one day my younger brother Simon needed a contribution for his school’s annual bake sale, and the PTA moms wouldn’t accept anything store-bought. So I carefully measured out the teaspoons and cups of various flours, powders, and oils, which resulted in a drooping, too-salty disaster.

Four years later, after a bakery’s worth of confections and many hours of study, I’ve perfected my German chocolate cake and am on my way to mastering Calculus AB. I’ve also thrown out the bitter-tasting parts of my past such as my resentment and anger toward my mom. I still miss having her at home, but whenever I have a baking question or want to update her on my mathlete team’s success, I call her or chat with her over text.

Whether in school or life, I see problems as opportunities, not obstacles, to find a better way to solve them more efficiently. I hope to continue improving my problem-solving skills next fall by majoring in mathematics and statistics.

Time’s up! 

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tasting of Chef Lowell’s leadership experiences. Next fall, tune in to see him craft new leadership adventures in college. He’s open to refining his technique and discovering new recipes.

Word count: 612

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
• Transition words
• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

• How to end an email
• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

The Common App essay is your primary writing sample within the Common Application, a college application portal accepted by more than 900 schools. All your prospective schools that accept the Common App will read this essay to understand your character, background, and value as a potential student.

Since this essay is read by many colleges, avoid mentioning any college names or programs; instead, save tailored answers for the supplementary school-specific essays within the Common App.

When writing your Common App essay , choose a prompt that sparks your interest and that you can connect to a unique personal story.

No matter which prompt you choose, admissions officers are more interested in your ability to demonstrate personal development , insight, or motivation for a certain area of study.

To decide on a good college essay topic , spend time thoughtfully answering brainstorming questions. If you still have trouble identifying topics, try the following two strategies:

• Identify your qualities → Brainstorm stories that demonstrate these qualities
• Identify memorable stories → Connect your qualities to these stories

You can also ask family, friends, or mentors to help you brainstorm topics, give feedback on your potential essay topics, or recall key stories that showcase your qualities.

A standout college essay has several key ingredients:

• A unique, personally meaningful topic
• A memorable introduction with vivid imagery or an intriguing hook
• Specific stories and language that show instead of telling
• Vulnerability that’s authentic but not aimed at soliciting sympathy
• Clear writing in an appropriate style and tone
• A conclusion that offers deep insight or a creative ending

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READING MY COMMON APP ESSAY + TIPS FOR YOUR COLLEGE ESSAY!

Today I share my common app essay when applying to college and share my biggest tips on how to write yours! Hope you enjoy! And please subscribe for more!!!! Comment down below something fun :) ADD TO YOUR COLLEGE APP ASAP: https://youtu.be/kXIdZKW7eyQ WHAT I WISH I KNEW WHEN APPLYING: https://youtu.be/I_nSrGDaMCQ WHAT I LEARNED TRANSFERRING 3 TIMES: https://youtu.be/TC_fJxTs4OY WHY I CHOSE THE UMN: https://youtu.be/x6bM4W-AiDE COLLEGE NIGHT ROUTINE: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=jyj-jBaDr9c COLLEGE MORNING ROUTINE: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=dOceLUx3clc FOOD FOR COLLEGE: https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=mvIi-0uP8CQ FIRST DAY OF COLLEGE: https://youtu.be/1lsTnn8YcaY WHAT NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT COLLEGE: https://youtu.be/zH9DrrLszVY ♡ NEW P.O. BOX ADDRESS ♡ Makayla Samountry PO Box #23388 Richfield, MN 55423 ♡ LET'S BE PENPALS! ♡ { L E T S B E F R I E N D S ! } INSTA: @makaykay17 https://www.instagram.com/makaykay17/ ("fan" insta: youarelovedmakayla) TWITTER: @makaykay_sam https://twitter.com/makaykay_sam FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/makaykay17/ TUMBLR: shootingstarsgivehope.tumblr.com SNAPCHAT: makaylasam17 +spotify: makaylasamountry SUBSCRIBE TO MY VLOG CHANNEL! http://tinyurl.com/pg7rqop SUBSCRIBE TO MY MAIN CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDGSLsZLVsQOr6I6e3mlwA LIKE MY FB PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/makaykay17 BUY MY CLOTHES: https://www.depop.com/makaylasamountry Email: [email protected] Paypal info for payments, tips, and such: [email protected] Address for Business/Products: Makayla Samountry PO Box 23388 Richfield, MN 55423 PROMO CODES: UBER: makaylas677ue (1st ride free!) SANDCLOUD: MakaylaSmn25 (25% off purchase at www.sandcloudtowels.com) See you soon! ♡ Makayla ♡ If you're new, hi there! My name is Makayla, I'm 22 years old, and I make consistent creative content about my life here on YouTube, as well as my other social media sites. Feel free to stay awhile; we're like one big family on my channel and I love getting to know so many cool people. Subscribe if you're into it, and if not, have a great day :) [ALSO] Self-Promotions will be deleted immediately in the comments. Thank you! Keywords: College, university, college applications, college acceptance, college acceptance letter, essay, writing college essay, writing common app essay, common app, common application, common app personal essay, personal essay, common application essay, personal essay college, tips for your college common application personal essay, tips for your college common application essay, tips for your common application personal essay, tips for your common app essay, tips for your common app college essay, tips for your essay, tips for your personal essay, college content, college youtuber, college routine, college advice, college advice, minnesota youtuber, small youtuber, minneapolis, minnesota, university of minnesota, college of wooster, liberal arts, english major, makayla, samountry, makayla samountry, breck school, moremakaykay, makaykay, makaykay vlogs, reading my essay, advice for your common app essay, get into college, acceptance, rejection, essay acceptance, reading my common app essay, tips for your college essay, my experience and advice, like, love, happy, inspiring, inspiration, motivating, motivation, helpful, tips

The following is an computer-generated summary of the video transcript.

Let's just say senior year of college is really kicking my butt right now. What's crazy is that I have been receiving so many comments of you guys asking me to talk about this topic, and you don't even know that I was planning to do this topic, which maybe feel even more excited to do this video because I know that it is something that you have requested and would like to watch. Is that subscribe? With all that being said, Let's get right on into today's video, which is going to be all about tips for your common app college essay as well as reading my own. I'm going to link all the most recent college videos that I have been doing because I've been on a roll lately, since they're all related to this video as well, and I am going to slightly repeat myself or a reference them, so if you haven't watched them, be sure to click the link down below. With all that being said, let's get right on into my college essay that I wrote to get into college, which is so weird to say, especially since right now I am starting to prep to apply to graduate school, some going through this entire process all over again, and I feel like that's a process that's even talked about less than the process. I am talking about on the Internet, which is applying to college in itself, feeling you're going to be a lot more videos like this. So after a lot of searching on my flash drive, here's my senior year of high school last drive that I found very deep into my desk. I want to talk about some of the notes that I took before actually writing the college essay itself, because these are my notes that really grounded and stabilized the entire essay admitted even stronger than what it would have been had I not prepared this much. I don't know if that makes any sense similar to what I was talking about in my last video about things that you need to add to your college. A sap a really important component to your common up essay is Think about adjectives that you want Admission offices to take away Singer Peace Come up with a list of adjectives and idiosyncrasies that you would use to describe yourself after you've created this list. Once you have your reasons behind your adjectives that define you now it's time to start building your essay based on this foundation. College admission offices to see me as as an individual So maybe this will inspire you to think of some for yourself. I really wanted my common app essay to reflect that I'm empathetic towards others. So that was the list of all the adjectives that I think I would use to describe myself that I was hoping college admissions with Find me applicable SP and then to add to this bullet list, I also came up with reasons behind these adjectives, for example, under the bullet note. I've listed some ideas to help brainstorm some essay topics such as I'm a baby sitter. Then I try to write example, paragraphs expanding on these ideas whoever an interesting back story about my common app essay for colleges that I had a really hard time writing it. It was one of the last things that I did for my college applications because it just it wasn't coming to me. Then when it finally hit me, I realized that I had such a hard time writing that, I say, because the thing that I was going to write about how did even happened yet and I cannot explain to you how great of a feeling it was to email my college counselor at like two in the morning that Friday night with my essay telling him how happy and ecstatic I was, because I was able to finally write this and I was able to tell him it was because this event had yet to happen. There was my college essay, and I know this isn't how it usually happens and that everyone will right there actually like this. I tried to think of different events in my life that would help the college admission offices to see me as this whole and unique students. If you're looking for more specific tips to your writing and what to add your college app in particular, we should check out my last video because that is where I will talk about all of that in detail. For this video, I just want to mention that briefly in the beginning and then get on into sharing my actual essay. While I'm reading this, maybe it will inspire you as to come up with what you could write. Keep in mind that this is the essay that helped me get into about 12 colleges. I believe if you're curious what schools I was accepted into with this essay I know that I'm not say is not your entire common application and that it is only a very small part of your application and that schools look at very, very many things when they're looking at applicants to be their future students. If you are curious as to what schools for in my essay and ended up accepting me, make sure to click the video list up in this corner as well as in the box down below. I have not read this essay in four years, and now that I am majoring in English, I might end up finding a lot of critical areas in this. Who knows? I was a really strong writer in high school. Sometimes I think I was a better writer than than I am. Three years ago, my parents immediately shot down my idea, for there was no way they were able to afford such a rh flights and program costs to places such as Australia or Spain, let alone be able to set the table for our family of seven without, Why did I add that I didn't want to share that on the Internet? About a month later, I received a 100% chairman grant to Thailand. I kept writing until a former English teacher asked if I wanted to start a riding club with her, and I wrote for my school newspaper until my faculty advisor contacted me prior to the start of school, asking if I could write a few crucial articles regarding the new school year. For reference, that essay was a little bit over 600 words. So in the documents, with my bullet note list of adjectives and examples and things that I could write about, I had mentioned, you know, make sure to mention rustic pathways and how you try to volunteer there in Thailand. Mention about how you volunteer a lot locally and how you want to help others mentioned how you were influencing others and kind of how others see you So what? I received that note from a younger girl saying that she looked up to me. That was my college essay, and I think it's really cool this year, stuff like this. I would have loved to read other people's essays when they're applying to college. I hope that you enjoyed content below what your college essay was. Don't you decided to write about? And if you're still in high school leaving few ideas down below, I'd love to hear them and maybe help you out, because this stuff is really fun to talk about. This notifies you every time I uploaded a new video, which is super important because with every new upload, I always Snapchat and instagram the first comments off the video and shut them out on social media. I'll see you on Sunday with a brand new video by.

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Common App announces 2024–2025 Common App essay prompts

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We are happy to announce that the Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2024–2025.

Our decision to keep these prompts unchanged is supported by past research showing that overall satisfaction with the prompts exceeded 95% across our constituent groups - students, counselors, advisors, teachers, and member colleges. Moving forward, we want to learn more about who is choosing certain prompts to see if there are any noteworthy differences among student populations and incorporate feedback into future decisions.

While some schools are beginning discussions with juniors and transfer students about college options, it's important to clarify that this doesn't mean students need to start writing their essays right away. By releasing the prompts early, we hope to give students ample time for reflection and brainstorming. As you guide students with their planning, feel free to use our Common App Ready essay writing resource, available in both English and Spanish .

For students who wish to start exploring the application process, creating a Common App account before August 1 ensures that all their responses, including their personal essays, will be retained through account rollover .

Below is the full set of essay prompts for 2024–2025.

• 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.
• 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?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• 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.

We will retain the optional community disruption question within the Writing section. Over the next year, we'll consult with our member, counselor, and student advisory committees to ensure we gather diverse perspectives and make informed decisions.

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University of Minnesota Twin Cities 2019-20 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide 

Regular Decision: 

University of Minnesota Twin Cities 2019-20 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 2 essays of up to 150 words each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Community

The University of Minnesota’s brief supplement asks you to envision your life on campus, both as a student and community member. The only way to do that, dear students, is to learn about the school. So set aside some quality time to gather information any way you can: campus visit, phone call with a professor, or even reading through the school website. So prepare to read our guide and then set aside a good hour or so to get your research on.

Please include an explanation of why you would like to study the major(s) you have selected. You may also use this space to indicate your interest in other major(s) in the colleges listed above. (Maximum 150 words)

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again. The three steps to writing a good Why essay are research, research, and research. Spend some quality time on the school website (or visit campus, if you can) and get to know the University of Minnesota beyond the basic facts and figures. In this case, you’ll want to focus on your major (or majors) of choice. Learn all about the department, faculty, notable alumni, and any special programs or opportunities for undergrads. Jot down the details that excite and appeal to you. At the end of your research sesh, you should have a good constellation of information that will show admissions exactly why you and the University of Minnesota were meant to be. And don’t be afraid to get enthusiastic and share some of your personal story. Maybe your family’s tendency to move around has made you think a lot about what makes a house a home, and the University of Minnesota’s Housing Studies program provides an ideal outlet for your musings. To get this essay right, you need to go beyond listing the reasons you like the program, and make a compelling case for exactly why you and your program of choice are a match made in heaven.

Optional Short Answer: The University values diversity, broadly defined to include diversity of experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and talents. Enrolling a diverse community of scholars interested in learning with and from each other fosters discussion and discovery inside and outside of the classroom. Please share briefly how you might contribute to, or benefit from, our community of scholars. (150 words)

This so-called optional question is absolutely not optional. It’s essentially a secondary Why essay (rolled in with a Community essay) and an ideal opportunity to tell admissions a little bit more about yourself and commitment to the school. Luckily, 150 words amounts to a slim paragraph. Not to mention the fact that diversity-centered Why and Community essays like this one are becoming increasingly common. In other words, it’s very likely you’ll be able to recycle an essay you wrote for another application, which we highly recommend for optional questions. Just make sure you meet the correct word limit and swap out any school-specific details. And, as always, aim to tell admissions something new. Focus on an aspect of your background that you haven’t yet covered elsewhere on your application.

Despite the relatively tight word limit, you’ll make this essay memorable by packing it with personal details. Any research you conducted for the first prompt will definitely come in handy here as well. But at the end of the day, this essay is about your background, so think about the most defining communities in your life, from your family and school, to your fellow cellists or Harry Potter fans. How has a key community or affinity impacted the person you are today? By pushing you or sheltering you? Use your research to envision your life on campus. Could you be someone that would benefit from leaving a protective bubble? Or you might you enter the University of Minnesota community hoping to raise awareness about a particular issue? Or is this a new opportunity for you to find like-minded individuals?

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How to Write the 2022-23 Common App Essay

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Learn how to write an awesome Common App essay for every single prompt.

Vinay will provide an in-depth breakdown of each of the Common App essay prompts, discussing how to write a great essay in response to each one. He’ll also share his take on the essays and topics you shouldn’t write about for each prompt.

Vinay Bhaskara

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How to Write a Great Common App Essay

The Common App essay, often referred to as the college essay, is a 650-word personal statement that will be submitted to all of the schools that you apply to using the Common Application. While strong test scores, interesting extra-curriculars, and excellent grades are all important elements for a successful application to a top American university, a strong personal statement is one of the best places for you to set yourself apart from other applicants.

By U2 US Admissions Tutor, Carmen ( 2018 – 2022 | Brown University & Master’s from Cambridge University)

Getting Started with the Common App Essay Prompts

Each year, the Common App releases several prompts for this essay. The prompts for the 2023-2024 application cycle are the same as those for the 2022-2023 application cycle, and generally the questions change very little from year to year. For this reason, you do not need to wait until the Common App becomes available on August 1 to begin your college essay. In fact, you shouldn’t. Writing your college essay should ideally be drawn out over several months and, for this reason, the summer between Year 12 and Year 13 is the perfect time to tackle this project.

The prompts for the 2023-2024 application cycle are as follows:

1.     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.

2.     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?

3.     Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4.     Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5.     Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6.     Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7.     Share an essay on a 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.

Importantly, your college essay is also useful for applications to universities that do not use the Common App. For instance, even though Georgetown has its own application process, there are nevertheless prompts within the school’s application where your Common App essay would be an appropriate response.

How to Start a Common App Essay: Engaging Strategies to Hook Your Readers

Your college essay is the place where you should let your personality and creativity shine . Don’t spend it writing about things that will be mentioned elsewhere in your application, and don’t write about something just because you think that it is the kind of essay that an admissions officer will want to read.

The prompts are broad enough to allow you to write about almost anything, so as you begin to consider your college essay, spend some time brainstorming stories that you are interested in telling. What are things, moments, or experiences that matter to you? What kind of story could you tell to give admissions officers a sense of the version of you that your friends, teammates, parents, or siblings know?

College essays can be light-hearted or serious in tone, and they don’t need to be about big moments. In fact, it’s recommended that you don’t write about topics that can feel contrived. College counsellors suggest avoiding essays about volunteer trips abroad, essays about major epiphanies, or other topics that can feel performative.

As you begin to jot down a few different ideas, see if any of them feel like they could be extended into something longer, or if any of them could be tied together.

When I brainstormed stories that I wanted to tell, my experiences moving frequently whilst growing up, and my experience sustaining a career-ending back-fracture as a gymnast emerged as two themes that I wanted to explore further. I wrote about them separately at first, eventually tying them together, exploring how gymnastics’ constant role in my life had always given me a sense of stability when so many other things had felt tenuous, and how unsettling it had been to lose my sport. My essay was more serious, but several of my classmates at Brown took more light-hearted approaches. One of my friends wrote about winding down every evening watching TV with her parents and siblings, and how that brought them closer together as a family. Another wrote about the colour yellow, and another still wrote about pasta, exploring how despite being a picky eater, she became increasingly more adventurous as grew older, learning that small changes could transform something that had initially seemed mundane.

Having read each of these essays, which are all about very different topics, the common themes that emerge are their honesty and unpretentiousness . They use moments, ideas, or things to engage in larger, self-reflective discourses.

Structure and Organisation: Crafting a Compelling Narrative in Your Common App Essay

When you begin writing your college essay, don’t feel constrained by the 650-word limit. The first version of my college essay was about 1500 words, and I was consistently reminded by my college counsellor that it is always better to start with too much material than too little. Once I had a full draft of the story that I wanted to tell, I began to identify which sections mattered the most to me, and which parts I could cut.

Work on your draft for several days, then take a step back so that you can return to it with fresh eyes. This is why it is essential to give yourself plenty of time to write your college essay – you should go through many different iterations of it before you are ready to submit your application. Working with a tutor can also be especially useful whilst you are revising your college essay, because they can help to identify where your voice is strongest in your essay and recommend sections to cut - U2 Tuition have some fantastic top US and Ivy League-educated tutors who can support (get in touch here ).

Editing and Revising: Polishing Your Common App Essay for Clarity and Impact

Plan to have a completed draft that is close to the word-count by mid-August . That way, you have time to copy edit your work. Be very diligent in your proofreading. Read it repeatedly, and have other people read it too, because there should be absolutely no errors in your final version.

Aiming to have your final draft completed by the beginning of September will make your university application process much smoother, especially if you are planning to submit an early application. Even if you are only intending to apply during the regular application cycle, completing your college essay early is advantageous, because once Year 13 begins it will be all the more difficult to dedicate the time and attention that this essay requires.

Ready to craft a standout Common App essay that captures the attention of admissions committees?

Our team of Ivy League and top US university-educated mentors is here to help if you need it.

Our experienced US application mentors (predominantly Ivy League graduates) specialise in supporting students like you in their applications to top US Universities. With their guidance, you'll gain invaluable insights and personalised support to ensure that your application showcases your passion and potential.

From brainstorming essay ideas to refining your writing style and aligning your extracurricular experiences, our tutors have a proven track record of helping students craft compelling and impactful essays that leave a lasting impression. They will help you tell your story in a way that resonates with admissions committees and sets you apart from the competition.

In addition to essay assistance, we provide comprehensive support throughout the application process, including selecting universities, evaluating your current GPA, and enhancing your overall applications.

Contact us today to learn more about how our US tutors can support you in your application journey.

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