In our recent post, we listed a few good common essay topics on college applications. We’ll tackle each question to provide you with insights on how best to respond. Here’s a few common app essay questions that can give some students a place to start:
1. Write About a Book You’ve Read
If you’re a student who doesn’t “like reading” or doesn’t “have time to read outside of class,” it’s imperative to plan ahead for this question. I advise my students to read a book during breaks or over the summer before senior year.
Get a recommendation from a close friend or local librarian. Many librarians publish a list of popular teen books. Once you’ve chosen a book, ensure it’s at an appropriate grade level and that you finish it.
Remember, the essay response should not be a book report. College application essays come from the heart, so this is a great opportunity to move away from the five-paragraph essay model. The emphasis should be on YOU!
Focus on how the book impacted you. Here are two ways to do that:
- Detail how this particular book changed your thinking on a topic or challenged a belief.
- Explain what this book meant to you.
Focusing on these aspects keeps the emphasis on YOU.
2. Who Is Someone You Admire?
A Common App essay prompt, a similar question is worded as, “Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you and describe that influence.” Even if your college application simply asks, “Who is someone you admire?” go further into detail by describing that influence on your identity, interest or talent.
It should only take you about 5-10 words to tell who you admire. Then, the other 150+ words should show why you admire that person. Avoid the low-hanging fruit like historical figures or your parents, and instead, dig deeper.
Consider these questions:
- What is a meaningful experience I can describe well?
- What happened in that meaningful experience?
- Who was there with me?
- What characteristic of a specific person was most memorable?
These responses will help you write a strong essay that stands out.
3. Why Do You Want to Attend This College?
The third most common question is best answered after a formal campus visit. Schedule a visit through the admissions office and participate in a tour or informational session. Driving by the campus or hanging out with a high school friend who attends does not count!
When responding to this question, here are some quick tips:
- Gather your notes from your campus visit and review them.
- Think about the features of the campus that stood out the most.
- Consider what qualities about yourself match those features.
- Keep the college features very specific to that college.
These tips will help you communicate effectively to admissions readers, allowing them to picture you at their institution.
4. Tell Me About a Meaningful Activity for You
This question can be challenging because it’s easy to fall into clichés. The key is to think about what makes you unique. Start by free-writing your initial response for about 10 minutes. Ignore grammar and just write.
Does your response sound like you or every other applicant? Avoid common leadership roles and think about what activity uniquely represents you. Once you state the activity in about 25 words or less, the remainder of your essay should focus on why it is meaningful to you.
5. What Do You Want to Do 10 Years from Now?
The emphasis here is on “you.” Be creative and reflect your uniqueness. You don’t have to link the college with your future career.
Avoid being too “over-the-top” or silly. Write a thoughtful response that shows your interests, focusing on being imaginative and honest.
Please share your thoughts in the comments below. We will respond with feedback to help you and other visitors to our site. So, what do you want to do 10 years from now?
For further reading and examples of more of the best college essay topics, check out these links:
