Tips for Navigating the Common App Essay 2017-2018: Stand Out in Your College Application

Are you a high school senior preparing to apply to college? Are you overwhelmed with the thought of crafting the perfect Common App essay? Don't worry, you're not alone! Every year, millions of students like yourself are faced with the daunting task of writing an essay that will impress college admissions officers. But fear not, in this article we will break down the 2017-2018 Common App essay prompts and give you tips on how to write a winning essay that will help you stand out from the crowd.

First things first, let's take a look at the seven essay prompts that are offered for the 2017-2018 admissions cycle:

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. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.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 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.

With so many options, how do you choose which prompt to tackle? One strategy is to read through each prompt and jot down some initial thoughts or ideas that come to mind. Which prompt allows you to showcase a unique aspect of your personality or experience? Which prompt aligns best with the story you want to tell? Once you've chosen a prompt, it's time to start brainstorming!

When crafting your essay, it's important to remember that this is not just a summary of your high school achievements or a list of your extracurricular activities. This is an opportunity to showcase your writing skills and your ability to reflect on and articulate your personal experiences and values. Start by creating an outline or rough draft to help organize your thoughts and ideas.

As you begin writing, keep in mind the audience you are writing for. College admissions officers read thousands of essays each year, so it's important to stand out from the crowd. Use specific examples, anecdotes, and details to help bring your story to life. Be authentic and honest in your writing, but also make sure to showcase your strengths and accomplishments.

Another tip is to have someone else read your essay and provide feedback. This could be a teacher, parents, or a friend. You may also consider utilizing resources such as a writing center or college counseling office to get additional support and feedback.

Remember, your Common App essay is just one piece of your application. Admissions officers will also consider your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. Use this essay as an opportunity to highlight a unique aspect of your personality or experience that may not be featured elsewhere in your application.

In conclusion, the Common App essay may seem daunting at first, but with a little bit of planning and hard work, you can write a winning essay that will impress college admissions officers and help you stand out from the crowd. Choose a prompt that aligns with your personal experience and values, brainstorm and create an outline, and don't forget to showcase your strengths and accomplishments. Good luck!

The Common Application has released its essay prompts for the 2017-2018 cycle, and they haven’t changed much from last year. Students will still have the option to answer any one of seven prompts, with a 650-word limit.

What are the seven essay prompts?

Here are the seven essay prompts:

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. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
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 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.

What are some tips for answering the essay prompts?

Here are some tips to help you answer the essay prompts:

1. Be specific: Don’t try to answer the prompt in too broad of a way. Instead, focus on specific instances and experiences that illustrate your point.
2. Show don’t tell: Don’t just state facts about yourself or your experiences, show the admissions committee through vivid examples that capture their interest and makes them remember you.
3. Be well-organized: Start with an introductory paragraph that sets the tone for your essay. From there, use body paragraphs to support your thesis statement, and finish with a conclusion that sums up your main points.
4. Proofread: Take time to carefully proofread your essay for grammatical errors, typos, and other mistakes. Consider asking someone else to read it over, as they will likely catch things you might have missed.
5. Be authentic: Don’t try to be someone you’re not in your essay. Be true to yourself and your experiences, and don’t pretend to be something you’re not in order to try to impress the admissions committee.

What are some common mistakes to avoid?

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when answering the essay prompts:

1. Being too general: As mentioned earlier, don’t try to answer the prompt too broadly. Instead, focus on specific examples and experiences that illustrate your point.
2. Writing an autobiography: Your essay should not read like a resume or a list of your accomplishments. Instead, pick one or two key experiences that illustrate your point, and use those as the focus of your essay.
3. Being too negative: While it’s okay to discuss a challenge or setback you’ve faced, make sure that you also explain how you overcame it and what you learned from the experience.
4. Being too formal: While your essay should be well-written and grammatically correct, it should also sound like you. Don’t be afraid to use a conversational tone or to inject your personality into your writing.
5. Starting too late: Don’t wait until the last minute to start working on your essay. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, draft, and revise your essay so that it’s the best it can be.

Conclusion

Overall, the Common App essay prompts for 2017-2018 offer students a variety of topics to choose from and opportunities to showcase their unique perspectives and experiences. By following these tips and avoiding common mistakes, students can craft essays that make them stand out in the admissions process.

Common App Essay 2017-2018 Comparison

Introduction:

Prompt 1:

The first prompt of Common App's essay questions asked: 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 offers an open-ended opportunity for students to share what sets them apart from others and makes them unique. The keyword meaningful highlights what the applicant values and how it shapes their character, abilities, and outlook. It requires self-reflection and introspection to write an engaging essay that evokes the admission officer's interest.

Prompt 2:

The second prompt for Common App's essay reads: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

The essay question emphasizes overcoming adversity and how it contributes to personal growth and development. This prompt can be a bit tricky, as it requires the student to put their vulnerability on display and focus on the impact of the situation rather than merely describing it. However, it also provides a great opportunity for showcasing perseverance, resilience and highlighting a student's problem-solving skills.

Prompt 3:

The third prompt for the 2017-2018 Common App essay is: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

This prompt aims to assess students' critical thinking, analytical, and persuasive skills. It is perhaps the most difficult to execute as it requires a balance between talking about the belief and the process behind challenging it. Applicants should avoid misrepresenting themselves or others in their essays and instead emphasize how the process changed their perspective or shaped them in some way.

Prompt 4:

The fourth prompt for the essay questions asked applicants to describe a problem they've solved or a problem they'd like to address. It reads: Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale.

Problem-solving is a valuable skill that universities value, and this prompt provides an ideal opportunity for applicants to showcase that skill. The keyword personal importance highlights the potential to share a meaningful experience and sheds light on the importance of a solution to an individual. However, applicants should make sure that their focus is on what they specifically did and not just on the solution itself.

Prompt 5:

The final prompt of Common App essay questions asked applicants to reflect on an accomplishment that reflects their transition from childhood to adulthood. It reads: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Similar to Prompt 1, this prompt is highly personal and reflects on the applicant's character development over time. The keyword personal growth highlights their journey and struggles that led to achieving a goal that reflected the transition from childhood to adulthood. Students must avoid boasting about achievements and instead focus on the personal growth accomplished through the process of attaining the accomplishment.

Comparison Table:

Conclusion:

Choosing the right Common App essay prompt is crucial as it provides applicants the chance to highlight their unique qualities and communicate their narrative. Each of these prompts provides an opportunity for students to showcase different skills, so it's important that they choose wisely with a focus on reflecting their genuine experiences in these essays. However, whichever prompt one chooses, they must remember that their essay should not only demonstrate their writing skills but also showcase maturity, creativity, and a passion for learning.

Tips for Writing a Compelling Common App Essay 2017-2018

Introduction

Understand the Prompts

Start Early

Share Your Personal Story

Paint a Picture

Be Authentic

Focus on Your Unique Perspective

Be Selective of Your Vocabulary

Use Your Voice

Show, Don't Tell

Conclusion

Tips and Tricks for Common App Essay 2017-2018

The college application process can be an anxiety-inducing experience for many students. One of the most important elements of your application is likely to be the Common Application essay. This essay gives you the opportunity to showcase your personality and convince admission officers that you would be a perfect fit for their school. Here are some tips and tricks to help you craft a killer Common App essay that will set you apart from the crowd.

First, start by browsing through the Common App prompts. There are seven options to choose from, each inviting you to share a different aspect of your life or personality. Take some time to think about which prompt resonates with you the most and which one will allow you to showcase your strengths and experiences. Once you have identified the prompt, start brainstorming to figure out what you want to write about.

Next, take some time to reflect on your life experiences. Think about personal challenges you have overcome, moments that have shaped who you are today, or people who have influenced you in a positive way. The key to a great essay is showing vulnerability and writing from the heart.

As you begin writing, remember that the opening paragraph is critical. You need to grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read more. Start with a compelling anecdote or story that draws the reader in and sets the tone for the rest of your essay.

One common mistake that students make is trying to write an academic or research paper instead of a personal narrative. Remember that admission officers want to get to know you as a person, so make sure to write in a conversational style. Use natural language and avoid using overly technical or “fancy” words.

Structure is also important. Make sure your essay has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Use transition words to connect your thoughts and ideas and create a seamless storyline. Each paragraph should build upon the previous one and move the story forward.

Another key element of a great Common App essay is specificity. Don’t just tell admission officers that you love to volunteer. Instead, explain how spending your Saturday mornings at a local food bank has impacted your life and the lives of those around you. The more specific you can be, the more memorable and impactful your essay will be.

At the same time, be careful not to overshare or write about topics that might make admission officers uncomfortable. This includes subjects like substance abuse or mental health issues. Focus on positive experiences or challenges that you have overcome instead.

When you are finished with your first draft, take some time to step away from the essay and return to it with fresh eyes. Edit it multiple times to ensure that there are no errors and that your message comes across clearly. Consider getting feedback from a teacher or mentor who knows you well and can provide constructive criticism.

Finally, remember that your Common App essay is just one part of your application. Put in effort to make sure your other application materials, such as letters of recommendation and test scores, are also top-notch.

In conclusion, the Common App essay is an opportunity for you to showcase your unique voice and personality to admission officers. Take the time to reflect on your experiences and craft a well-written essay that speaks to who you are as a person. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be well on your way to writing a killer essay and landing your dream school.

Good luck!

People Also Ask About Common App Essay 2017-2018

What is the Common App essay prompt for 2017-2018?

The Common App essay prompt for 2017-2018 is 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?.

How long should the Common App essay be?

The Common App essay should be between 250 and 650 words in length.

What are some tips for writing a successful Common App essay?

1. Start early and give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, and revise.
2. Choose a topic that you are passionate about and that showcases your personality and unique qualities.
3. Be honest and authentic in your writing. Admissions officers can spot insincerity from a mile away.
4. Show, don't tell. Use vivid language and specific details to bring your story to life.
5. Proofread and edit your essay carefully to avoid grammatical errors and typos.

Do all colleges accept the Common App essay?

Most colleges that accept the Common App also require an essay as part of the application process. However, some colleges may have their own essay prompts or require additional essays in addition to the Common App essay.

Can I use the same Common App essay for multiple colleges?

Yes, you can use the same Common App essay for multiple colleges. However, some colleges may have their own essay prompts or require additional essays in addition to the Common App essay.