Common App Essay Misconception #1

by Sarah O'Neill, Coatesville, Supreme Editing 

MISCONCEPTION: I need to read the Common App essay prompts and answer one of the seven prompts directly.

Not True.

  • Why? Every story you want to tell about yourself will always satisfy prompt 7, which reads: “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. 

When tackling the Common App Personal Statement, it's crucial to recognize that the prompts themselves hold minimal significance. The heart of the matter lies in crafting an impactful Personal Statement that vividly portrays your personality, growth, and maturity through a compelling narrative. The prompts serve as a framework rather than a strict guide. 

The best approach is often to develop your topic and Personal Statement arc first, allowing the essay to naturally align with the most fitting prompt. 

Admissions Officers (AOs) focus more on your reflective writing abilities and the narrative of your personal development rather than the specific prompt. 

Ultimately, the goal is to communicate a genuine story, and as long as that objective is met, any prompt is fair game.

REMEMBER- whatever essay you want to write about yourself will always satisfy the requirements of  Common App prompt.

In other words, it’s important for you to figure out what you want to tell the admissions officers, to determine what story will leverage your chances, than to try guessing the “right” or “best” answer to one of the Common App prompts.

by Sarah O'Neill, Coatesville, Supreme Editing



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