It’s time to continue on our journey through the seven Common App prompts, today with prompt #2. While, as you’ve maybe already gleaned, we’re huge prompt #7 stans, some of you might shy away from its unstructured nature. If you crave a good structured prompt, #2 might be the one for you.
If you’re here, you probably already know what the Common App is, but there are some things worth repeating. Almost every school on your list will require your Common App essay, which means you need to work hard to make sure it’s perfect. We’re not trying to manufacture undue pressure (we know you probably put it on yourself); we simply want to emphasize how important this part of your application is.
With that, let’s talk about Prompt #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?
This prompt is great because it’s not just about failure—it’s about growth, too! Many students get tripped up on this prompt because they think they need to spend all 650 words talking about their shortcomings, but the prompt specifically wants to hear about lessons learned.
We have a few words of wisdom, though, before we get to the brainstorming and writing part of this essay. Students are often drawn to writing about things like traumas, educational shortcomings, disabilities, learning differences, etc. on this prompt. We want to be the first (and maybe only) voice to say: you do not have to do that. You don’t have to rehash bad memories or talk about the worst things that have happened to you to get into college. A lot of students want to use this prompt to talk about learning disabilities, specifically, and there’s actually a better place for that, and for these other “big topics” to go within your Common App: the additional information section. These things do not need to be the focal point of your application. Instead, your Common App essay should be used to express your personality and highlight your best traits and values.
Now, let’s talk about how to brainstorm ideas for Prompt #2
Common App Essay Prompt 2 Example Topics
This prompt is begging for a story, which is one of the reasons we like it. A good failure/setback/challenge essay has a few elements:
The Failure
Humility
Growth
For this prompt, we recommend going smaller regarding the incident you’re writing about. Like we said, big things probably need to go in Additional Information. So, what are some smaller things you can write about here? The time you forgot a close friend's birthday, the time you learned why you don’t have a candle burning while you take off nail polish, your Driver’s Ed saga, that day where seemingly every single thing went wrong, or a wacky failed endeavor (like a Mario speedrun, or something). While these things might sound or feel trivial and small, they’re actually very relatable. Remember, most admissions counselors are only like, 10-15 years older than you. They remember, pretty vividly, what it’s like to be a teenager. If you try to shoehorn something really serious into your essay, that may not be as effective as you’d like it to be with them. We (and admissions officers) really like approaching this essay with some humor and levity.
As you think of your story, you need to make sure it has all the components of a good Failure Essay. If you’ve thought of your thing, you need to make sure it also has that growth with it. If you failed at learning how to play pickleball, threw away your racket, and never, ever tried again? Not a good essay. An essay about how you lost terribly at pickleball to your elderly neighbors because you underestimated them? And then, you had to start Olympic-level training so you could finally compete with Carol and Bill? That’s an essay where you failed (both actually at pickleball and probably misjudged people based on first impressions), had some humility (realized you needed to change your outlook and your approach), and grew (became good at pickleball and probably got closer with your neighbors).
Common App Essay Prompt 2 Example Guide
Now you have your idea, so it should just magically appear on paper, right? Kidding, we know writing the Common App is very challenging (and we can help you with that!), so let’s talk about how to actually write your essay. You have 650 words to write a compelling story with a beginning, middle, and end, and with this prompt, the concept of beginning, middle, and end has never been easier to conceptualize.
To start your story, you want to bring us into the scene with you. To keep with our pickleball example, you want to use descriptive language to make the reader feel like they’re part of what’s going on. Pickleball is distinctively loud, and if you didn’t mention that key aspect of it, it wouldn’t feel like you were actually there. You end out your intro with the failure itself – since this essay is more about the effects and aftermath, anyways.
The middle is where a lot of students flounder, but with this prompt, it’s built right in! Thank you, Prompt #2! This is where you assess the failure, realize what needs to be done, and take action to improve. In our pickleball story, it could look like a training montage right out of a Rocky movie, ending with you realizing you’re ready for a rematch.
And now, it’s time for your ending. This should tie up the story in a nice bow, and it should have a good ending. An essay about failure that ends in a huge bummer is, well, a huge bummer to read. Obviously not every failure can end in sunshine and rainbows, but that’s why you don’t choose those instances to write about here. Since this prompt wants to see growth and change, that’s what your conclusion should be. In the pickleball saga, this is that final rematch with Carol and Bill, and more importantly, probably more about the relationship you have with these neighbors. Ending on a high note, or at least some hope and positivity, is your best bet here.
A few ~logistical~ writing tips. If you’re stuck on writing your introduction, you can always write that last. Crazy, we know, but sometimes it’s easier to write the beginning when you know how it ends. If you can’t think of that perfect starting attention-grabbing sentence, just write the next one.
Once you finish your draft (which will probably be over 650 words), it’s time to edit. Read your essay out loud, see where it feels awkward or stilted, and change it. Retype the document word-for-word! Go through your own editing ritual 3-4 times before having a friend, parent, teacher, or other trusted source read it and give you notes. However, our dear students, please don’t let 10 people read and edit your essay – maybe not even more than two – we find that it’s easy to get overwhelmed when there are too many people giving you conflicting feedback.
Now you’re edited and ready to submit! Best of luck!
Prompt #2 is a great framework to tell a story that shows off your personality, your values, and the ways you’ve grown. If you brainstorm a story where the stakes aren’t life-or-death, inject some humility and humor, and have a nice resolution, prompt #2 might be a really good option for you!
We are experts in writing creative and unique college essays. If you need help brainstorming or writing your Common App essay, reach out to us today.