We’ve spent the past few weeks breaking down each Common App essay prompt one by one, and now it’s time for the grand finale: our ultimate guide to writing the Common App essay. Sure, there are seven different prompts, but at the end of the day, every school is looking for the same thing: a story.

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know this already. But if you’re new, first of all, welcome, and second of all, the Common App essay might just be the single most important part of your college application. Yes, your GPA, test scores, and activities matter, but the Common App essay is the one piece that shows admissions officers who you actually are, and it gets sent to almost every school on your list.

We’re not trying to crank up the pressure, but it’s worth repeating: this essay needs to be excellent. So, let’s talk about what colleges are really asking for with these prompts and get into how to write them.

The Common App Prompt:

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.)

Some of you look at this and think, “I have 650 words to explain everything about myself.” No, this is not the place to do that. Not only do you not have the space for that, but that would also be a bad essay.

Admissions officers read an overwhelming number of these essays every day. And because not every applicant has the good fortune of reading our blog (their loss), most of them are out here writing the same tired stuff we tell our students to steer clear of. This is not the place to rattle off your resume or list your accolades. This isn’t a tribute to your grandma, your coach, or that one family trip to Greece that “changed your worldview.” And it’s definitely not a requirement to excavate your deepest traumas to prove you deserve a spot on campus.

You are more than the hardest things that have happened to you. Consider this permission to not write about your traumas, because you don’t need that to get into college. If there’s something schools genuinely need to know, something that impacted your grades or your ability to engage in school, that belongs in the Additional Information section, not your personal statement. Your essay is where you have the space to talk about who you are as a person, not what happened to you.

2025-2026 Common App Essay Prompts

Let’s quickly go over each prompt (with handy links on how to write each one specifically), and rank them each out of 10.

Prompt #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.

Most of your off-the-dome ideas for this prompt are probably already represented in your activities section, your additional information section, or waiting for a school-specific supplement. If you’re going to tackle this one, it has to be something truly unique – not just a rehash of your resume in story form.

Our rating? 📝📝📝📝/ 10

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?

We love this one because it’s practically demanding that you tell a story – and you know we’re always #TeamStory. That said, a lot of students get tripped up here by defaulting to topics better suited for the Additional Information section, like trauma, disabilities, learning differences, or explaining a rough academic record. Keep those out of your personal statement.

Also, don’t spend the whole essay beating yourself up about the failure. Too many students stay stuck in the “here’s how I messed up” part and forget that the growth is actually the point.

Our rating? 📝📝📝📝📝📝/ 10

Check out our advice on Prompt #2.

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

We’re just going to say it: this prompt is a trap. Sure, it can be done well, but in our experience, it’s one of the hardest to get right. Plus, a lot of schools ask a version of this in their supplements, so why burn valuable material here?

When students do choose this one, they often either a) write about a social or political issue and forget to actually write about themselves, or b) unintentionally reveal a take that reads as ignorant, cringey, or worse. Nobody wants that. If you are going to attempt this one, we suggest challenging a less serious belief, or something more personal than political.

Our rating? 📝/ 10

We’d skip it. But if you’re committed, here’s some advice.

Prompt #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?

This is the newest prompt on the block, added post-COVID, and we’re fans. The Common App essay should be positive, and this one sets you up perfectly for that.

The biggest pitfall here is that students tend to spend the entire essay talking about the other person, and if you’ve been paying attention, you know that the Common App essay should be about you! So if you’ve got a story about someone doing something unexpectedly kind, following your love language, or inspiring a new hobby or obsession, this could be a great prompt to showcase that.

Our rating? 📝📝📝📝📝📝📝/ 10

We like this one! More on it here.

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

Another trap! Most of the ideas students have for this prompt are either already showing up in their activities section, better suited for the Additional Information section, or perfect for a supplemental essay, not your personal statement.

If you’re set on writing this one, keep it small. Think personal goal, weird niche hobby, or some unexpected thing that pushed you to see yourself differently. Skip the sweeping life lessons and grand achievements – smaller is better here.

Our rating? 📝📝/ 10

Not our favorite. If you do write it, we have some guidance.

Prompt #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?

This prompt is built for the unexpected – and that’s exactly how you should approach it. If you’re the star quarterback who secretly loves ballet, or the cheer captain who’s deep into Star Trek, or the tuba player who spends weekends drumming in a metal band, this is your time to shine.

The only rule here: don’t write about your intended college major. You’ll cover that in supplements, your activities, and everywhere else. Use this prompt to show us something they don’t already know

Our rating? 📝📝📝📝📝📝📝📝📝 / 10

This is one of our favorite prompts that isn’t #7. More on it here.

Prompt #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.

Our forever favorite. This is the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure option, letting you skip the rigidity of the other prompts and write about literally whatever you want.

That said, this is not an invitation to dust off your AP Lang paper or slap in an old book report. This shouldn’t be viewed as a writing sample, it’s your chance to show who you are as a person, not just as a student. Use this space to humanize yourself, not to prove you can write a thesis statement.

Our rating? 📝📝📝📝📝📝📝📝📝📝 / 10. Maybe even 11 out of 10.

This is the prompt we have every client answer. More on it here.

Writing the Common App Essay 2025-2026

You’ve got 650 words, which is not nearly enough to tell your entire life story, and definitely not enough to sum up “the essence of who you are.” So don’t try that! Your job here is to focus on the parts of yourself that don’t show up in the rest of your application, the intangible qualities that make you “you.”

If you’re applying with straight As, near-perfect test scores, and an activities list that looks more like an impressive resume for even adults, admissions officers already know you’re hardworking, ambitious, and driven. What they don’t know is that you do magic tricks at kids’ birthday parties, or that your personal hobby is perfecting the art of grilling a steak. That’s the stuff that humanizes you and makes you more than numbers on a page.

Go back through the prompts and see if any spark a specific memory or story. If you’re still coming up blank, ask your friends and family for a list of five words they’d use to describe you. Then, look for the overlap. Chances are, there’s a story hiding in there somewhere. Think about the rituals or weird traditions you have, your ideal Sunday night, or even just glance around your room for clues. And of course, reading our clients’ sample essays can help you see what’s possible – but remember, the goal isn’t to replicate someone else’s essay.

If you’ve landed on your idea, congrats! In our opinion, the hardest part is over. Brainstorming the right story is a challenge, but if you’re excited about what you’re writing, the process gets a whole lot easier.

And if you only take one thing from this blog post, let it be this: your Common App essay should always, always be a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Your opening should drop the reader straight into the action, like they’ve just stepped into the scene with you. Think about the vivid, sensory details. If your story starts in a thrift store, don’t just say you’re in a thrift store. Tell us what it smells like (old perfume? Musty? Dusty?), how the clothes feel between your fingers, whether there’s an old pop song crackling through the speakers. You’ll also want to drop in a little tension or intrigue. Are you hunting for something specific? Are you looking for the perfect prom dress or a super soft vintage t-shirt? Maybe there’s an unspoken competition with another shopper you keep bumping carts with. Your intro should do more than just set the stage, it should hook the reader and make them want to find out what happens next.

In the middle of your essay, you’ve got to keep the story moving. Maybe you’re still deep in the hunt for the item, and it’s starting to feel less like a casual afternoon errand and more like an epic quest. Maybe you’re channeling the energy of an adventurer tracking a rare species, except instead of a wild animal, it’s the perfect leather jacket. This is also where you can raise the stakes. Maybe the tension spikes when you and another shopper reach for the same piece at the same time, and now you’re sizing them up, plotting your next move, or organizing an under-the-table trade to secure the thing you want. Whatever happens, keep the sensory details flowing and let the reader feel how you’re feeling in the moment.

Your conclusion needs to deliver a satisfying resolution. Sure, not every story in real life wraps up with a neat bow, but the story you use for your Common App essay should. If your ending feels like a downer or leaves things unresolved, that’s a sign to start over. Reflect back to your intro: did you solve the problem? Did you find the holy grail thrift store treasure? Your ending should connect back to the beginning and give the reader some closure.

Once you’ve got a full draft, it’s editing time. Read it out loud, because awkward phrasing is much easier to catch when you hear it. If you’re feeling ambitious, retype the whole essay in a fresh doc to help you spot weird sentences or moments that need tightening. Revise a few times, then ask one or two trusted people for feedback. Don’t overdo it – too many cooks will spoil the broth and dilute your own words.

When your essay feels polished, personal, and like you, it’s time to hit submit. You’ve got this.

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.