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Common Application Essays - Part 1
Posted by on Friday, September 25, 2009 at 3:02 PM (PST)
The Common Application saves time and energy by allowing you to apply to several schools with one application. As I write this, there are 347 colleges and universities using the Common App, most of which are private (though about 25 public institutions are now included). The school list is available HERE.
Common App essays take three forms:
- A main "Personal Essay" of at least 250 words
- A brief "Activity Essay" of no more than 150 words
- School-specific essays included in school supplements
- The "Additional Information" section
The personal essay is perhaps the best tool you have in the college admission process for articulating your unique brand - the "you" story that sets you apart and catches the attention of admission committees. All the Common App schools to which you apply will receive this essay, and all are likely to give it considerable attention. For the 2008-2009 application cycle, these were the available topics (topics are unlikely to change much for 2009-2010, but I'll keep you posted):
- Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
- Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
- Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
- Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
- A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
- Topic of your choice.
Which topic should you choose?
I typically answer that question this way:
If one of the essay options really speaks to you, and provides the perfect opportunity to tell your unique story and build your "brand," go with that one. Otherwise, go with option #6 - the "topic of your choice." The fact that this option is included means you can write absolutely any essay you want for the personal essay, so you need to use the best arrow in your quiver. As an added benefit, option #6 can help you stand out a little more; many students will choose options 1-5, and admission committees may tire of reading hundreds of essays on the same topic. That said, remember that options 1-5 are provided to help students find direction, and the inclusion of option #6 is not an excuse to write a direction-less essay. Don't write something that doesn't help a college better understand who you are and why you'd make a great addition to their incoming class.
How long should the personal essay be?
This is a commonly-argued topic, and many students wish the Common Application would just go ahead and offer a maximum length. The minimum length of 250 words is the only guideline provided. Most generally, your essay should be long enough to fully articulate your brand, without being too long to powerfully hold the attention of readers throughout the entire essay. Remember, your readers will be reading hundreds (if not thousands) of essays, and the last thing you want to do is bore them. More specifically, then, the consensus seems to be that 500-700 words is ideal. Don't go too far under 500 - the admission committee may think you don't have much of a story to tell. Over 700 or 800 is probably not a very good idea, and over 1000 is definitely not a good idea.
Check in next time for Part 2 of this post, where I'll cover the activity essay!
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