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The Common Application and the Art of Essay Writing

The Common Application

The majority of US universities, with notable exceptions like the University of California system and MIT, use a centralised platform known as the Common Application (better known as Common App). This platform allows you to use the same core information to apply to multiple schools, making the process much more efficient.  

The Common App is a digital form with several key sections to complete :  

  • Profile: Basic demographic and family information, including parents and siblings.  
  • Education: A detailed history of all schools you have attended, summer programs, and academic awards.  
  • Testing: Here, you will self-report your scores from the SAT, ACT, and English proficiency tests like TOEFL or IELTS.  
  • Activities: This is a list of up to ten extracurricular activities.  
  • Writing: This section includes your main personal statement and allows you to upload supplemental essays.  
The US Personal Statement: Your Personal Narrative

The personal statement is perhaps the most important part of your application. Unlike the UK's formal, subject-focused personal statement, the US version is a more narrative-driven essay of up to 650 words. This is your chance to share a personal story, demonstrate personal growth, and give admissions officers a window into your heart and mind. The focus is on showing, not telling, and using vivid details and anecdotes to illustrate your point.  

The Common App provides seven prompts to choose from for your main essay :  

  1. Identity, Background, or Talent: Share a story about a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful your application would be incomplete without it. This could be a story about how your family's yearly trips to China taught you about your parents' work ethic, or how your congenital eye defect affects how you see the world, both literally and metaphorically.
  2. Lessons from Obstacles: Recount a time you faced a challenge or setback, and how it affected you and what you learned. Think about a time your failure to follow directions led to a hilarious but "botched home science experiment," or how a series of setbacks on your way to becoming a child actor led you to discover your passion for screenwriting.
  3. Challenging a Belief: Reflect on a time you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? This might be an essay about being openly gay in a strict school environment or working on a political campaign caught in a scandal.
  4. Gratitude: Reflect on something someone has done for you that has made you happy in a surprising way. You could write about how a kind gesture from a stranger inspired you to "pay it forward," or how you feel appreciative of a public figure for their work on an issue that is important to you.
  5. Personal Growth: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realisation that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. This could be a "eureka" moment that fundamentally changed the way you live your life, or how winning a soccer game helped you develop as a leader and a friend.
  6. Captivating Topic: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that 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 might be an essay about how the idea of open-source code inspired you to create a tech startup with your friends, or how working at an accounting firm inspired you to start each day by checking the markets.
  7. Topic of Your Choice: Share an essay on any topic you choose.

The key to a successful personal statement is authenticity. Write about something that is genuinely important to you, even if it seems ordinary. Admissions officers are reading thousands of essays, and they can spot a generic or insincere one immediately.  

Supplemental Essays

In addition to the main personal statement, most universities will require one or more supplemental essays. These essays are often shorter and more specific, designed to get a sense of your fit with the institution. They can cover a wide range of topics, from your intended major to a unique experience you've had.  

Here are a few examples of supplemental essay prompts from highly selective universities to illustrate the variety you might encounter :  

  • Stanford University: "What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?"
  • Duke University: "Tell us about an experience in the past year or two that reflects your imagination, creativity, or intellect."
  • Dartmouth College: "How has difference been a part of your life, and how have you embraced it as part of your identity, outlook, or sense of purpose?"
  • Harvard University: "Describe a time when you strongly disagreed with someone about an idea or issue. How did you communicate or engage with this person? What did you learn from this experience?"

When writing these, it is crucial to customise each essay for the specific school you are applying to. Do your research, and show that you have a clear understanding of what makes that university unique and why you would thrive there. The best supplemental essays are tailored to the school and clearly answer the prompt. You can expand on a topic you mentioned in your main essay, but never recycle content word-for-word.