“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
― Maya Angelou.
We have recently learned that the Common Application’s personal statement essay prompts for 2019-20 will be the same as they were last year. As stated on the Common Application website, “Based on extensive counselor feedback, the existing essay prompts provide great flexibility for applicants to tell their unique stories in their own voice. Retaining the essay prompts provides the added benefit of consistency for students, counselors, parents, and members during the admissions process.” With essay prompts remaining the same, students rolling over their existing Common App accounts also have more time to plan and prepare their applications prior to senior year.
In 2019-1920, there will be seven prompts, five of which were used previously (some with revisions), and two additional prompt choices. To clarify, the applicant only needs to respond to ONE prompt! It will continue to have a 250 word minimum and 650 word maximum. I will discuss how to approach each prompt.
The Common Application Board of Trustees’ stated goal is to give each applicant an opportunity to express authentic authorship with a unique story that directly reveals who he or she is. I have three general suggestions about approaching these prompts, consistent with my philosophy of essay-writing, for you to pass along to your student:
1. Speak honestly in your own voice. Admissions people can smell parental word-smithing a mile away: “If it sounds like it was written by a forty-five year old attorney, it probably was.” They want to hear what the student has to say, not the parent; it is the student that they are deciding whether or not to accept. The personal statement is just that, personal; it offers a rare opportunity in this crazy process for a student to control the application product, to genuinely speak for oneself. As master of one’s destiny in this journey of self-discovery, it is not only desirable, but also imperative, that the young adult speaks for oneself.
2. Emphasize your positive qualities (while being honest about your vulnerabilities and opportunities for growth). The college essay process should not serve as psychotherapy or attempt to cry victimhood as a way of getting into college. Colleges are not rehabilitation centers; they want young people who can constructively contribute to the college community. Conversely, do not be so concerned with presenting a perfect picture that you come off as phony; tonality is a key element in a college essay. Present a balanced portrait of the real human being you are.
3. Remember to suggest qualities that will translate into contributions to the college and the world. A college application is like a job interview. If they “hire” you, what you will do for them? Will you sit alone in your room and study all day, without ever joining a student organization, conducting undergraduate research, or giving back to the community surrounding campus? Self-actualization is noble, but it must be balanced with the humility to offer one’s talents to serve college and society.
Below are suggestions for addressing the seven prompts:
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. If you choose this prompt, emphasize how your unique story will help you contribute to the college community. If you are an underrepresented minority or first generation college applicant, such “hooks” will be noted in your application. But how will you use your cultural, ethnic or socioeconomic background or gender identity to enrich the student body? Interest or talent allows you to write about a specific defining activity in your life, such as animals, sports, music, or social action, which will be an asset in your college career and in the future. If your story is about conquering adversity, clarify the character strengths that helped you overcome obstacles and how your distinctive strengths will translate into success, empathy, or sense of mission in college and beyond.
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? I recommend this topic only if: “You are an achiever who could be otherwise viewed as a ‘water walker’ lacking empathy for mere mortals; you can point to a specific positive change that came from the experience; and you are a talented enough writer to address a delicate topic with finesse.”
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? I recommend focusing on constructive challenges. As a humorous example, I caution not to write about the time you broke into your high school to prove that they had inadequate security. Instead, I advise writing about the time you developed a bill to address a social issue in Youth in Government that later was considered by your “real” state legislature. These action challenges are, however, rare for high school students.
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. I believe that this is one of the greatest essay opportunities, because the writer can use it to provide dramatic, real-life evidence that he or she is an innovative, curious agent of change who will make a difference. Combined with excellent academic credentials, this essay can highlight a quality that makes an applicant truly a standout that an elite institution will find desirable.
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. This prompt offers a broad range of rich opportunities for self-revelation, such as an LGBTQ student addressing coming out or an adolescent encountering illness, disability, or discrimination “close to home” that changed one’s outlook. This essay allows one to demonstrate awareness, courage, and initiative, which will clearly be of value in college and life.
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 allows the student to delve deep into one’s most passionate interests. It is especially appropriate for a student who is engaged in artistic pursuits, but could also apply to a mathematical student who is tremendously creative in the quantitative realm. This prompt is reminiscent of Carl Jung’s famous quote, “What did you do as a child that made hours pass like minutes? Herein lies the key to your earthly pursuits.”
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. Years ago, there was a “topic of your choice” prompt, and it has always been missed. Some students simply have something to say that none of the prompts cover; this prompt offers the opportunity to speak.
According to the Common App website: “During the 2018-2019 application year, the most popular topic of choice was: “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.” (24.1%). The next most popular topics were: “Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.” (23.7%), followed by “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?” (21.1%).