What did your student write about for their Common App essay?

[Anonymous]

I have heard of some really interesting topics and am curious what your kid ended up writing about. Mine is a junior and will be brainstorming later this spring in his English class.

[Anonymous]

One kid wrote about their first job. Kind of a blah essay IMO but they were mainly applying to not super competitive big state Us where I don't think the essay mattered much, their supplements were better IMO.

Other kid wove together something about their creative writing and how it tied to another other interest/activities and then made a connection to the major they want to pursue. Hard to describe without getting too specific. Definitely unique to her and very much her own voice. Much better IMO and since applying to LACs I think her essays mattered a lot more.

[Anonymous]

DC liked theater and had to play a role where the character was a homophobe. I thought it made for a great essay.

[Anonymous]

Have to say, in the most well intentioned way, that this is very personal - mine would never share information about their essays. It's a very important component of the application. Others might feel differently ofc.

[Anonymous]

My DD wrote about a friends serious mental illness and how it opened her eyes to people's suffering (was going in as a pysch major). My DS wrote about his job - which is pretty mundane - but he related it well to world circumstances (this was written late 2020, so the height of COVID).

They read their application notes and essays were noted as "thoughtful" which i do think is the point of these essays.

[Anonymous]

I have heard consultants say help them brainstorm about experiences that evoke emotion or helped shape them (their major choice, etc).

You want the person reading it to connect to your child as a person, so he or she is willing to fight for their admission (against other kids with the same stats).

You can help them brainstorm about possibilities (but the idea should come from then). When they start trying to write, one will probably “stick ” and the others fall away.

[Anonymous]

My son wrote about his being adopted and his relationship with his birth parents and what it's like being the only of our kids who is adopted, etc. Honestly, I think he could get it published with a couple of tweaks - that's how eloquent he was.

[Anonymous]

None-Ya

[Anonymous]

Our oldest wrote about cancel culture vs. historic liberalism.

Fascinating topic, and she's already in via EA!

[Anonymous]

There is a theory that they shouldn't write about sports. My kid wrote about his sport. It was excellent -- no cliches, very personal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have to say, in the most well intentioned way, that this is very personal - mine would never share information about their essays. It's a very important component of the application. Others might feel differently ofc.

[Anonymous]

My DD wrote about her disability but added some humor. It was really well done.

[Anonymous]

Kid wrote about a disastrous audition for a school play. It was a "learning experience" essay, but with some humor. I thought it was fairly original and very well-written.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Our oldest wrote about cancel culture vs. historic liberalism.

Fascinating topic, and she's already in via EA!

Good for your kid but could be a risky topic, depending on tone/positioning of issues and the school. Mind sharing the college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid wrote about a disastrous audition for a school play. It was a "learning experience" essay, but with some humor. I thought it was fairly original and very well-written.

Would love to read this!