“How long should my Common Application essay be?”
Now you have October to complete your secondary essays. November is usually when early action/early decision deadlines hit. So by the end of October, you will have completed your application for anywhere you’re applying early; now you can use the last few weeks of November to complete any remaining secondary essays for schools with December or January due dates (most regular decision deadlines).
If you're grappling with where to start, jot down phrases or values that resonate with your identity. Words like "compassion," "resilience," or "innovation" can serve as anchors for your essay, guiding your narrative around pivotal experiences that exemplify these traits. Your GPA, transcript, test scores, , and other concrete items are undeniably important parts of your college application; but, your essay is a critical component because it gives you the opportunity to reveal a part of you that won’t shine through anywhere else. Below are essay prompts for the 2024-2025 Common Application. First-time college students (future freshmen) will use the Common Application to . Both the Coalition for College and the Common App provide you with essay prompts to choose from. Typically, you'll select one prompt to respond to, but depending on the school(s) you're applying to, you might need to submit additional essays () or short answers in addition to your main essay. While the overarching theme of identity might be common, your unique experiences and reflections will set your essay apart. Remember, this essay is an opportunity to showcase aspects of your life and character not evident elsewhere in your application. Avoid redundancy and strive for fresh, engaging content. These prompts might change for 2025/26; Common App is continuously looking at the essays submitted, and what prompts students are choosing. This information will be reviewed and incorporated into how they design their future prompts.
The 2024-2025 Common Application essay prompts are as follows:
I know the maximum word count for Common App is 650 and that most people write around 500-600, but I have 384 words for mine. I wrote on the first prompt, and I basically copy pasted one of my UC personal insights into the Common App prompt and edited it a little bit.
Is 384 too little?
Common App Essay Guide Part 1: Ideation
If you apply using , you'll use one of the following essay prompts. The 2023-2024 Common App essay prompts remain the same as the year prior. Similarly to Coalition, you have a maximum limit of 650 words and a minimum of 250 words.
What I wrote about for my Common App Essay
We get it! Sometimes it helps to see all of the prompts together, so you can get a broader sense of what these prompts are trying to bring out of you. We created this visual, which includes the Coalition and Common App essay prompts, with you in mind.
5 Common App Personal Essay Red Flags
Applicants who can articulate their thoughts and feelings while showing a willingness to consider the other side will undoubtedly be viewed as a welcome addition to any campus.
Keep in mind that the Common App essay is optional for some schools.
Now you have the second two weeks of October to complete your secondary essays for anywhere you are applying early with a November due date, and the rest of November to complete any remaining secondary essays for schools with December and January due dates (most regular decision deadlines).
Common App Personal Essay Prompts 2024-2025
The is your primary writing sample within the Common Application, a college application portal accepted by more than 900 schools. All your prospective schools that accept the Common App will read this essay to understand your character, background, and value as a potential student.
Common app essay deals word limit
Since this essay is read by many colleges, avoid mentioning any college names or programs; instead, save tailored answers for the supplementary within the Common App.