Brainstorming College Application Essays

The Individual type of conflict and it needn’t take place on a grand stage.

Subsequent growth in the wake of failure can give insight into your character, resilience, and depth.

In brainstorming this one, reflect on your life’s setbacks and whether they led to maturation or enlightenment.

Prompt 6: This could be about a topic you've heard recently on the news, or have recently learnt from school. Is there anyone / any group that is adding to your knowledge? Prompt 7: Do you have a topic of interest that you know a lot about, outside the realms of your normal study? What is its relevance to your life, and the wider world?

What implications does it have, and what impact will it have on the future?

Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content.

What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?Do you belong to any after school clubs or take part in any sports at the weekend? Clubs and sports showcase team working, planning, strategy and forward thinking. Do you have a hobby that consumes your time during holidays? The great news is with this prompt, you only have to write about a background, an identity, an interest or a talent, i.e. Prompt 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.Did you audition for a school play and didn’t get the part? Did you fail your driving test first time, but passed it after trying again? Prompt 3: Do you have brothers and sisters or friends who may have been bullied or harassed? Do you have any family or friends with disabilities or learning difficulties?How have you moved on from this and come back stronger? Have they encountered any issues when they’ve been out with you at the cinema, shopping, on holiday or down the bowling alley? Have you been treated unequally or unfairly by someone because of your sexuality or religion? Prompt 4: Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve.It is a chance for you to write a story where you are not the hero, at least in a traditional, conquering sense.In a world of flattering selfies, exaggerated resumes, and a top 20 hit that repeats the phrase “I’m the man” 38 times, it can be refreshing to hear someone willingly talk about their shortcomings and less proud moments.You’ve read and reread the Common App essay prompts.Now it’s time to plan what ideas you could write about in your Common App essay and how you can match these back to a topic within one of the prompts.Prompt 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. What sparks your interest and imagination when you’re on these trips?