The Common App is commonly used to apply to over 800 universities in the USA as well as other countries. As part of the Common App, you are asked to choose one of seven essay prompts and write an essay a short essay (650 words maximum).
Below are several sample essays for the essay prompts used in both the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 Common Applications. You can use these as examples when writing your own essay. Or, if you need help writing, contact our Essay Writing Service, and we’d be glad to help!
Common App Sample Essay (Prompt 1) – Essay prompt 1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, please share your story.
Common App Sample Essay (Prompt 2) – Essay 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. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Common App Sample Essay (Prompt 3) – Essay prompt 3: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Common App Sample Essay (Prompt 4) – Essay prompt 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 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.
Common App Sample Essay (Prompt 5) – Essay prompt 5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Common App Sample Essay (Prompt 6) – Essay prompt 6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging 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?
Common App Sample Essay (Prompt 7) – Essay prompt 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.
