Essay questions for the common application 2016

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The New Common Application Essay Prompts

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The New Common Application Essay Prompts Dave Berry. Application EssaysCollege AdmissionsParents.

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. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success.

Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea.

What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? 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. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

In essence, it's asking you to identify and discuss something that enthralls you.

The question gives you an opportunity to identify something that kicks your brain into high gear, reflect on why it is so stimulating, and reveal your process for digging deeper into something that you are passionate about. Note that the central words here—"topic, idea, or concept"—all have rather academic connotations.

While you may lose track of time when running thesis statements for synthesis essays playing football, sports are probably not the best choice for this particular question.

It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. The popular "topic of your choice" option had been removed from the Common Application between andbut it's now back again for the admissions cycle.

Use this option if you have a story to share that doesn't quite fit into any of the options above.

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However, the first six topics are extremely broad with a lot of flexibility, so make sure your topic really can't be identified with one of them. Also, don't equate "topic of your choice" with a license to write a comedy routine or poem you can submit such things via the "Additional Info" option. Essays written for this prompt still need to have creative writing prompts for year 6 and tell your reader something about you.

Cleverness is fine, but don't be clever at the expense of meaningful content. Sample essay for option 7: Whichever prompt you chose, make sure you are looking inward.

What do you value? What has made you grow as a person?

How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act?

The Common Application Announces 2016-2017 Essay Prompts

Would you make the same decision again? 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. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.