How many Common App essays do you choose?

The Common App Essay is required by some, but not all, Common App colleges and can provide admissions officers with a window into your character, goals, and personality. The Common App provides seven essay prompts to choose from.

How many Common App essays should I draft?

Write only one essay (plus any supplements).

You'll submit one essay through the Common Application for all your schools. Some colleges may ask you to also answer a few supplemental questions. Check out the Common App essay prompts now so you can start strategizing!

How many Common App essays are required 2023?

Overall, most colleges will accept the Common Application. This makes your Common App essay one of the most critical components of your college applications. After all, how many Common App essays are required? Just one.

How many Common App essay prompts do you have to answer?

The Common App essay prompts for 2023-24 have been released and—spoiler alert—they're exactly the same as last year's! 2023-24 college applicants, like those who came before them, will have seven (that's right, seven) essay prompts to choose from.

How many essays should I write for college application?

You'll likely write a main personal statement for your Common App, perhaps some separate essays if you're applying to public schools (the UCs require four, for example), plus you'll write supplements for most selective schools, which number anywhere from 6-20, depending on the number of schools you apply to.

The Best Way to Start & End a College Essay in 2024! | Tips for Common App and Supplementals

How many essays does the average college student write?

On average, college students will write about 10 to 15 essays each semester. That's averages out to 40 to 60 pages of writing. English classes or writing courses will have the most essay writing assignments. In these language-focused classes, there will be about five to six essays per semester.

How long should my college essay be Common App?

For the Common App, try to stay within 550-650 words, even though the given range is 250-650. Any submission shorter than 500 words will make it look as though you simply didn't care enough to give your best effort. An essay shorter than 500 words won't be long enough to truly share who you are and what matters to you.

Do you choose one Common App essay prompt?

Yes—admissions officers don't expect everyone to have a totally unique college essay topic. But you must differentiate your essay from others by having a surprising story arc, an interesting insight, and/or an advanced writing style.

What is the prompt number 1 on the Common App essay?

Tips for Common Application Essay Prompt #1

Where did you come from, and why is that important to you now? What is a meaningful community in your life, one that is essential to your identity? What's something you do that makes you feel the most like you?

How do I make my Common App essay stand out?

Should I bold my Common App essay?

The font should be standardized once you paste your work in. In case it isn't, use a 12 pt., single space, simple font like Times New Roman or Calibri. Avoid all caps, bold, underline, and italics because they can look more conversational than professional.

Is it better to apply through Common App or directly?

Some colleges may accept all of these forms of applications and some schools may only accept one form. However, the Common Application is generally the best choice, as this application is most widely used across the country.

Can I use the same Common App essay two years in a row?

This is because admissions officers are too busy reading their own schools' applications to compare the essays with other schools. Therefore, a college will not reject an applicant for using the same essay for multiple college applications.

Is it OK if my Common App essay is too long?

I've interviewed numerous College Admissions Reps on how to write a strong admissions essay and many have mentioned the importance of adhering to the word limit. It's not okay to exceed the 650 word limit on the common application essay, but your essay can be less than 650 words.

What happens if you go over 650 words on Common App?

It's not about colleges accepting a slightly longer essay - it's about the strict word count limit in the College App itself. The Common App main essay space will NOT let you go over 650 limit. The extra words will be cut off. You have to get it to 650 or less, that's it.

What is the disadvantage of the Common Application?

Con: It's Easy to Overdo It

While over 700 institutions accept the Common App, it doesn't mean you should apply to all of them. It's easy to forget this though and get caught up in the ease of applying to several schools at once.

What makes the best Common App essay?

What Makes a Great Common App Essay? A great Common App essay is, first and foremost, deeply personal. You are relying on the admissions committee to choose you over someone else, which they are more likely to do if they feel a personal connection to you.

What is prompt 5 in Common App essay?

Prompt five asks you to delve into a time in your life where you experienced a period of personal growth and gained a new understanding of yourself or others. This prompt is expansive, in the sense that you can choose any accomplishment event, realization, time in your life.

What is prompt 4 on Common App essay?

Common App Essay Prompt #4 asks students to talk about a time when they felt gratitude for something someone did. Gratitude has become a quality that individuals are encouraged to connect to and reflect on, which explains the commonality of essays on gratitude in college classes.

What is the easiest Common App prompt?

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. Translation: What, in your seventeen years on this earth, has helped shape the person you are today?

Do colleges read the Common App essay?

Yes, admissions officers do actually read essays, but they might have already screened candidates first in a preliminary round.

When should I start my Common App essay?

Starting early is key. Regardless of whether you're a slow or fast writer, you should give some thought to the CommonApp Essay during your Junior year, even if that's just reviewing the process and doing some brainstorming.

What happens if you go over the word limit on Common App essay?

For example, the Common App won't allow you to go over 650 word limit for its main essay. Not even one word over. If your word count is several words over the limit, changing “It is” and “I would” to “It's” and “I'd” could help a bit. If your essay is 750 words, you will need to rewrite it.

What are three recommendations provided when trying to choose a topic for your college essay?

A great college essay topic should be engaging, memorable, and somewhat unique. It should capture your personality and ambitions, and it should help admissions officers picture what you could contribute to a college campus. Ideally, your college essay topic should tell a story.

Does word count matter for college essays?

High school essays tend to require a page limit, but college essays tend to require a word count. When it comes to college application essays, many colleges and universities specify a word count. Some expect one longer essay, while others expect responses to multiple prompts using a shorter word count for each answer.