Common App Announces New Essay Prompts for 2017-18

The Common App has yet again changed its application essay prompts – just in time for the 2017-18 application season. Last year we saw no changes whatsoever and in 2015-16 saw only minor tweaks with the introduction of a new prompt. This year brings more tweaks in the form of brand new wording in addition to two entirely new options. There is now a total of seven prompts (up from five), although the word limit remains the same at 650. See Common App’s announcement here.

In my view, these prompts mark a great evolution from the “Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content” prompt introduced in 2013 that induced a nation-wide eye-rolling epidemic and a multitude of students writing college essays on beaches, libraries, and grandmas’ attics. It was replaced with a prompt on problem solving that remains unchanged for 2017-18. Clearly, with these prompts, the Common App aims to give students a chance to reveal their thinking and capacity for analytical thought because that’s what colleges want to see.

Every year the Common App surveys teachers, students, counselors, and colleges to see how they can improve the effectiveness of its essay prompts and provide equal access to all students, regardless of their background and experience (and “topic of your choice” prompts certainly take care of that).

So here they are (revisions appear in italics)…

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. [No change]
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? [Revised]
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your  thinking  ? What was  the outcome  ? [Revised]
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 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. [No change]
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or  realization  that  sparked a period of personal growth   and a new understanding of yourself or others  . [Revised]
6.  Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that 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?  [New]
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.  [New]