A Complete Guide to the Common App Essay Prompts [2026-27]
September 8, 2026
The Common App essay prompts are six thematic prompts (and one completely open-ended one) designed to be a loose framework to help you find a
The Common App essay prompts are six thematic prompts (and one completely open-ended one) designed to be a loose framework to help you find a
By the end of your junior year, you’ve written dozens (maybe even hundreds) of essays: from grade school book reports and five-paragraph narrative essays to
At some point, nearly every student who writes a college essay will have doubts about their topic. While doubts are inevitable, and many will be
“Is my college essay any good?” As a college essay coach, this is the question that I get asked the most. As you may have
When it comes to writing the personal statement, many students wonder: Is my college essay topic too cliché? Given that the personal statement is intended
You’ve got the grades. You’ve joined the clubs. You’ve volunteered. But now you’re staring down one of the most daunting parts of your college application:
The to-do list for college applications is long: filling in the Common App, gathering references, making lists of extracurriculars and volunteer activities—and writing essays, potentially
After three long years of high school, you’ve finally made it: senior year. While this is your chance to try a fun, new elective or
You’ve decided to apply to your dream college, and the adrenaline rush of imagining a new chapter of life is running through you. You’re thinking