{"id":7750,"date":"2019-08-05T17:00:55","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T00:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/?p=7750"},"modified":"2022-12-14T06:33:02","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T14:33:02","slug":"types-of-college-essay-prompts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kibin.com\/essay-writing-blog\/types-of-college-essay-prompts\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Common Types of College Essay Prompts–and How to Crush Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

What makes <\/b>you <\/i><\/b>so special?<\/b><\/p>\n

At one time or another, someone has probably asked you this snarky question to call you out on something.<\/p>\n

But when it comes to college admissions essays, it\u2019s a downright serious question. The people reading essays really do <\/i>want to know what makes you special. They want to know what makes you unique. They want to know what makes you, well, you.<\/i><\/p>\n

How can you highlight your accomplishments, your personality, or your goals with a set of high school transcripts and one short essay<\/a>?<\/p>\n

By absolutely crushing your college essay.<\/p>\n

10 Common Types of College Essay Prompts<\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s say you\u2019re a great athlete or a math genius. Perhaps you can sing like an angel. Maybe you\u2019re the valedictorian of your high school class.<\/p>\n

While all of these things certainly carry some bragging rights, guess what? Lots of other college applicants can claim the same bragging rights.<\/p>\n

So how can you stand out among the masses? Crushing your admission essay can make all the difference, so keep reading to learn what you should and shouldn\u2019t do when answering these common college essay prompts.<\/p>\n

Prompt #1: Describe a time you overcame a challenge or experienced failure<\/h3>\n

The challenge you write about might revolve around your home life, such as a struggle within yourself, your family, or dangers and challenges in your environment.<\/p>\n

You could also write about challenges you face because of a disability, because you’re a minority, or because of some other circumstance in your life.<\/p>\n

No matter what angle you take with this topic, keep in mind that, even though you\u2019re writing about challenges and failures, you don\u2019t <\/i>want to focus solely on the fact that you struggled.<\/p>\n

Instead, examine the positive outcomes. Consider how the experience changed you and what you learned from the experience.<\/p>\n

Read an example of how one student wrote about overcoming obstacles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Prompt #2: Describe a time when you changed your personal beliefs or values<\/h3>\n

The key to crushing this (and most every) essay prompt is to be specific<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t brag about the fact you became a vegetarian and are saving the planet with your life choices. Instead, write about a specific event that made you change your eating habits. For instance, did the time you spent working on a farm or at a fast-food restaurant make you want to become a vegetarian? Did you become vegetarian for spiritual reasons?<\/p>\n

Explain the event, and explain how the experience changed you and made you the person you are today.<\/p>\n

See how one student’s perspective on adoption changed<\/a> after the student’s family hosted a child from Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Prompt #3: Explain what you hope to accomplish in college<\/h3>\n

Every student who enrolls in college hopes to earn good grades and an eventual degree. This is certainly an accomplishment, but it\u2019s not the type of accomplishment that your audience<\/a> wants to read about in this essay.<\/p>\n

Admissions officers want to know<\/a> what you wish to do beyond <\/i>academics.<\/p>\n

This is where you might need to do a little homework. Learn about the organizations and clubs on campus. Perhaps you want to be not only a member but also a leader. Perhaps you have goals on how to improve the program. Or maybe you see a need for something new (on or off campus) and want to develop your own organization.<\/p>\n

If you do decide to focus on strictly personal goals, dig deeper than \u201cget good grades.\u201d Need inspiration? Check out this example essay<\/a> about a student\u2019s goals for personal growth.<\/p>\n

Prompt #4: Explain why you want to attend this college or university<\/h3>\n

This is a pretty common question, so in order to stand out when answering this prompt, you\u2019ll need to think of something more original than \u201cbecause the physical therapy program is one of the best in the state.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s fine to mention a great program or degree at the institution, but if you do, make sure <\/i>you discuss a unique and specific aspect of the program. For example, has the program or faculty won awards? Is the faculty comprised of renowned scholars? In other words, highlight the distinctive features of the program.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget, though, that this essay isn\u2019t about the school<\/i>. It\u2019s about you.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The goal is to explain why you <\/i>belong there. Why would you <\/em>thrive in such an environment? Why is the school a perfect fit for both your<\/em> personality and your<\/em> career goals<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Read why one student believes her chosen college is the perfect fit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Prompt #5: Describe a major accomplishment<\/h3>\n

Your college admissions essay isn\u2019t the time to try to be funny by answering this prompt with the story about how you finally managed to get 1,000 likes on a clever vacation pic or how you ate an extra-large party pizza in one sitting.<\/p>\n

Think about more serious and influential accomplishments, such as overcoming a learning disability or being the youngest person to ever open your own art show at a local gallery.<\/p>\n

In this admissions essay example<\/a>, a student describes overcoming social anxiety and the impact it had on his life and future goals.<\/p>\n

Prompt #6: Describe an event that sparked personal growth<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve all had those aha moments where we suddenly have a realization that sparked a change in us. Keep in mind that these moments may occur out of either a positive or negative situation, but it\u2019s the growth that happens<\/a> afterward that is meaningful in this context.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say you failed your biology exam (a definite negative). But perhaps failing this one exam made you realize that you really do love all things science, and you want to make it your life\u2019s work. This one negative experience caused you to evaluate your study habits and educational goals.<\/p>\n

Maybe you even turned that one experience into more than great grades in your classes. Maybe once you pulled up your grades, you started tutoring others to help them realize they could do the same.<\/p>\n

Remember, personal growth doesn\u2019t have to begin with a large, earth-shattering event<\/a>. It might very well be a small, seemingly minor event<\/a> that makes a big impact.<\/p>\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Need your essay to stand out?<\/div>\n\t\t\t
Get help from a pro.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tYes! Edit my admission essay.<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n

Prompt #7: Describe a person you admire<\/h3>\n

Parents, grandparents, and teachers<\/a> are pretty obvious choices for this college essay prompt, but don\u2019t always look at the obvious. Your essay will be much more interesting and original if you actually write about someone else. (Of course, it\u2019s still fine to admire your mom and dad, but don\u2019t think they\u2019re the only <\/i>possibilities for subjects.)<\/p>\n

Who else can you write about besides Mom and Dad?<\/p>\n

Perhaps you admire your best friend who has overcome extraordinary obstacles, and watching him or her overcome those struggles has taught you so much about yourself and how you handle life. Maybe you admire someone famous, like Stephen Hawking or Maya Angelou, and the person’s life has inspired your own.<\/p>\n

No matter who you admire, don\u2019t forget to keep the focus<\/a> on you. Don\u2019t simply tell another person\u2019s story. Explain how the person has impacted you or made you a better person.<\/p>\n

Prompt #8: Describe what makes you unique<\/h3>\n

We are all unique and special\u2014that\u2019s what our mothers always told us, right?<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s your chance to prove Mom right and show the world how great you are. This isn\u2019t, however, a chance to simply brag about yourself.<\/p>\n

Your goal here is to present an insightful and thoughtful discussion of a unique aspect of your character.<\/p>\n

While you may be unique because you won a ton of academic awards and scholarships, keep in mind that your academic achievements are already on display in your transcripts and other application materials. Don\u2019t repeat the information by writing about it in your college admissions essay.<\/p>\n

Instead, you might choose a point related to your academic goals and achievements but one that is a bit outside the standard classroom experience. For instance, if your ultimate goal is to become a veterinarian, you might write about how you consider yourself a cat or a dog whisperer and how this will help you become a better vet.<\/p>\n

Whatever unique part of yourself you choose as the focus, make sure that it expresses your true self<\/a> and is something that readers wouldn\u2019t know about you by reading the rest of your college application materials.<\/p>\n

Check out this example<\/a> of how a student defines herself through her devotion to helping others.<\/p>\n

Prompt #9: Explain what commitment means to you<\/h3>\n

To most people, commitment means working hard and being dedicated enough to work until a project is complete.<\/p>\n

Commitment might also mean giving back to society<\/a> or improving society (through volunteering with organizations or starting your own organization).<\/p>\n

What are you committed to? Consider what is important to you and how you demonstrate this commitment.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s okay to feel like you fall short. The college admissions essay isn\u2019t about being perfect<\/i>. It\u2019s about being honest<\/b>. So if you don\u2019t think you\u2019re active enough in the \u201cbig things\u201d (like changing the world or saving the environment) and you think you could improve, you might use this to discuss how you\u2019re working to improve.<\/p>\n

You could also use this opportunity to discuss your future plans for commitment by explaining your goals (or the importance of setting goals) and what you hope to achieve in life.<\/p>\n

Prompt #10: Choose your own essay topic<\/h3>\n

Choosing your own topic<\/a> can be both a blessing and a curse. Because you can basically choose just about any topic you like, it can be more difficult to select a topic that you think would showcase you, your ideas, your goals, or your achievements in some way.<\/p>\n

If you have the chance to choose your own topic, avoid telling sports stories about the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat (unless, of course, you have a unique twist on the topic).<\/p>\n

You should also avoid broad summaries of your volunteer experiences or your internships. These types of essays can sound like a report and read like a \u201cwhat I did on my summer vacation\u201d essay\u2014and they won\u2019t stand out. If you want to write about one of these events, choose a small aspect of the experience to highlight.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a few ideas for this broad, \u201cchoose your own\u201d category, consider writing about one of these topics:<\/p>\n