Where can I find the latest College Board college essay prompts for this year?
I'm starting to work on my college applications and I know that the College Board sometimes has essay prompts that colleges use in their applications. I've seen the Common App prompts, but I'm a little confused because some of the schools I'm considering are asking for different prompts.
Is there an official place on the College Board site where all the current college essay prompts are listed? Or does it depend on the specific colleges? I want to make sure I'm not missing any new prompts since I heard they sometimes change from year to year.
If anyone can point me in the right direction or share how you went about finding the most up-to-date prompts, that would be really helpful. I just want to make sure I'm starting with the right info so I don't waste time writing essays for old or outdated questions.
Is there an official place on the College Board site where all the current college essay prompts are listed? Or does it depend on the specific colleges? I want to make sure I'm not missing any new prompts since I heard they sometimes change from year to year.
If anyone can point me in the right direction or share how you went about finding the most up-to-date prompts, that would be really helpful. I just want to make sure I'm starting with the right info so I don't waste time writing essays for old or outdated questions.
6 months ago
•
44 views
Roger Lopez
• 6 months ago
Advisor
The College Board does not publish or maintain a centralized list of college essay prompts for all schools. While the College Board oversees things like the SAT and AP exams, individual colleges control their own application essay requirements. Most colleges use one of three main platforms for their applications: the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or the school’s own application portal. Each of these platforms has its own essay prompts, and sometimes schools will add supplemental essay questions specific to their institution.
If you’re looking for the most up-to-date essay prompts, your best bet is to go directly to the official sources:
1. For most Common App schools, visit the Common Application website (commonapp.org). Each year, they update their prompts, usually in the spring or early summer, and provide a list of participating colleges with any additional requirements. When you create an account and add colleges to your list, you’ll see all the essay questions required for each school, including extras like "Why This College?" essays, short answer questions, and more.
2. For schools using the Coalition Application, check the Coalition website for current prompts. Like the Common App, they publish their primary essay choices and partner school requirements each year.
3. For colleges with their own application portal, visit the admissions section of each college’s official website. Most schools publish their essay or personal statement prompts and any additional questions. Sometimes they’re called “supplemental essays” or “writing requirements.”
For example, if you’re applying to the University of Chicago, their essay prompts change each year and are posted on their admissions web page. If you want to apply there, you’ll need to check their site directly.
Many students create a spreadsheet to track each college’s requirements and deadlines. Double-check all prompts against the college’s website or your chosen application platform, especially since they sometimes change from year to year. This will help you avoid working on outdated questions and save valuable time.
In summary, there is no single College Board listing of all essay prompts. Go to the Common App, Coalition App, or the specific college admissions pages to find the correct and most current prompts for your schools.
If you’re looking for the most up-to-date essay prompts, your best bet is to go directly to the official sources:
1. For most Common App schools, visit the Common Application website (commonapp.org). Each year, they update their prompts, usually in the spring or early summer, and provide a list of participating colleges with any additional requirements. When you create an account and add colleges to your list, you’ll see all the essay questions required for each school, including extras like "Why This College?" essays, short answer questions, and more.
2. For schools using the Coalition Application, check the Coalition website for current prompts. Like the Common App, they publish their primary essay choices and partner school requirements each year.
3. For colleges with their own application portal, visit the admissions section of each college’s official website. Most schools publish their essay or personal statement prompts and any additional questions. Sometimes they’re called “supplemental essays” or “writing requirements.”
For example, if you’re applying to the University of Chicago, their essay prompts change each year and are posted on their admissions web page. If you want to apply there, you’ll need to check their site directly.
Many students create a spreadsheet to track each college’s requirements and deadlines. Double-check all prompts against the college’s website or your chosen application platform, especially since they sometimes change from year to year. This will help you avoid working on outdated questions and save valuable time.
In summary, there is no single College Board listing of all essay prompts. Go to the Common App, Coalition App, or the specific college admissions pages to find the correct and most current prompts for your schools.
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Roger Lopez
Chicago, Illinois
Yale University BA, Political Science | Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, MBA Candidate |
Experience
4 years