Does College Board have input on Common App essay prompts?

College Board and the Common App are two separate organizations with different roles in the college admissions process. College Board is responsible for standardized tests like the SAT and AP exams, while the Common App provides a platform for students to apply to multiple colleges with one application.

When it comes to essay prompts, the Common App develops its own personal statement questions. There isn't any formal, public evidence that College Board provides direct input on the content of these essay prompts. While both organizations occasionally collaborate on broader educational initiatives or research, they do not jointly create or revise the Common App essay prompts.

The Common App essay prompts are reviewed annually by the Common App team based on feedback from member colleges and student users. They very rarely change from year to year; in fact, many prompts have stayed the same for several years, and when updates happen, they're usually minor. Every February-March, the Common App announces the prompts for the next application cycle. This timing gives students plenty of time to prepare well in advance, knowing the questions won't be swapped out unexpectedly due to external influence.

For example, the prompt about a background, identity, interest, or talent that is meaningful to you has been on the list for years. This kind of stability makes it safe for students to start brainstorming and drafting responses before summer even starts.

If you want to pick a prompt early, check the official Common App website for the latest announcements. Once they've posted the prompts for your application cycle (often by spring of your junior year), you can confidently start your essays, knowing they are locked in for that year.

In summary: you can safely start working on your college essays as soon as the Common App announces the prompts, without worrying about last-minute changes from College Board or other outside organizations.