Can anyone share examples of college essay prompt 2 responses?

For Prompt 2 (which is usually about overcoming a challenge, setback, or failure), there's a lot of room for both personal and smaller-scale stories, not just dramatic or life-altering events. The key is reflecting on how the situation changed you or influenced your perspective.

One example a student shared with me: She wrote about getting rejected from her dream research internship. Instead of focusing only on the disappointment, she described how she reached out to a local college professor for a volunteer role in their lab, which wasn't as prestigious but ended up sparking her genuine interest in biochemistry. The essay focused on her initiative, her learning process in unfamiliar territory, and how she realized that small opportunities can be just as transformative as big ones. She concluded with how this experience shaped her future study and research interests. Her feedback was positive: readers appreciated that she found resilience in a 'small' setback and didn't artificially inflate the stakes.

Another student focused on music. He wrote about failing to qualify for an all-state ensemble he’d prepared for all year. The essay delved into the immediate frustration, but he also described how, with the encouragement of his band leader, he started mentoring younger musicians, discovering a love for teaching and collaboration. This angle let him reveal more about his character and future ambitions than if he had simply written about a victory. The admissions reader commented that the essay gave a genuine sense of who he was outside of just music.

The takeaway: You don't need a story that's "big" in scale. Heartfelt stories about a failed experiment, losing a competition, or even just a moment of self-doubt can work very well if you dig into what you learned and how you grew.

If you're choosing between STEM and music, consider which story allows you to show more personal growth or insight. For example, maybe something went wrong during a robotics competition, but you discovered a new interest in coding or teamwork. Or, maybe music helped you navigate a tricky group project in science class—combining your interests can make your story even stronger.

It's less about the "what" and more about your "why" and "how." Try brainstorming moments that pushed you to change your thinking or sparked a new passion, even if they seemed small at the time. If you'd like feedback on a draft or idea, feel free to share, and I'll be happy to help develop it further!