What are the college essay prompts for the class of 2026?
I’m starting to think about my college applications and getting my essay ready early, but I can’t seem to find a solid list of essay prompts for the class of 2026 anywhere. I’ve heard that some schools keep their prompts the same every year and others change them up, so I’m a bit confused about where to look and which version to use.
Has anyone found an official or reliable list of the 2025 essay prompts for Common App or specific schools like NYU or MIT? I want to start brainstorming over the summer, and it would really help to know what I’m working with. Also, do the supplemental essays change much year to year? If you’ve applied recently or are applying this year, I’d really appreciate any advice about where to find the actual prompts for this cycle.
Any tips or tricks also welcome!
Has anyone found an official or reliable list of the 2025 essay prompts for Common App or specific schools like NYU or MIT? I want to start brainstorming over the summer, and it would really help to know what I’m working with. Also, do the supplemental essays change much year to year? If you’ve applied recently or are applying this year, I’d really appreciate any advice about where to find the actual prompts for this cycle.
Any tips or tricks also welcome!
1 week ago
•
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Grayce Gibbs
• 1 week ago
Advisor
The Common App essay prompts for the 2025-2026 application cycle have been officially released, and the good news is they're the same as last year’s. This means you can begin brainstorming with confidence. Here’s a quick rundown of the seven prompts you’ll get to choose from for your main Common App essay:
1. A story reflecting your background, identity, interest, or talent.
2. Lessons learned from overcoming obstacles.
3. Challenging a belief or idea.
4. A problem you’ve solved or would like to solve.
5. An accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked personal growth.
6. An interest or hobby that captivates you.
7. Anything else you want to share—in other words, a topic of your choice.
You can find the official prompts right on the Common App website in their "First-year essay prompts" section.
Supplemental essays are where it gets a little more complicated. Some schools often reuse similar prompts year over year. Others tend to keep the core ideas but sometimes adjust their wording or add/remove small questions. Usually, draft versions get posted by the schools on their admissions blogs or on their undergraduate admissions site in the spring or summer prior to the application opening.
For the most up-to-date supplemental prompts, check these sources:
- The official admissions website for each college (look for their "Essay Questions" page).
- The Common App when it opens in early August.
- College admissions blogs and forums where other students report on current year prompts.
A tip: If a school hasn’t published new prompts yet, it’s safe to practice with last year’s version. They rarely change substantially. I recommend drafting a “Why Us?” essay and one about a challenge you’ve overcome or a community you belong to, as variations of these show up almost everywhere.
If you want to keep things efficient, create a spreadsheet of your target schools, drop in last year’s prompts, and update them when the new cycle is officially published over the summer.
Getting started early is smart. Begin brainstorming with the Common App prompts, keep an eye on official admissions pages for updates, and you’ll be in great shape when application season hits.
1. A story reflecting your background, identity, interest, or talent.
2. Lessons learned from overcoming obstacles.
3. Challenging a belief or idea.
4. A problem you’ve solved or would like to solve.
5. An accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked personal growth.
6. An interest or hobby that captivates you.
7. Anything else you want to share—in other words, a topic of your choice.
You can find the official prompts right on the Common App website in their "First-year essay prompts" section.
Supplemental essays are where it gets a little more complicated. Some schools often reuse similar prompts year over year. Others tend to keep the core ideas but sometimes adjust their wording or add/remove small questions. Usually, draft versions get posted by the schools on their admissions blogs or on their undergraduate admissions site in the spring or summer prior to the application opening.
For the most up-to-date supplemental prompts, check these sources:
- The official admissions website for each college (look for their "Essay Questions" page).
- The Common App when it opens in early August.
- College admissions blogs and forums where other students report on current year prompts.
A tip: If a school hasn’t published new prompts yet, it’s safe to practice with last year’s version. They rarely change substantially. I recommend drafting a “Why Us?” essay and one about a challenge you’ve overcome or a community you belong to, as variations of these show up almost everywhere.
If you want to keep things efficient, create a spreadsheet of your target schools, drop in last year’s prompts, and update them when the new cycle is officially published over the summer.
Getting started early is smart. Begin brainstorming with the Common App prompts, keep an eye on official admissions pages for updates, and you’ll be in great shape when application season hits.
Grayce Gibbs
Denver, CO
Dartmouth College (AB); Colorado School of Mines (MS)
Experience
4 years