What are the Common App college essay prompts for the 2024-2025 cycle?
I'm trying to get a head start on my essays for college applications, but I can't seem to find a definite list of what the Common Application essay prompts are for the 2024-2025 year. Did the prompts change at all, or are they the same as last year?
If anyone already knows what they are, could you please share them or point me to an official source? I want to make sure I'm not working off of last year's information by mistake. I just want to be sure I'm answering the right questions before I start brainstorming and outlining.
If anyone already knows what they are, could you please share them or point me to an official source? I want to make sure I'm not working off of last year's information by mistake. I just want to be sure I'm answering the right questions before I start brainstorming and outlining.
4 months ago
•
33 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
The Common App prompts for the 2024-2025 application cycle have not changed from the previous year. You can confidently use the list from last year when brainstorming and drafting your essay. Here are the seven Common App essay prompts for 2024-2025:
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
If you want to verify these officially, you can visit the Common Application's official website under the 'First-year essay prompts' section: https://www.commonapp.org/blog/2024-2025-common-app-essay-prompts
Since the prompts remain unchanged, it’s a good idea to start early and brainstorm which prompt best fits your unique story. For example, if you’re passionate about origami and it shaped your problem-solving abilities, prompt 6 might work well. If none resonate, prompt 7 is a flexible option to craft your own theme.
Enjoy your brainstorming, and let the prompt inspire you to highlight your distinctive experience!
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
If you want to verify these officially, you can visit the Common Application's official website under the 'First-year essay prompts' section: https://www.commonapp.org/blog/2024-2025-common-app-essay-prompts
Since the prompts remain unchanged, it’s a good idea to start early and brainstorm which prompt best fits your unique story. For example, if you’re passionate about origami and it shaped your problem-solving abilities, prompt 6 might work well. If none resonate, prompt 7 is a flexible option to craft your own theme.
Enjoy your brainstorming, and let the prompt inspire you to highlight your distinctive experience!
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
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5.0 (5 reviews)