What are some of the easiest college essay prompts out there right now?

Some college essay prompts are definitely more straightforward or open-ended than others, which can help if you’re feeling nervous about deep self-reflection. The Common Application’s personal statement tends to be broad, but within it, the option “Share an essay on any topic of your choice” is as open as it gets and lets you write about literally anything—maybe a favorite activity, a quirky habit, or something interesting you learned.

If you’re looking for prompts that are even easier and less personal, many colleges offer shorter supplemental essays with very direct questions. For example, some schools ask about your academic interests: “Why do you want to study XYZ major?” or “Why do you want to attend our university?” These prompts typically focus more on your interests, motivations, or practical plans, and can be approached more like a persuasive essay than a deep introspection. Georgia Tech’s “Why do you want to study at Georgia Tech?” is about as straightforward as it gets, and many state school applications ask for something similar.

The University of California Personal Insight Questions are also a bit more specific and practical: prompts like "Describe an example of your leadership experience" or "What have you done to make your school or community a better place?" can be easier to tackle because they focus on direct experiences or actions. You're not required to dig into your psyche, just describe what you did and what you learned.

I remember that some students found the University of Washington's supplement easy: “Tell us a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.” While it’s open-ended, it just asks for a story, so you can stick to a concrete event.

If you prefer a more creative or literal task, some schools (like UChicago) have quirky prompts like “Describe your favorite joke and its impact on you,” which allow you to approach the essay with humor or out-of-the-box thinking.

A tip: If broad prompts feel intimidating, look for schools that ask for shorter, activity/interest-based essays. But with any prompt, picking something specific—one experience, one idea—will help make the writing process less stressful and more manageable.

Remember, sometimes a straightforward approach to a simple prompt is perfectly fine. Focus on clarity and showcasing a slice of who you are.