Where do you find the official essay prompts for colleges?
I'm a rising senior and starting to think about my college applications. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed because I want to get a jumpstart on my essays over the summer, but I can't seem to figure out the best way to find the exact essay prompts for each school. Is there a central place where colleges post their actual prompts or do you just go to the school's admissions website one by one?
Also, do the prompts change much from year to year? I'm worried about writing an essay now that won't work later. Any advice would be helpful.
Also, do the prompts change much from year to year? I'm worried about writing an essay now that won't work later. Any advice would be helpful.
2 months ago
•
17 views
Camille L.
• 2 months ago
Advisor
It's normal to feel overwhelmed at the start of the college application process, especially when you're facing essays for multiple schools. Most colleges release their official essay prompts in a few main places, and there are reliable ways to find them.
The Common Application and Coalition Application are the main platforms for many colleges. The prompts for the main personal statement usually stay consistent year to year and are available directly on their websites. For example, the Common App lists all its prompts in advance (typically published by March or April each year), and supplemental prompts begin updating in the summer. Coalition App does the same.
For school-specific essays (like supplements), the best source is each college's undergraduate admissions website. Schools typically update these pages with their current essay topics by mid-summer. Some even announce them on admissions blogs or social media.
A strategy that works well for a lot of students is to:
1. Make a list of colleges you're interested in.
2. Look up each school's admissions page around July or August for the latest prompts.
3. If a prompt isn't released, last year's prompt is often similar. Most schools don't drastically change their prompts each year. For example, "Why Our College?" and "Describe an extracurricular activity" are frequent topics.
4. You can also create accounts on the Common App or Coalition App once they open for the next application cycle (usually August 1) and see all prompts for your selected schools in one place.
Here's an example: if you plan to apply to NYU, check their admissions page for supplement updates. Meanwhile, the Common App's main prompts are available early, so you can start drafting.
It’s smart to start brainstorming and outlining essays using recent prompts from previous years, but hold off on a final draft until you’re sure the prompt hasn’t changed. Most changes, if any, are minor.
To sum up: use the Common App or Coalition websites for main essays, individual college admissions sites for supplements, and double-check each prompt before finalizing your essays. This approach should save you some worry and help you prep over the summer with confidence.
The Common Application and Coalition Application are the main platforms for many colleges. The prompts for the main personal statement usually stay consistent year to year and are available directly on their websites. For example, the Common App lists all its prompts in advance (typically published by March or April each year), and supplemental prompts begin updating in the summer. Coalition App does the same.
For school-specific essays (like supplements), the best source is each college's undergraduate admissions website. Schools typically update these pages with their current essay topics by mid-summer. Some even announce them on admissions blogs or social media.
A strategy that works well for a lot of students is to:
1. Make a list of colleges you're interested in.
2. Look up each school's admissions page around July or August for the latest prompts.
3. If a prompt isn't released, last year's prompt is often similar. Most schools don't drastically change their prompts each year. For example, "Why Our College?" and "Describe an extracurricular activity" are frequent topics.
4. You can also create accounts on the Common App or Coalition App once they open for the next application cycle (usually August 1) and see all prompts for your selected schools in one place.
Here's an example: if you plan to apply to NYU, check their admissions page for supplement updates. Meanwhile, the Common App's main prompts are available early, so you can start drafting.
It’s smart to start brainstorming and outlining essays using recent prompts from previous years, but hold off on a final draft until you’re sure the prompt hasn’t changed. Most changes, if any, are minor.
To sum up: use the Common App or Coalition websites for main essays, individual college admissions sites for supplements, and double-check each prompt before finalizing your essays. This approach should save you some worry and help you prep over the summer with confidence.
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Camille L.
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