What are the college essay prompts for 2024 and how do I start brainstorming for them?

Great job getting a head start on your college essays! For the 2024-2025 cycle (class of 2028), the Common App personal statement prompts have stayed the same as previous years. Here are some of the most-used Common App prompts to expect:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it.
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?
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?
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.

For the University of California (UC) system, you’ll respond to four out of eight Personal Insight Questions (PIQs). These prompts ask about your leadership, creativity, greatest talent or skill, educational barriers, significant challenges, academic subjects that inspire you, volunteering, and more.

Since the prompts are broad, here’s how you can start brainstorming:

- Recall moments of change: Think about instances when you learned something significant about yourself or the world.
- List your activities, interests, or identities: Circle the ones that you feel shaped who you are most. Why?
- Use a mind map or bullet journal: Sometimes visually mapping memories and ideas can help spot patterns or stories you keep returning to.
- Freewrite for 10-15 minutes on a prompt, even if you think your thoughts are scattered. Often there’s a story beneath the surface.

For example, maybe you’re involved with robotics, but what excites you isn’t the competitions—it's the late-night brainstorming sessions with your teammates, or a specific moment when you solved a technical problem in a new way. Focusing in on those specific experiences will help narrow your scope and avoid broad or generic essays.

Ask yourself: What story can ONLY I tell? What’s a moment that shaped me—not just in the literal sense, but in how I see myself or others?

If you’re feeling stuck, sometimes talking through ideas with friends, family, or a teacher can spark inspiration. Remember, the best essays are honest and specific. Even a small moment—like a single conversation, a failure, or a time when you felt out of your comfort zone—can make a powerful essay if you reflect on it deeply enough.

Good luck! The start can be the toughest part, but with some brainstorming and reflection, you’ll uncover stories that stand out.