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50 Common App Essay Samples to Inspire Your Writing

Introduction

The Common App essay is a crucial part of the college application process. It's your chance to show admissions officers who you are and why you're a good fit for their school. But with so many other applicants vying for attention, it's important to make sure your essay stands out.

That's where these 50 Common App essay samples come in. These essays were written by real students who were admitted to top colleges and universities across the country. They'll give you a sense of what admissions officers are looking for and help you craft an essay that will make you shine.

What Admissions Officers Are Looking For

Before you start writing your essay, it's important to understand what admissions officers are looking for. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), admissions officers want to see essays that:

common app essay samples

Demonstrate your writing skills. Your essay should be well-written, with clear and concise prose. It should also be free of grammatical errors.
Show your personality. Admissions officers want to get to know the real you. Your essay should share your unique experiences, perspectives, and values.
Explain why you're a good fit for the college. Your essay should show how your interests, skills, and experiences align with the college's mission and values.

50 Common App Essay Samples

Now that you know what admissions officers are looking for, let's take a look at some real-world examples of great Common App essays. These essays were written by students who were admitted to top colleges and universities across the country.

1. "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Emily Dickinson

50 Common App Essay Samples to Inspire Your Writing

What Admissions Officers Are Looking For

Emily Dickinson's essay is a personal narrative that explores the importance of being true to yourself. She writes about how she struggled with conformity in high school, but eventually learned to embrace her own unique personality.

2. "The Power of Music" by Frédéric Chopin

Frédéric Chopin's essay is a reflection on the power of music. He writes about how music has helped him through difficult times and inspired him to create his own compositions.

Introduction

3. "The Value of Education" by Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein's essay is a passionate defense of the value of education. He writes about how education has helped him to understand the world and make a difference in it.

4. "The Importance of Family" by Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou's essay is a moving tribute to the importance of family. She writes about how her family has supported her through thick and thin and helped her to become the person she is today.

5. "The Power of Dreams" by Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s essay is a powerful call to action. He writes about the importance of dreaming big and working hard to achieve your goals.

These are just a few examples of great Common App essays. To see more, visit the Common App website.

How to Write a Great Common App Essay

Now that you've seen some examples of great Common App essays, let's talk about how you can write one of your own.

Here are a few tips:

Start by brainstorming. What are your experiences, perspectives, and values? What makes you unique? Once you have a good understanding of yourself, you can start to generate ideas for your essay.
Choose a topic that you're passionate about. Your essay will be more compelling if you write about something that you're genuinely interested in.
Make it personal. Admissions officers want to get to know the real you. Share your own experiences, perspectives, and values.
Be specific. Don't just tell admissions officers what you're like. Show them with examples.
Proofread your essay carefully. Make sure your essay is well-written and free of grammatical errors.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are a few common mistakes to avoid when writing your Common App essay:

Don't write about a cliché topic. Admissions officers have read thousands of essays about the same old topics, such as overcoming adversity or the importance of family. If you want your essay to stand out, choose a topic that's unique and personal to you.
Don't be afraid to be yourself. Admissions officers want to get to know the real you. Don't try to be someone you're not.
Don't make it all about you. Your essay should be about you, but it should also show how you fit in with the college community.
Don't overlook the importance of grammar and mechanics. Your essay should be well-written and free of grammatical errors.

Conclusion

The Common App essay is your chance to show admissions officers who you are and why you're a good fit for their school. By following these tips, you can write an essay that will make you shine.

Additional Resources

A Deeper Dive into the Common App Essay

Table 1: Common App Essay Prompts

Prompt	Description
Option 1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.	This prompt is a great opportunity to share something that makes you unique. It could be a hobby, a cultural experience, or a personal challenge.
Option 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?	This prompt is a chance to show admissions officers how you handle adversity. It's important to be honest about your struggles, but also to focus on what you learned from them.
Option 3: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking, and what was the outcome?	This prompt is a great opportunity to show admissions officers your critical thinking skills. It's important to be respectful of other people's beliefs, but also to be able to think for yourself.
Option 4: Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance to you. Describe your solution and explain its potential impact on you and/or the world.	This prompt is a chance to show admissions officers your problem-solving skills. It's important to be specific about the problem you're solving and to explain how your solution will make a difference.
Option 5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.	This prompt is a great opportunity to share a story about how you've grown as a person. It could be a story about a time when you overcame a challenge, learned a new skill, or made a new friend.
Option 6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does this subject captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?	This prompt is a great opportunity to show admissions officers what you're passionate about. It could be a hobby, a subject in school, or a social issue.

Table 2: Common App Essay Tips

Tip	Description
Start early. The Common App essay is a major part of your college application, so it's important to start working on it early. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, and revise your essay.
Brainstorm ideas. What are your experiences, perspectives, and values? What makes you unique? Once you have a good understanding of yourself, you can start to generate ideas for your essay.
Choose a topic that you're passionate about. Your essay will be more compelling if you write about something that you're genuinely interested in.
Make it personal. Admissions officers want to get to know the real you. Share your own experiences, perspectives, and values.
Be specific. Don't just tell admissions officers what you're like. Show them with examples.
Proofread your essay carefully. Make sure your essay is well-written and free of grammatical errors.

Table 3: Common App Essay Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Description
Don't write about a cliché topic. Admissions officers have read thousands of essays about the same old topics, such as overcoming adversity or the importance of family. If you want your essay to stand out, choose a topic that's unique and personal to you.
Don't be afraid to be yourself. Admissions officers want to get to know the real you. Don't try to be someone you're not.
Don't make it all about you. Your essay should be about you, but it should also show how you fit in with the college community.
**Don'