Common Application Essay Prompts 2017-2018

While it’s still early to be thinking about writing your college application essays for next year’s application cycle, the Common Application has already announced their essay topics for 2017-2018.

Though it’s nice to have this information now, it’s too early to start your essays. A lot can happen between now and when the Common App opens for the 2017-2018 cycle in August! We advise waiting until later this summer to begin brainstorming and writing in earnest. For now, it’s fine to familiarize yourself with the prompts. If any ideas come to you, jot them down and set them aside for later.

And in case you were wondering, here are the 2017-2018 Common Application Essay Prompts:

• 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.
• 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?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• 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, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• 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?
• 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.

Remember, even though the 2017-2018 essay prompts are available, it doesn’t mean you should begin working on your essays. You should instead be focusing on planning for summer, preparing for the SAT or ACT, and doing your best in your classes.