Personal Essay

Points to Ponder When Writing Your Personal Essay

The Personal Essay is the piece of your application that lets the Admissions team get to know you through a more holistic lens, beyond your transcript and test scores. It can have significant weight in determining whether you are accepted, waitlisted or denied admission. Therefore, it is well worth the time to craft a thoughtful and meaningful narrative that captures the following elements:

Your essay...

• Should reveal information about your character, values and life that compliments the college culture/ college values

• Should demonstrate how you think

• Should include depth and substance

• Should detail how an event has changed you / shaped you

• Should convey a story that reveals an "ah-hah moment"

*After writing the personal essay and attending the Personal Essay Workshop, students are encouraged to submit their essays to Mrs. Spaulding, the English teacher and Mrs. Desmond for review.

The 2021-2022 Common Application Essay Prompts are as follows:

Topic #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.

Topic #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?

Topic #3

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Topic #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?

Topic #5

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Topic #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? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Topic #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.