College Application Essay Prompts and How to Answer Them

As a high school student gearing up for college, one of the most critical aspects of your application is the essay. College application essays provide you with an opportunity to showcase your personality, experiences, and aspirations beyond your grades and test scores. 

In 2024, colleges across the country have various essay prompts designed to elicit thoughtful and authentic responses from applicants. In this guide, we'll explore common college application essay prompts for students applying in 2024 and offer tips on how to approach them effectively.

So, let’s get started!

What are the 2024-25 Common App Essay Prompts? 

Here is the complete list of Common App essay prompts for the 2024-25 application cycle.

Prompt 1: Share Your Story

Some students have a background, identity, or interest that they believe is so meaningful their application would be incomplete without it. Reflect on a defining aspect of your background, identity, or talent that you feel is integral to who you are. How has this element shaped your experiences and aspirations? Share your story and its significance in shaping your identity.

How to Tackle the Prompt

Now that we have our prompt let's examine how to tackle it:

Prompt 2: Lessons Learned from Adversity

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 the lessons learned and their impact on your personal growth and resilience.

How to Tackle the Prompt 

Here is what to say in a college application essay:

Prompt 3: Challenging Beliefs and Ideas

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? Explore how this experience broadened your perspective and influenced your understanding of the world.

How to Tackle the Prompt 

Here is how to tackle this prompt:

Prompt 4: Unexpected Gratitude

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? Explore how this act of kindness or support revealed the power of generosity and empathy.

How to Tackle the Prompt 

Let's see how to tackle this prompt: 

Prompt 5: Catalyst for Personal Growth

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. How did this experience challenge your assumptions and deepen your understanding? Reflect on the transformative impact it had on your perspective and relationships.

How to Tackle the Prompt 

Let's examine how to tackle this topic and what to say in your essay:

Prompt 6: The Enchantment of Knowledge

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you, and what or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? Share how your exploration of this subject has broadened your horizons and fueled your thirst for knowledge.

How to Tackle the Prompt

Here is how to address this prompt: 

Prompt 7: Your Essay, Your Voice

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. Embrace the opportunity to express your unique voice and perspective and reflect on the experiences and ideas that resonate with you.

How to Tackle the Prompt

Let's see how to address this topic: 

Approach each prompt with authenticity, aiming to provide insights that offer a glimpse into your character, values, and aspirations. By engaging thoughtfully with these prompts, you can craft essays that resonate with admissions committees and highlight the essence of who you are as a candidate. 

If you need detailed application essays, visit our blog on college essay examples, you will find plenty of ideas to get inspired. 

College Application Essay Prompts For Specific Institutes

Here are ten essay prompts for each of the specified institutes:

Boston College Application Essay Prompts 

• Each year at University Convocation, our incoming class engages in reflective dialogue with the author of a common text. What book by a living author would you recommend for your incoming class to read, and why would this be an important shared text? 
• At Boston College, we draw upon the Jesuit tradition of finding worthwhile conversation partners. Some support our viewpoints while others challenge them. Who fulfills this role in your life? Please cite a specific conversation you had where this conversation partner challenged your perspective or you challenged theirs.
• In her November 2019 Ted Talk, ''The Danger of a Single Story,'' Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi warned viewers against assigning people a ''single story'' through assumptions about their nationality, appearance, or background.  Discuss a time when someone defined you by a single story. What challenges did this present and how did you overcome them?
• Boston College's founding in 1863 was in response to society's call. That call came from an immigrant community in Boston seeking a Jesuit education to foster social mobility. Still today, the University empowers its students to use their education to address society's greatest needs. Which of today's local or global issues is of particular concern to you and how might you use your Boston College education to address it?
• Human-Centered Engineering (HCE) Applicants only: One goal of a Jesuit education is to prepare students to serve the Common Good. Human-Centered Engineering at Boston College integrates technical knowledge, creativity, and a humanistic perspective to address societal challenges and opportunities. What societal problems are important to you and how will you use your HCE education to solve them?
• Reflect on a meaningful volunteer or community service experience. What did you learn about yourself and others through this experience?
• Boston College strives to create an inclusive community. Describe a time when you contributed to fostering inclusivity and diversity.

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Harvard College 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?
• 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?
• 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.

UW College Application Essay Prompts

• Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
• Share a personal story that illustrates your commitment to community service or volunteering.
• UW values innovation and creativity. Discuss a project or idea you've developed that demonstrates these qualities.
• Reflect on a time when you had to navigate a cultural or societal difference. How did you approach the situation, and what did you learn?
• Discuss a challenge you faced while pursuing an academic interest or extracurricular activity. How did you overcome it?
• Describe an experience that sparked your intellectual curiosity. What questions did it raise for you, and how did you pursue answers?
• UW encourages students to engage with diverse perspectives. Describe a time when you engaged in meaningful dialogue with someone who held different views than your own.
• Share a moment when you demonstrated leadership in a group setting. What qualities do you believe are essential for effective leadership?
• Reflect on a time when you had to collaborate with others to solve a problem or complete a project. What role did you play, and what was the outcome?
• If you could create a new course or program at UW, what would it be and why?

BYU College 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?
• 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?
• 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.

UC Berkeley College Application Essay Prompts

• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
• Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
• What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
• Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
• Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
• Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
• What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
• Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Duke College Application Essay Prompts

• What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you?  If there's something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well.
• We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.
• Tell us about an intellectual experience in the past two years that you found absolutely fascinating.
• We believe there is benefit in sharing and sometimes questioning our beliefs or values; who do you agree with on the big important things, or who do you have your most interesting disagreements with? What are you agreeing or disagreeing about?
• We recognize that ''fitting in'' in all the contexts we live in can sometimes be difficult. Duke values all kinds of differences and believes they make our community better. Feel free to tell us any ways in which you're different, and how that has affected you or what it means to you.
• Duke's commitment to inclusion and belonging includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Feel free to share with us more about how your identity in this context has meaning for you as an individual or as a member of a community.

Williams College 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?
• 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?
• 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.

Virginia Tech College Application Essay Prompts 

• Virginia Tech values hands-on learning and innovation. Describe a project or experience where you applied classroom knowledge to real-world situations.
• Reflect on a time when you had to adapt to a new environment or overcome a significant transition. How did you navigate this change, and what did you learn about yourself in the process?
• Share a personal story that illustrates your commitment to serving others or making a positive impact in your community.
• Discuss a moment when you had to confront a difficult truth or challenge your own assumptions. How did this experience shape your perspective?
• Virginia Tech emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion. Describe a time when you actively worked to promote diversity or create an inclusive environment.
• Reflect on a time when you faced criticism or feedback. How did you respond, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Share an academic interest or passion that drives your intellectual curiosity. How do you plan to explore this interest at Virginia Tech?

University of Michigan College Application Essay Prompts

• Reflect on a time when you faced a significant obstacle or setback. How did you overcome it, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Describe an experience that sparked your intellectual curiosity. What questions did it raise for you, and how did you pursue answers?
• Michigan values diversity and inclusivity. Share a story that illustrates your commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community.
• Share a personal accomplishment or achievement that you're proud of. What challenges did you encounter along the way, and how did you overcome them?
• Michigan encourages students to engage with their local and global communities. Describe a service project or volunteer experience that has been meaningful to you.
• Reflect on a time when you had to make a difficult decision. What factors did you consider, and what was the outcome?
• If you could propose a new initiative or program at Michigan, what would it be and why? How would it benefit the campus community?

Additional College Essay Topics

Here are some additional college application essay topic examples often utilized by colleges and universities.

• Explore the transformative influence of a mentor on your personal and academic journey, revealing how this relationship shaped your goals and values.
• Navigate the complexities of your cultural identity, sharing insights into how it has shaped your worldview, sense of self, and connections with others.
• Discuss how your passion for art converges with social or political activism, using creative endeavors as a powerful tool for advocacy and change.
• Reflect on a setback or failure that became a stepping stone for personal growth, highlighting the resilience and determination it instilled in you.
• Illuminate a transformative travel experience, detailing how exposure to new cultures and perspectives has broadened your understanding of the world.
• Explore the dynamics of intergenerational relationships, sharing the challenges and rewards of bridging generational divides within your family or community.
• Showcase a passion project or extracurricular pursuit that has enriched your high school experience, detailing the motivations behind it and its impact on your personal growth.
• Reflect on overcoming language challenges, exploring how learning a new language or navigating language barriers has shaped your identity and cultural understanding.
• Trace the development of your personal philosophy and belief system, reflecting on the experiences and challenges that have shaped your values and worldview.
• Share a meaningful service or volunteer experience, detailing the impact it had on your life, the lessons learned, and the sense of purpose derived from giving back to your community.

In conclusion, when it comes to writing a standout college application essay, the prompts provided offer a valuable opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and experiences. You can also make use of an essay writer to generate creative and unique prompts.

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