How to Tackle Each Common App Prompt: A Guide for International Students
by TA Staff
Navigating the Common App prompts can feel overwhelming, but choosing the right one and knowing how to approach it can make all the difference. Here’s a breakdown of the main prompts and tips on how to effectively respond to each.
1. Background, Identity, Interest, or Talent
This prompt might seem like an easy win—you get to talk about yourself, after all! But don’t be fooled; it’s a double-edged sword. The biggest pitfall here is picking a topic that sounds great on the surface but actually tells the admissions officer nothing new about you. If your essay ends up merely repeating what’s already clear from your activities list or transcript, you’ve missed the point. The key is to dig deeper. What’s that one thing about you that no one would know unless you told them? What’s the story that fills a gap in your application? It’s tempting to write about the thing you’re most proud of, but make sure it adds a fresh layer to your profile.
Prompt: 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.
- Understand the Prompt: This prompt invites you to reflect on something meaningful to you—whether it’s your background, identity, an interest, or a talent. The key is that your application would be incomplete without sharing this part of yourself.
- Be Reflective: Choose something genuinely significant and ensure it fills a gap in your application. Avoid repeating information that is already covered elsewhere.
- Highlight Uniqueness: Focus on an aspect of your background or experience that hasn’t been highlighted yet. Think about what makes your story different and compelling.
- Show, Don’t Tell: Use specific anecdotes to illustrate how this aspect of your identity has shaped you and contributed to your personal growth.
2. Challenges, Setbacks, and Failures
Ah, the “challenges and failures” prompt. This one often gets overused because it seems like an easy way to show personal growth. But here’s the kicker: not all challenges are created equal. A story about struggling with a tough class or not getting the lead in a play isn’t going to cut it unless there’s something deeply unique about your experience. And let’s be real—if you spend all your time explaining the hardship, you won’t have space to talk about how you grew from it. Remember, it’s not about the failure itself; it’s about your response. If you’re not ready to be vulnerable and honest, this might not be the prompt for you.
Prompt: 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?
- Choose an Uncommon Struggle: Avoid generic challenges like academic struggles unless there is something particularly unique about your experience. Consider emotional or personal challenges that have truly shaped your character.
- Be Honest and Reflective: Don’t shy away from showing vulnerability. Admissions officers are looking for personal growth and how you respond to adversity.
- Focus on Growth: Concentrate on what you learned from the experience and how it has prepared you for future challenges.
- Avoid Over-Explaining: Provide enough context to make the challenge clear, but focus more on your journey and growth.
3. Challenging a Belief or Idea
This prompt is a great opportunity, but it’s not without its risks. When you choose to write about challenging a belief, you’re not just describing an event; you’re also revealing your core values. Be careful here—choosing the wrong belief to challenge can backfire if it doesn’t reflect well on you or if it feels trivial. And let’s not forget, just because you stood up in a classroom debate once doesn’t mean you’ve got a compelling essay. It’s all about the context and the impact. Think about the beliefs you’ve questioned, both in yourself and in others, and how those moments shaped your worldview. Just don’t pick something generic or surface-level—dig deep and be thoughtful.
Prompt: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
- Be Thoughtful About the Belief: The belief you challenge should connect to a broader passion or value that is meaningful to you.
- Consider Internal Beliefs: You don’t always have to challenge an external belief; sometimes, challenging internal beliefs (like overcoming self-doubt) can be just as powerful.
- Show Impact and Growth: Reflect on the outcome of challenging the belief—how did it shape your views, actions, or future decisions?
Demonstrate Intellectual Curiosity: Show that you are open to understanding different perspectives and that challenging beliefs is part of your growth process.
4. Reflecting on Gratitude
Let’s be honest, this prompt is tricky and often best avoided unless you have a really meaningful story to tell. The problem with the “gratitude” essay is that it naturally lends itself to praising someone else, which is great in real life but not so much in a college essay where you’re supposed to be the focus. Plus, finding something truly surprising and not clichéd can be a challenge in itself. If you do choose this prompt, make sure it’s a story only you could tell, and that the gratitude is transformative. Otherwise, you might just end up with an essay that’s pleasant to read but doesn’t leave a lasting impression.
Prompt: 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?
- Surprise is Key: Focus on a moment of gratitude that was unexpected or came from an unexpected source. Avoid overly generic or cliché scenarios.
- Keep the Focus on You: While the prompt asks for gratitude towards someone else, ensure that your essay remains centered on your own growth and personal development.
- Highlight Specific Changes: Clearly articulate how this act of kindness has motivated or changed you in a meaningful way.
- Avoid Excessive Praise: Be careful not to spend too much of the essay praising someone else—remember, the essay is about you.
5. An Accomplishment, Event, or Realization
Here’s a classic that’s often misunderstood. It’s tempting to use this prompt to write about a big win—a competition you won, a title you earned, or a project you completed. But here’s the truth: The accomplishment itself isn’t what matters most. What’s critical is how this moment transformed you. If you write a generic play-by-play of your achievement, you’re missing the point. The real goal is to reflect on how this experience reshaped your perspective, your goals, or your sense of self. Go beyond the obvious and explore the deeper significance of the moment.
Prompt: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
- Choose a Defining Moment: Select an event or realization that marks a significant change or turning point in your life.
- Connect to Broader Themes: Make sure your story links to larger themes or values that matter to you and show depth.
- Be Specific and Descriptive: Use vivid descriptions and storytelling to draw the reader in and make your experience feel unique.
- Reflect Deeply: Go beyond just narrating the event—focus on what it taught you and how it shaped your future goals or aspirations.
6. Describe a Topic, Idea, or Concept You Find So Engaging That It Makes You Lose All Track of Time
This prompt sounds like an invitation to geek out about your favorite obsession—and in many ways, it is. But it’s also much more than that. Sure, you could write about your love for astrophysics, slam poetry, or baking the perfect sourdough, but the key here isn’t just to show off your passion; it’s to dig deeper into why this topic matters to you. Why does it captivate you to the point where hours fly by without you noticing? What does your fascination say about how you think, how you learn, and how you engage with the world? Remember, admissions officers aren’t just looking for your hobbies—they want to see your intellectual curiosity, your hunger for learning, and how you approach new ideas with enthusiasm and depth.
Prompt: 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?
Go Beyond the Surface: Don’t just describe what fascinates you; explain why it fascinates you. What does it reveal about your personality, your values, or your way of thinking?
Show Your Passion for Learning: Use this prompt to demonstrate your love for exploration and discovery. What resources do you turn to when you want to learn more? How do you feed this curiosity?
Make It Personal: Choose a topic that genuinely excites you, not just one that you think will sound impressive. Authenticity is key here—your passion should feel real and palpable.
Connect It to Your Future: If possible, show how this topic or idea ties into your future goals or academic interests. How does this fascination shape who you want to become in college and beyond?
7. The Topic of Your Choice
Ah, the wild card prompt—the one that seems like a golden ticket to write about whatever you want. But beware! This prompt is only effective if you have a truly unique story that doesn’t fit any of the other categories. It’s not an excuse to write about a generic topic just because you feel like it. The freedom here is a double-edged sword; it’s an opportunity to showcase something unique about yourself, but it requires a high degree of creativity and focus to pull off. Make sure you’re not choosing this prompt just because it’s the easiest or most open-ended.
Prompt: 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.
- Take Advantage of Flexibility: Use this prompt if you have a unique story or perspective that doesn’t fit into the other prompts.
- Focus on Authenticity: Choose a topic that truly represents who you are and what you value.
- Ensure Relevance: Make sure your essay still aligns with what the admissions officers want to learn about you—your character, values, and readiness for college.
- Use Creativity Wisely: While this prompt allows for creativity, keep it grounded in meaningful reflection and personal growth.
What should international school students do next?
For international school students, it’s important to know that no matter where you are on your academic journey, there is a strategic course of action available to help you achieve your admissions goals. Tokyo Academics has over 10 years of experience helping students get the grades, test scores, essays, and other factors needed to gain admission to top schools around the world. Connect with us today to see how we can help you get into the boarding schools and colleges of your dreams!