The Common Application Essay

The Common Application essay (aka the personal statement) demonstrates an applicant’s ability to communicate their personality and passion. An effective and memorable essay will differentiate them from the thousands of other applicants all vying for a select few spots. Dig deep! Be original!

Our Process:

• Via telephone, we will discuss the Common Application essay prompts to determine if the applicant is drawn to one over the others. If they are still struggling to choose a prompt we will come at this from a different direction by discussing who the applicant is inside and outside school, their life experiences, searching for what makes them exceptional. Once we discover their story, we teach them how to create a structure for the essay, which the applicant will then use to write a first draft.
• When we receive first draft we will discuss what works and what doesn’t. The applicant uses our notes and suggestions to write another draft.
• Next up is one more review of their draft. This is where we point out mistakes or errors the applicant has made.

When working with an applicant on a Common Application essay, our aim is to show them ways they can best articulate what kind of student they will be, and what attributes they will bring to the school to which they are applying.