The Personal Statement | UC Berkeley Office of Undergraduate Admissions

High school juniors, take a look at college essays this year. By doing so, you'll have time to ponder. Yes, I wrote ponder.

Ira Glass on Storytelling

For those of you working on your college essay narratives.

Advice on Putting Together Your Application | Yale College Admissions

Listen, breathe, and write.

Common Application Essays-Great support from Essay Hell

Need some guidance with the COMMON APPLICATION? Which questions are you contemplating? Fabulous support from Essay Hell.

Wake Forest University's supplemental essays 2014-2015

Common Application Essay Prompts 2013

INSTRUCTIONS The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response.

Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.)


• Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their
application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

• Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons
did you learn?

• Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you
make the same decision again?

• Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience
there, and why is it meaningful to you?

• Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from
childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Admissions Insights

Read this first if you're writing a college essay or two.