I will be graduating next year. I was told to use my summer to work on my college essay. I am confused as what to write. Is it one essay for all my list of colleges? Or one essay for each of them? I looked at UW Madison and Indiana University. They seem to ask for different things. I just need some clarification.
Many colleges use the common application and the essay topics on there are generally the same every year. Colleges that use the common application may have some additional essays to fill out as well. If a college isn’t paired with the common application system they tend to have their own essay topics for students to write on. If the two colleges you listed use the common application system you can get started on writing an essay topic from there, but if not see what previous essay topics those colleges have had from previous applications.
Here are the common app 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, them please share your story.
- The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
- 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 problme you have solved or a problem you would like to solve. It can be an intellectual challegne, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could take to identify a solution.
- Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
they are all super broad so you could honestly write about just about anything and it would fit under one of the five prompts!