Common App Prompt #4

College Essays
1

Common App Prompt #4 reads: “Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, 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 be taken to identify a solution.”

To what extent should the response to this question be about YOU versus about YOUR RESEARCH?

I think this prompt offers an excellent chance to show intellectual curiosity, and it will be easier to write a more unique essay (less cliched). I am very interested in economics (and many of my activities back this up), so would it be wise for me to write about my IB Economics Extended Essay and its significance to me?

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The purpose of the essay is two-fold

  1. Let colleges get to know YOU a little better
  2. Demonstrate your writing skills.
    So when asking whether the essay should be about you vs the research, it need to be first and foremost about you. Of course it can delve into a topic/offer come social commentary/showcase the applicant against a backdrop that interests you, but it must reveal more about the writer vs the topic