Common Application Essay Prompt Question

College Essays
1

<p>For the prompt for common app can I write about someone that influenced me like a teacher?</p>

2

<p>Part of the applications process is learning to follow directions. Two years ago, the Common Application did away with “topic of your choice” and students are now asked to write an essay using one of five prompts. If you use the above topic, which prompt would you be addressing??</p>

<p><a href=“https://appsupport.commonapp.org/link/portal/33011/33013/Article/1694/2014-15-Common-Application-Essay-Prompts”>https://appsupport.commonapp.org/link/portal/33011/33013/Article/1694/2014-15-Common-Application-Essay-Prompts&lt;/a&gt;

[quote]

  1. 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.<br>
  2. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
  3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
  4. Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
  5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.</p>
3

<p>@gibby I have read the prompts and I can follow directions. I have already written a great essay about a teacher for some colleges not on common app and I was hoping to be able to fit it in one of the prompts, so I was checking…</p>

4

<p>^^ Then you should be able to answer your own question! Yes, you can submit your essay about the teacher that influenced you to The Common Application – you can submit any essay you want – but as the essay doesn’t fall into one of the five essay prompts, don’t expect the essay to help with your chances, as you will not have followed the directions.</p>

5

<p>@gibby I do not believe it would not be following directions if I wrote about it as an event. A specific class that influenced my way of thinking. That could be a form of an event that made me more mature/helped me develop.</p>

6

<p>^^ Yes, you might be able to write about it as an event, or as something that has influenced your way of thinking. Here’s a post from last year, which may help you decide if you want to repurpose the essay for the Common Application: <a href=“Pitfalls or Traps in the new Common Application essay - College Essays - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1526461-pitfalls-or-traps-in-the-new-common-application-essay.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>@gibby Thank you for the link. I agree with the part about not writing about a maturing situation if one is not mature. I believe my personal experience with the class (event) shaped the direction I want to take my life and changed the way I consider things. If this is not my maturing event I doubt I will have one. I appreciate the advice.</p>

8

<p>@Kreig01 - Might not your essay fit into the first prompt? Was this teacher central to your current identity, inasmuch as being in that class “shaped the direction (you) want to take in (your) life”? Hard to say without seeing it, but it sounds like with a minor tweak you could make it fit that prompt, maybe better than #5.</p>

9

<p>To be honest, you could argue to have almost any developmental story to fit the first prompt. It’s a pretty flexible question.</p>

10

<p>Yes I think my essay could fit in either the 1st or 5th prompt… thank you</p>