HS Class of 2015: Which Common App prompt do you plan on answering?

College Essays
1

<p>I'm just trying to get a feel for which Common App prompts are the most and least popular. You don't need to comment with your topic plans or anything (unless you want to), just the question about which you plan on writing. So, which Common App prompt are you going to answer?</p>

2

<p>debating between #1 and #4</p>

3

<p>I’m doing #1, the one about having a story that is central to my identity. I’m sure this one is the most popular one.</p>

4

<h1>4</h1>

5

<p>Apparently, I’m one of the few doing #2.</p>

6

<p>4</p>

7

<p>1</p>

8

<h1>1. It’s arguably the easiest prompt and most broad in terms of how you can answer it.</h1>

9

<p>write first, then see what topic fits best (at least that’s my game plan) #0acceptances?</p>

10

<p>@teastraw‌ ayeee i’m doing that too. But i’m leaning towards 4 or 5</p>

11

<p>3, is nobody else doing it?</p>

12

<h1>4</h1>

13

<p>Probably 1 because it doesn’t fit with any of the others. (It doesn’t really fit with 1 either, but don’t tell anyone ^.^)</p>

<p>Eternally cursing whoever made the decision to nix the “free choice” option. What an awful decision.</p>

14

<p>Either 2 or 4.</p>

15

<p>Either 1 or 4.</p>

16

<p>Here’s a reference for people like me who can never remember the prompts in order:

  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>
17

<p>For those of you answering question 1, are you writing more about a specific story and how it relates to your identity or about a larger background with less of a focus on one specific event?</p>

18

<p>So it sounds like 1 and 4 are the most popular.</p>

19

<p>I’m actually surprised that more people aren’t doing #2. Everyone has failed at something at least a few times in their life, so it shouldn’t be that hard to find a failure you learned something from, right?</p>

20

<p>@akacesfan‌ I think a lot of people are, or at least I was, worried that writing on that topic would probably lead to a cliche lesson: I learned never to give up, I learned it didn’t matter anyways, I learned to try harder, I learned anything is possible, I learned winning isn’t everything, etc. I was also a little worried that I would pick something too trivial as my failure. </p>