<p>The new prompts all seem a bit focused towards those who have encountered struggles in their lives and want to share their stories. I am blessed enough to not have been through any significant hardships in my lifetime, so I'm having trouble deciding on which essay to write. I want to stand out and be impressive, but I don't know how. Here are the prompts if you haven't already seen them:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>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.</p></li>
<li><p>Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?</p></li>
<li><p>Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?</p></li>
<li><p>Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?</p></li>
<li><p>Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I'm leaning towards 5, but 4 intrigues me. However, I'm not sure what they're looking for with 4. Any tips? Advice? Thank you!</p>
<p>Bump bump bump bump</p>
<p>1)Your writing voice. Writing with a unique voice shows that you have skill. 2)Truth tells them who you are or what you’ve experienced. 3)Passion, show some excitement about what you’ve done. If you can’t get excited then they can’t, either. GL</p>
<p>You mean the admissions deans who didn’t write the prompts, and who haven’t yet read essays addressing them? I suspect that right now, they haven’t thought much about what they’re looking for. </p>
<p>Why don’t you get to work on telling them something about who you are, instead of trying to guess who they want you to be?</p>
<p>Silorsky is right - you have it backwards. Don’t ask what they are looking for; ask what you want to tell them, beyond what is in your transcript, test scores, and ECs. Who are you and what will you bring to the campus community? Why should they accept you? Decide on your answer, then pick the question that allows you to write that answer. </p>
<h1>1 is almost a free choice, but it can’t be too light. If something is so central to your identity your application wouldn’t be complete without it, it better be significant. That doesn’t mean it has to be a life-shattering event, but it has to tell something big about you. Something you cherish, a favorite activity, a teacher you had… anything that has shaped who you are.</h1>
<h1>4 can almost be used as a free choice as well. Whether your favorite place is underwater while scuba diving, or at the Thanksgiving dinner table with your immigrant family, or on the third planet from the star we call the sun, you can use that for almost any topic.</h1>
<p>I think the new prompts open many new possibilities for this year’s applicants, if for no reason other than they haven’t been done a gazillion times before.</p>
<p>Thank you to all 3 of you, you’re extremely helpful. You’re right Slurpee64 and Silorsky, I had it backwards. I guess that the new prompts will open up new opportunities to stand out in the crowd - the deans don’t know exactly what to expect, and since the prompts aren’t full of ridiculously overused topics like years past, I’m offered a clean slate. Thanks!</p>