What is the main purpose of the Common App essay?

Applying to College Common and Coalition Application
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<p>I've been reading through threads and one thing I keep seeing are variations of "it sounds cliche but if you write it phenomenally it can work." What exactly is good writing though? Is it when the reader understands the writing the way the author intended? I'm writing the 4th prompt, the environment which you are perfectly content. Mine is about taking midnight walks, which I guess is very generic, but I do plan to add a wow factor. I have a structure of my essay should be, but I just don't know what direct it should go. Am I just trying to show a side of me outside of my transcript, or should I be writing my essay to reinforce it? Should it just be a showcase of my essay skills by just writing about some story (where I tend to write either sarcastically funny or prose.) I don't know what the Common App should be.</p>

<p>I asked this question in another thread, but I wanted to create my own discussion. Anyway, thanks for reading.</p>

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<p>I think the best essays show a side of student that does not come through in the application. It should be more personal, and the reader should be able to come away with a better picture of who you are and how you might fit into the campus culture. It certainly needs to be well written in terms of the structure, vocab, grammar, etc and should demonstrate a level of writing commensurate with what you have accomplished in high school. </p>

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<p>I will add that, even if it’s a relatively common topic, it has to be an essay that NO OTHER student can write. You need to prove what makes you different (and better) than all of the other students who enjoy similar experiences.</p>