College+Essay

The College Application Essay
Most colleges use the common application, which has a number of essay prompts from which you may choose. The essay must be between 250 to 650 words, and should not simply restate all of your extracurricular activities that you have listed on the application. Select one activity and explore its influence on you. A narrative structure works best, as the admissions officer is really evaluating your writing ability, not your activities.

//**Common Application Prompt:**// The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.)

**Here are** **the 2015-2016 Common Application Essay Prompts:** 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 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 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. 5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Imagine you have graduated from Temple University. You are preparing to attend your 10-year reunion, and the alumni office has asked you to write a one-page essay about your personal and professional accomplishments since graduation. What would yours say?
 * //TEMPLE UNIVERSITY prompt://**

OR

Please tell us more about yourself. Relate one or more experiences or circumstances that have contributed to your personal and/or academic development. If you have been out of school for a year or longer, please discuss your activities during that period of time. Use a minimum of 250 words

Tell a Story!


**SAMPLES**

Help Packet
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Handouts
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Need additional help or samples? Try these websites:
@http://applyingtocollege.org/ @http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/EssayPrompts.htm