Shutaro Aoyama

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Common App Essay

Nov 20, 2024, 5 min read

Common App Essay

250-650

  • Choose one prompt and write.
  • I’m thinking of going with the Essay Scrapbox Proposal.
  • However, I want to reconsider if there are any other options.
  • Already brainstormed ideas:
  • Ideas that haven’t been brainstormed yet:
    • Dojo/Untitled Ecosystem topic?
      • Can’t think of a topic that would fit the Personal Statement.

  • Choosing a topic

    • Choose from Essay-worthy topics
      • Even if I’m undecided, I won’t make progress. Let’s start with Untitled.
      • If there are any issues like puzzle pieces, I can use them elsewhere.

  • 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.

    • Hmm, I can’t think of anything that is so meaningful to me. But it’s difficult to recognize my own uniqueness, so I want to ask others as well.

  • The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

    • This is similar to Yana’s Essay 3.
      • I could use Recruit or Yana’s essay.
      • Doesn’t seem suitable (keidaroo).

  • Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

  • Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

    • Can’t think of anything, maybe I just forgot.
    • This prompt seems to have been added because of COVID.

      • CommonApp CEO: “Particularly at this challenging time, we can help students think about something positive and heartfelt in their lives,” she explains. “And we can do it explicitly.”

  • Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

  • Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

    • This seems similar to Yana’s Essay 1.

  • Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

    • Maybe this one.

  • It might be a good idea to consider sharing information in a way similar to Grasping the Type of Supplementary Essay.

  • While categorizing like Grasping the Type of Supplementary Essay, I want to break it down.

  • Extracurricular activities and experiences to share:

    • The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

      • Reflect on the difficulties faced and the lessons learned (reflective).

    • Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

      • The belief here refers to fixed ideas in society. It’s good to ask about what prompted your thinking, something I haven’t seen much before. And the outcome needs to be mentioned.

    • Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

      • Something that someone has done for you that made you happy. This prompt is trying to understand what makes you happy/enjoyable and the impact and motivation it has.

    • Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

      • Something that led to personal growth and learning through an event or realization. The question is simple but powerful. Is it a “spark”?
      • Expand on:
        • What in you have changed after the event?
        • How has your value/belief/interest/lifestyle/skill/memory changed?

  • Ideas/thoughts/interests to share:

    • 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.

      • This includes background as well.

    • Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

      • Asking what you do when you want to learn more is interesting. “Captivate” means being fascinated.

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