2019-20 Common Application Essay One Tips Your Story

The first essay option on the Common Application  asks you to share your story. The prompt was modified slightly several years ago to include the words interest and talent, and the prompt remains unchanged for the 2019-20 admissions cycle: 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. How to Tell Your Story This popular option appeals to a broad spectrum of applicants. After all, we all have a story to tell. Weve all had events, circumstances, or passions that have been central to the development of our identities. Also, so many parts of the application seem far removed from the actual features that make us the unique individuals that we are. If you choose this option, spend some time thinking about what the prompt is really asking. On a certain level, the prompt is giving you permission to write about anything. The words background, identity, interest, and talent are broad and vague, so you have a lot of freedom to approach this question however you want. That said, dont make the mistake of thinking that anything goes with option #1. The story you tell needs to be so meaningful that your application would be incomplete without it. If you focus on something that isnt central to what it is that makes you uniquely you, then you havent yet found the right focus for this essay option. Tips for  Approaching the Essay As you explore possible ways to approach this first essay option, keep these points in mind: Think hard about what it is that makes you, you. If you end up telling a story that hundreds of other applicants could also tell, then you havent fully succeeded in tackling the question of identity that stands at the heart of this prompt.Your story most likely isnt a single event. Being voted prom queen and scoring that winning goal may be impressive accomplishments, but by themselves, they are not stories about the formation of your identity.Your story can take a variety of forms. Did you grow up in a difficult domestic situation? Did you live in an unusual place that had a significant impact on your childhood? Did you or someone in your family have significant challenges to overcome? Were you surrounded by people who had a major influence on your development? Did you move frequently? Did you have to hold a job from a young age? Do you have a particular obsession or passion that has been a driving force in your life for years?  Make sure your essay is adding a rich dimension to y our application. You have 650 words to present yourself as an interesting and passionate individual who will be a positive addition to the campus community. If your essay is repeating information that can be found elsewhere in your application, then youre wasting this opportunity.If you dont think you have a story to tell, you are wrong. You dont need to have grown up in a yurt in the Himalayas to have a background that is worth narrating. A Connecticut suburb produces its own meaningful stories. Sample Essays for Option #1 Handiwork by VanessaMy Dads by CharlieGive Goth a Chance by Carrie The Essays Purpose No matter which essay option you choose, keep in mind the purpose of the essay. The college to which you are applying uses the Common Application which means the school has holistic admissions. The college wants to get to know you as a person, not just as a list of SAT scores and grades. Make sure your essay captures you. The admissions folks should finish reading your essay with a much clearer sense of who you are and what it is that interests and motivates you. Also, make sure your essay paints a positive portrait. The admissions folks are considering inviting you to join their community. They will not want to extend an invitation to someone who comes across as insensitive, self-centered, boastful, narrow-minded, unimaginative or indifferent. Last of all, pay attention to style, tone, and mechanics. The essay is largely about you, but it is also about your writing ability. A brilliantly conceived essay will fail to impress if it is riddled with grammatical and stylistic errors.