School’s out, summer’s in, and the last thing that rising seniors want to be thinking about is the Common App Essay. You’re asked to put your life in 650 words. There’s a lot at stake, there’s a lot of pressure. Trying to pick the right topic, and sound impressive can feel artificial, but it doesn’t have to be.
Here’s a list of stuff to do:
In short, soak in life and have fun. Be yourself and engage in as many activities as you can. The best kind of writing is natural and unforced, and you can use this awesome time in your life as inspiration for your essay. You don’t need to have some magic miracle topic to have a great Common App essay. A camping trip, work experience from a summer job, time with family, all of these things can make for meaningful personal essays. It’s never too late to start brainstorming, but let that brainstorming be on the streetball courts or on top of a mountain. Seize this opportunity to add your voice to the college process dominated by grade point averages and test scores. Seek out adventure, and you might just stumble into the perfect Common App essay!