next steps: ranking your ideas
here’s a quick guide to ranking your common app ideas!
…and actually choose your Prompt without losing your mind
Status: you’ve spent the last two weeks journaling, voice-noting, and digging into your life experiences like a Netflix documentary crew. Bravo!
Now before we get into ranking your ideas, you *can* take a look at the Common App prompts (if you haven’t already done so). But don’t get too wedded to those Common App prompts (as you probably realize – you can even create a prompt of your own devising….you need not go along with the prompts they’ve given you.
So, yes – glance at the Common App prompts – but don’t commit yet!
Now that you’ve got a messy collection of brainstormed moments, it’s time to take a step back and evaluate them.
Do you see any patterns?
Some are funny. Some are random. Some are sad or angry (the most common one! Anger can definitely arise as you look back on your high school years so far -- and that’s perfectly natural.)
Just be aware that some of your ideas will be… not that great. However, at this stage, you want to stay a bit detached, while staying attentive to ideas that really jump off the page at you.
What’s next? Start figuring out which idea is worthy of becoming your Common App essay.
And—yep—deciding which of those seven infamous prompts to respond to.
Let’s break it down.
Step 1: Organize the Chaos
Start by listing out all the brainstormed ideas you’ve come up with in one document or Notion board. Even the weirdest ones. Actually, especially those.
Now, for each idea, jot down:
🧭 What it’s about (in 1–2 sentences)
💬 What it shows about you (personality traits, mindset, values)
🎯 What it might teach the reader (growth, self-awareness, voice)
What have you learned from it?
How have you applied your newfound wisdom/insights into your life afterwards?
💡 For example:
· Idea: “Broke my ankle during tennis tryouts sophomore year.”
· What it’s about: Learning to sit with failure, watching from the sidelines, coming back stronger
· What it shows: Resilience, humility, quiet leadership
· What it teaches: Progress isn’t always linear
Step 2: Use the VIBE Score (seriously)
Here’s a quick and dirty way to rank your ideas. I call it the VIBE Score—because every great essay has one.
V = Voice
Does the idea sound like you? Can you write it in a way that feels natural, personal, maybe even funny or raw?
I = Insight
Does it reveal something important or unexpected about how you think, not just what you did?
B = Boldness
Is it memorable? Unique? Or does it sound like 9,000 other essays about mission trips and varsity soccer? (OK OK maybe you haven’t read 9,000 other essays, as I have…but you know when a piece of writing really grabs you – it’s specific, it’s authentic, it’s memorable…)
And yes, a lot of students ask me about “uniqueness” in their topic. The truth is, there are only so many human experiences out there…and if you add in the fact that you are still in your teen years, largely under the purview of your parents, many of the experiences will have a more narrow range (compared to, say, a 32-year-old, or a 60-year-old). My advice is this: even if the overall topic or theme is not as rare or unique, always seek out those personal details or aspects of the experience that correspond specifically to you. This could be in your personal observations or interpretations – or the impact of that experience on your next steps.
E = Emotional impact
Could it make the reader feel something—humor, curiosity, empathy, surprise?
Rate each idea on a scale of 1–5 for each category. Add up the total (out of 20). Anything 17+ is a serious contender.
Step 3: Identify Your “Essayable” Ideas
Once you’ve scored everything, highlight the 2–3 ideas with the strongest VIBE.
Now ask:
How would I go about bringing this topic to life in 650 words? (For this, you could do some further brainstorming…)
Is this something I want to think about, and write about for weeks on end as I revise? (Hint: say yes and test it – don’t just throw everything away on impulse!)
Does this topic allow for a story plus reflection—not just an anecdote?
✨ Pro Tip: A solid essay idea usually has both a “moment” and a “meaning.” Specifically – a meaning that extends to other aspects of your life – not just that specific instance.
If you only have one, dig deeper or choose another.
Step 4: Match Your Idea to a Prompt
Here’s the secret no one tells you:
You don’t have to start with the prompt.
You start with the story. Then you choose the prompt that fits.
Let’s take a quick look at the 7 Common App prompts (2025–2026), decoded:
1
Meaningful background, identity, or interest
Culture, language, family, obsessions
2
A challenge you faced
Setbacks, injuries, personal growth
3
A belief you questioned
Perspective shifts, philosophical moments
4
A problem you solved
Leadership, innovation, persistence
5
A personal accomplishment or realization
Coming-of-age stories, quiet milestones
6
An intellectual curiosity or topic
Nerd-out essays, niche fascinations
7
Any topic you like
Wild cards, unconventional narratives
So, take your top 1–2 ideas and see which prompt(s) they fit under.
Don’t stress too much here.
Prompt #7 (“topic of your choice”) is your get-out-of-jail-free card. Use it if your idea doesn’t fit neatly elsewhere.
Step 5: Clean, Rinse, Repeat (Optional)
In the writing world, we have phrase: “murder your darlings”. Basically it means – the more wedded you are to a certain phrase or idea, the more you have to critique it, test it…and ultimately: be willing abandon it (or “murder” it).
You might find that your “favorite” topic doesn’t actually have the emotional or narrative weight for a full Common App essay. That’s okay!
Try combining ideas.
Take the moment from one and the theme from another.
Example:
Moment: Helping your little cousin learn how to read
Theme: Discovering how you want to become a teacher
Prompt fit: #1 (identity), #2 (challenge), or #5 (realization)
This Week’s Assignment:
Make a master list of brainstormed ideas (feel free to use Google Docs)
Score each with the VIBE method
Select your top 1–2 and write a quick “What this essay is about” sentence
Match them to a Common App prompt
Share with a trusted mentor, teacher, or advisor for feedback
Final Takeaway
Choosing your essay topic isn’t about being perfect. We are human, after all - no one is perfect. The purpose of this essay is for you to get in touch with, and ultimately, reveal — your humanity.
It’s about choosing the idea you care about enough to wrestle with—for real.
Because the best essays aren’t just about what happened.
They’re about what it meant. And why it still matters.
Want help scoring your ideas or pressure-testing your chosen prompt?
📩 Book a session or drop me a message—I’m here for it.