write a killer common app essay (in less than 15 minutes per day)
If you’re a rising senior, you know that when the bell rings on classes this fall, it’s game-on for applications. While senior year is notorious for being a hellish time academically – especially if you’re taking AP exams or heading up extra-curricular activities – it’s going to be even more intense by the onslaught of essays you’ll be writing.
No essay will be more important than your main Common App or Coalition App essay; it’s the centerpiece of the “persona” that you present to colleges/universities.
Real talk: it’s a marketing document – nothing more, nothing less.
So it’s critical that you put the time and thought necessary into craft an outstanding work that showcases you. One that hooks that AdCom reader, and makes them feel they know you.
(For the purposes of this post, from here on out, I’ll refer to this main essay as the Common App essay – although most of the principles easily translate to the Coalition App.)
But how to do it without crashing out or burning out?
Don’t worry – I’ve got you.
Pro Tip: Start early.
And I do mean early. If you haven’t started already, in fact, you’re late. So start now (after you finish reading this.)
In my work with students, I’ve found that those who use the summer months to reflect, research, and begin drafting see not only better application outcomes but are also more confident, less stressful fall.
🌱 don’t dive into a shallow pool: reflect… & then reflect some more
No, that’s not a typo. As an admissions consultant with more than 20 years under my belt, I know what I’m talking about: don’t write yet.
It doesn’t mean you’re not working. I means you’re not writing (at least not in the way you’re thinking.). Don’t sit down at your desk, hands on keyboard, and expect the perfect essay to drop out, like a chicken laying an egg – it doesn’t work like that.
So:
Before you dive into college essays or test prep, hit pause. Take time to reflect on who you are—and how you’ve changed (even over the past school year). As you start this process, it’s important not to get too definitively obsessed with the Common App essay itself – you don’t want (to borrow a common phrase that teachers use) , to “teach to the test” (ie imparting only topics that you think will be tested – learning things with a prescriptive intention of doing well on a test).
While that strategy can work well in very narrow circumstances, in this case, launching your writing process from such a narrow place will likely yield essays that are, well: basic.
When you first sit down to write, you shouldn’t even be thinking of the famous prompts…you should be journaling and letting your mind wander freely.
What was the happiest moment of your junior year, the year before, or even freshman year?
…and what was the. most cringe-worthy moment?
Was there a moment in a class that lit you up? Or one that infuriated you?
What’s a problem you encountered in your extracurricular activities that you solved? Or even one that you are still working on?
How has your friend group changed over your (so far) three years of high school?
What’s the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you so far in high school…and what did you learn from it?
Or, one of my personal favorites:
Describe the moment when you knew: nothing would ever be the same again.
By using this first phase as a kind of broad journaling /reflection exercise, you are diving deeper into your own persona – without pressuring yourself to come up with something brilliant or funny. Step by step.
I recommend trying these brainstorming exercises, every day, for at least two weeks before you even begin to outline or write your Common App. Literally: set a calendar reminder, just as you would for any other event in your life…and make a commitment.
There are two ways to make the most of the brainstorming stage:
🌱 The first brainstorming step is:
Set aside 5 (yes she said FIVE) minutes per night (or morning –whichever you can actually commit to consistently)
Pick a time when you aren’t distracted by any shows, podcasts, etc. Most important: put your phone in another room while you’re doing this quick brainstorm session (I know, it’s hard for me, too! That’s why this brainstorm session is only five minutes).
🌱 The second brainstorming step is:
Once you’ve started your brainstorming journey (remember – just 5 minutes per night!), then you set up system in which you’re setting up your “net” to catch the idea “fish” (to borrow a metaphor from the late great filmmaker David Lynch) -- you want to capture the most interesting, authentic topics and stories from your life. 🐠 🐠 🐠
Using Voice Memos, Notion or another app on your phone (which is presumably always with you) to take voice - notes at random times. Once you start the brainstorming engine, you’ll find that cool ideas come to you at random times. And as any great writer/filmmaker or storyteller will tell you – you have to jot down the ideas as they come to you – because it’s when you’re not really “trying” that your mind relaxes and your subconscious delivers the best ideas to you.
Keep a “master document” where you compile all of your brainstorming ideas. It’s kind of like your Ideas Repository where you will keep an inventory of your potential topics – good and bad.
After two weeks, we’ll move to the next step. Check this space for what to do next – start the brainstorming process tonight!
Have a great week.