What You Need to Know about the New Common App Essay

Don't Mistake a Rare Topic for an Effective Topic- Many students assume their Common App essay must revolve around a unique topic that no other applicant has ever written about, but this is a myth. "Overuse of a topic doesn't make it a bad topic," Whitney Soule told U.S. News & World Report.

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Pick the Best Essay Prompt for You - Not all Common App essay prompts are created equal. Of the seven prompts, some will no doubt work better for you than others.

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Use Your Space Wisely - Students tend to go one of two ways with the Common App essay: They either write way too much and struggle to trim it down, or they write way too little and end up sounding superficial and generic.

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Fill Your Story With Details - Details are everything when it comes to the Common App essay, which is why so many experts suggest anchoring your essay in a single anecdote or story.

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Channel Your Authentic Voice - The Common App essay is unlike most essays you've written for school. Instead of analyzing a piece of literature or a historical event, you must showcase your identity.

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Get Feedback - Before submitting your Common App essay, show it to someone who will not only offer feedback but also edit and proofread your writing. Shemmassian suggests giving your draft to "a trusted admissions counselor, English teacher, or another advisor.

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Don't Neglect Supplemental Essays - Lots of competitive universities require the Common App essay in addition to supplemental essays and/or short answers. If you have other essays to submit, don't spend all your time working on the Common App essay.

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