Common App Personal Essays

A student's story of determination in the midst of inner turmoil and external challenges

A reflection on the lessons from swimming.

Experimentation in the kitchen leads to a deepened knowledge of self.

A competitive Monopoly game breeds wisdom about resilience.

Reluctant participation in a school gathering takes an unexpected twist.

Celebratory birthday trip to Puerto Rico takes an unexpected turn.

A student's introspective reflection on a personal journey with the game of tennis.

Searing revelations from a student's time at an elite Catholic school.

A student's improbable pivot to musicianship results in deeper observations.

Significant weight loss yields a gain in insights.

An early morning train ride leads to new personal discoveries

Recalling a journey with dyslexia which led to a creative tool for supporting others

An unwelcome wisecrack about a cartoon character prompts introspection.

Unanticipated realizations about the steadying influence of a pet.

A unique way of eating pizza yield profound personal truths.

Thoughtful musings about the underappreciated aspects of salt.

Daily mantras set the tone for a student's journey.

A student discusses their journey with unicorns and all that it revealed.

Lessons from a love of hitting in volleyball.

Whale watching excursion as metaphor for an illuminating story of perseverance.

Tale as old as time leads to new realizations.

The unexpected discoveries derived from a love of hot Cheetos.

A thoughtful reflection on the battle with the person staring back in the mirror.

A student's love of cooking reveals a series of other truths.

Conflict at a family dinner engenders pondering about a sisterly bond.

Family tragedy inspires growth and accelerated maturation.

A memorable moment on the golf course and the vision it inspired.

An aspiring maker's reflection on the unusual prism filtering their outlook.

Moving to a new state triggers new coping mechanism to fit in.