First, There’s the Word Count
Students applying to UC schools will respond to four (out of eight) Personal Insight Questions, with a maximum word count of 350 each (1,400 words total).
Students applying to out-of-state and private colleges will respond to one (out of seven) Common App main essay prompts, with a maximum word count of 650.
Some colleges also require their own supplemental essays, with word counts that can range anywhere from 150 words to 500 words per essay.
Always check with the college and/or department to make sure you know the writing requirements.
Then, There’s You
Prompts are great, but very broad. It’s up to you to choose a topic and a timeframe. Activities are a perfect place to start. How you spend your free time says a lot about who you are and what interests you. This includes school activities like sports or clubs, as well as what you do with friends, family, or on your own.
Sometimes you’ll need to supply a little background information. If you started playing soccer in elementary or middle school, say so. But quickly move to your high school years and what happened then. Mostly, focus on what you learned, as opposed to what you achieved.
Just Be Real. Really.
Don’t shy away from discussing failures. If you tried something and it didn’t work out, say why. But keep the focus on you. If the story starts to be about who or what got in the way, that’s a rant not an essay.
Look at your overall application. Does something there need to be further explained? Did you leave a sport? Drop a class? Quit a club? Essays are a good place to help the application reader understand the circumstances or your thought process. As students learn, grow, and develop new interests during their high school years, priorities can change. Don’t assume your application reader will see that from your activities list or transcript. Help them understand through an essay.
