How to Write the Common App Main Essay

The Common App main essay is one of the most important essays of the entire college application process. So what should you write about?

Many students make the mistake of summarizing profile information or writing about common, popular topics and details. Rather, top colleges are looking for essay topics and content that they have never seen before. They want to be surprised and captivated by the main essay.

This essay should instead be very personal, insightful, and introspective about the student. What will you add to their campus that no other student in the applicant pool will be able to contribute? This includes unique aspects about a student’s background, experiences, impactful life events, interests, and/or goals that are unique to only the student. Then, it is important to capture and present these details through a powerful, compelling narrative that is uniquely representative of the student’s personality.

By the end of this essay, the colleges should understand the lens and perspective through which the student sees the world around them.

A college admissions consultant and expert from the Ivy League has read thousands of application essays, and they can help you identify unique topic and content ideas to help you tell the best and most compelling story to your colleges.