Essays
Many pieces make up a college application, and the essay is one of those. A college essay is a chance to tell your story in ways that your application or test scores can’t. This is an opportunity to really go deep. What’s your story? What are you passionate about? How have your experiences shaped you into who you are today? Who do you want to become? An effective college essay will answer these questions and help the person reading it get to know you more personally.
Every student’s essay will be original - that’s the point! Your essay should be unique to YOU.
Apply Texas Essay Prompts
TOPIC A
Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?
TOPIC B
Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself.
TOPIC C
You've got a ticket in your hand. Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?
Common App Essay Prompts
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
The Common App essays are limited to 650 words.
Coalition Essay Prompts
Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?
Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?
Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?
What success have you achieved or obstacle have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?
Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.
