Common App Essay Examples

The common app essay is among the other crucial college admissions process elements. While writing your common app essay, you must refer to several examples to understand the process of writing an effective college app essay and make it better than your competitors. These common app essays present the students’ writing ability and represent to the admissions officer the unique feature of the student. 

This article includes some of the best Common App Essay examples to help you clear the college admission process efficiently.

Common App Essay Examples

The article will help you go through some of the common app essay examples to create a strong personal statement. Create the best version of your college entrance essay by getting inspiration from the examples listed below.

Example 1: Facing Challenges

Prompt: The lesson you learned from an obstacle can result in success in the future. Remember and reflect on a challenge or a failure from the past. What was its effect on you, and what lesson did you learn from the experience?

All the students lined up from the assembly, returning to their classes to collect their report cards. It has been 24 days since we took our last final exam to clear class 9th, and finally, this day arrived, which gave us goosebumps! 

“Roll no. 34, Susan”, the teacher called. I could clearly see the disappointment on my teacher’s face. As I moved towards her with shivering legs, my teacher came closer and said in a very low voice, “You could not make it to the next class this year. You’ve failed in three major subjects”. 

As I heard these words from my teacher, for 3 seconds, everything blurred out in front of my eyes. My brain couldn’t accept what my ears heard. She called my name again, “Susan! Are you fine?”. I was brain fogged! This was the end of my life. How will I face my parents? Wouldn’t my classmates laugh at me? A thousand thoughts occupied my mind in less than 5 minutes.

I ran towards my best friend in tears. Even though she wasn’t less shocked and concerned than me, all she could do was console me until my parents arrived. Not having the courage to look into my parents’ eyes, I shook my head down and left for home after they met my teacher. My father did not communicate with me for the entire day; however, my mother would just ask me not to skip my meals. 

A week passed by just like that, till the day arrived when I had to face my juniors back at school, with all my friends and classmates proceeding towards the high school. “Worry not, you’ll make it with flying colors this time; go have a seat,” said my teacher, patting my shoulder. 

Even though all my new classmates were busy in their settlements, all I could hear were echoes of failure in my ears, and I felt like all the eyes were pointing toward me with shame and pity. Five months later, the half-yearly exams arrived. This was the time I had to prove myself! Revisions, one after the other, surrounded by notes, confusion, fear of failure, and intense competition. 

When we were done with the tests, ten days later, we got our half-yearly reports. While handing me over my report, “Great improvements, well done, child,” my teacher said with a smile. That was the moment I knew I was finally on the right track with all my late-night studies, efforts and hard work paying off. I was happy, but I kept reminding myself to be confident but not overconfident. 

With each passing month, I still kept working hard to improve my areas of weakness. Mathematics, the exhausting one, has always been my greatest fear. I often considered approaching a tutor, but self-study has always been my thing. Hence, rejecting any outside help, I kept revising multiple problems a day. I would fail a hundred times, this time too, but never did I give up. I faced many setbacks in the process, as the competition was tough, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I still couldn’t forget the day that gave me the title of a failure.

Finally, the day for report card distribution for the final exams has arrived. Reminding me of each moment from a year back and making me feel the least confident in the entire class. “Second rank, Susan,” called out my teacher loudly. Was this for real? She might have been mistaken in reading out the name, or maybe it was the other girl with the same name. Looking toward me, my teacher called out again, “Susan, come take your report card; you’ve done amazingly well this time,” as I went to get my reports, she said, “Your parents will be proud of you.” With the widest smile I could have on my face, “Thank you, teacher,” I said, and this is how my biggest failure resulted in my most significant achievement.

Example 2: Reflect on a Meaningful Activity

Prompt: Describe any idea, topic or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose track of time. Why does it attract you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

The flow of the sewing machine, the slide of scissors through the fabric, and the perfect placement of each stitch took me into a world where time stops. Fashion design has always been my escape, a field where creativity knows no bounds, and the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary.

My passion for fashion began when I was a child, watching my grandmother stitch colorful quilts. The process of taking simple materials and turning them into eye-catching designs appealed to me. As I grew older, I began experimenting with my creativity, starting with simple alterations and eventually designing my pieces.

Fashion design attracts me because it perfectly combines art and creativity. Each piece tells a story, reflecting the vision of the designer and the wearer’s personality. The endless possibilities in fashion design for expression and innovation keep me constantly engaged. Whenever I encountered a new trend, I was focused on diving deeper, often losing myself in hours of research and practice, playing with colors and textures.

To increase my knowledge, I referred to a variety of sources. Online tutorials and fashion blogs provide inspiration and technical guidance while attending local fashion shows and exhibitions, and they offer insights into industry trends and networking opportunities. Additionally, I have sought mentorship from a local designer whose expertise and feedback have been invaluable in honing my skills.

Fashion design is more than just a hobby; it is a motive through which I view the world. It has taught me patience, attention to detail, and the importance of innovation. Whether I am sketching a new design, sewing a garment, or studying the works of renowned designers, I am fully immersed, driven by a passion that transcends time.

Conclusion

These common app essays are designed to give admissions officers insight into your character, experiences, and passions. Remember to personalize your essay to reflect your unique voice and journey. Use your voice to elaborate on your journey. The examples above give you an idea of how to express your journey in words. To master writing common app essays, learn from the experts on Turito, an online learning platform, and impress your admission officers to stand out.

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