Tips on how to write your Common App Essay-US

Dear Students,

As you embark upon your higher education journey, the essay you write becomes an integral part of
your application to the USA and UK. The latter is more straightforward and thoroughly academic
whereas the former begs you to fall back on your creative gene. Here are a few things you need to
remind yourself before writing your Common Application essay. These are the prompts for your year
group:

https://www.commonapp.org/apply/essay-prompts

1. Keep it simple.

2. Be honest about your story.

3. Look at the ordinary in an extraordinary way.

4. Write about something that strikes a cord with you.

5. Stay away from deeply religious and political topics.

6. Write your essay and then match it to a prompt rather than the other way around.

7. Remember that your limit is 650 words.

8. Do not show your essay to too many people (the more people you show this to, the more
(unsolicited) advice you'll be given, and this will dilute your voice).

9. Once you write your essay and have read over, forget about it for a week. Return to it to see if you
still like it as much. If so, great! If not, it may be time to start over.

10. Finally, you are not alone in this journey. Seek help if you cannot come up with an original idea.

Good luck, and chin up. Stay home, stay safe.

Meena Nambiar

Higher Education Adviser/MUN Director/English Teacher