Each Spring, birdwatchers in coastal San Diego know it is March when they see Hooded Orioles returning to their feeders. Last year I even saw some Robins and blue Scrub Jays. I would like to be a birdwatcher someday, but for now I am an educational consultant and application essay coach. As such, I mark March by the release of the Common App personal statement prompts.
This year Common App announced at the end of February that the prompts will remain unchanged for the 2024-2025 application cycle. In the last year there has been a lot of conversation about the evolving role that this personal statement plays in the application along with speculation that the prompts would change. The widespread use of AI has given counselors and admissions folks pause. Will more and more applicants use AI to write their essays? If so, and there has been little evidence indicating that this is a wide-spread problem, what will the fall-out look like? Duke University recently indicated that they will no longer be using application essays to evaluate writing skills but will still be looking to learn something about the applicant’s values or character. This focus is in line with what the objective of the essay has always been, not only for Duke but for every college that requires it. Colleges are looking for hints as to what this applicant will contribute to their campus.
For high school juniors, the challenge is to write (themselves!) a story that effectively reveals who they are as a person. It should be new information and not a rehash of the activities section. This is about who they are, not what they have done. It does not need to be a unique story. It does not need to have fancy vocabulary and intricate sentence structure. These can overwhelm the essay and smother the writer’s voice. Authenticity is paramount.
Importantly, relax. Don’t believe the people in the YouTube videos who post about their essay that got them into their university. An essay alone has never gotten a student into a college. It is additional information and supplements the transcript and the activities. Share what you feel has been important to you. You will be fine.