Inspired Essays

Harvard University just became the latest school to drop the SAT and ACT requirement for undergraduates applying for the next school year. Citing "insurmountable challenges in scheduling tests" 'due to the coronavirus, Harvard yesterday joined scores of other colleges and universities across the U.S. who are forgoing the SAT and ACT results for 2021's incoming freshmen. What does this mean for you? If you are an ace student and great test taker, it's a bummer. You just lost... one way to shine. If you are a strong student who just doesn't do well on standardized tests, breathe a sigh of relief. However, what it does do for everyone, is up the importance of a powerful personal essay. Without test scores, the other elements of your application will carry more weight, and that includes your essays. So start jotting down ideas and thinking about stories that highlight your strongest traits. See more

Everyone's feeling the effects of the corona virus pandemic, even the folks at the Common App. They've just added an optional essay question about how COVID-19 has affected you. The essay is limited to 250 words. Here's the actual question: Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges care about the effects on your health and well-being, safety, family circumstances, future plans, and education, including access to reliable technology and quiet study spaces. Even though the question is optional - answer it. It's another opportunity for the college or university to get to know you better.

Okay high school seniors it's time to dust off your summer cobwebs and start thinking about tackling that dreaded college app essay. FYI the Common App prompts for 2019-2020 are the same as last year. Here they are: 1. 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. 2. 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? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6. 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? 7. 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.

Tip of the day: Take as much care of the "supplemental" essays as you did for the main essay. Many colleges include one or more extra essays in their application. They are there for a reason. Give them as much consideration as your personal statement. Don't just bang them out at the last minute and throw them in. Everything matters!