Common App Essay: Showcase Your Unique Narrative In The Personal Statement

The Common App Essay is the best place to show colleges who you are and the way you think. Work with the best advisors to ensure you ace it!

The Common App Essay image
5.3x Higher Odds of Ivy League Acceptance

213+

Ivy League University Offers

95%

Students get into top 100 Universities Globally

15,000+

Essays Edited By Expert College Counsellors

$2.3 Million

In Merit Scholarships for Ascend Now Students

What Is The Common App Essay?

The Common App essay is a crucial part of your college application. In just 650 words, you have the chance to reveal who you are beyond your grades and activities. This is your opportunity to showcase your passions, dreams, and unique experiences.

This essay isn’t just another requirement; it’s your moment to shine. Whether you love global soccer, classical Indian music, or have a unique hobby, use this space to share your story. Don’t miss your chance to make a lasting impression. Seize it with a Common App essay that’s uniquely you.

Application components for the top 250 universities

15%

Standardized Test Scores

20%

Grades & Coursework

30%

Extracurricular Activities

20%

Application Essays

15%

Interviews & Recomm.

What Are The Essay Prompts? You only get to choose one.

The “Background” Essay

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 “Challenge” Essay

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?

The “Belief” Essay

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

The “Gratitude” Essay

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?

The “Acomplishment” Essay

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

The “Topic” Essay

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?

The “Choos-your-own-topic” Essay

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.
Download This Free Guide on how to choose your essay topic!
Download Guide

Want to see some Ivy League worthy essays?

We have a collection of essays from students who got into Harvard, UPenn and other top tier universities. Check it out. 

Send me the essays!

What Does The Essay Writing Process Look Like?

  • 11th Grade

    Reviewing the prompts and planning the essay timeline | 1-2 weeks

    • Review your university list and sample essays
    • Review the prompts with your counsellor and bounce ideas
    • Create a clear schedule and timeline for deliverables

  • 11th Grade Summer

    Brainstorming and Free Writing | 3-4 weeks

    • Maintain a journal and set aside time to free-write everyday
    • Cover 3/7 prompts from broadest to narrowest
    • Review all the writing with your counsellor once/week

  • 11th Grade Summer

    Complete the first draft of your Common App Essay | 2 weeks

    • Narrow down on the topic and prompt and begin writing
    • Ignore the word count and put down all important details
    • Work with the counsellor to bring focus to your narrative

  • 12th Grade

    First Big Edit - 3 Person Review and Feedback | 2-3 weeks

    • 1st Review – English Educator for grammar, vocabulary and flow
    • 2nd Review – For uniqueness and authenticity by different counselor
    • 3rd Review – Additional review by different counselor

  • 12th Grade

    Second Edit - By the Head of College Counseling | 2 weeks

    • Review for clarity of communication and consistent voice
    • Review for any grammatical errors and vocabulary used
    • Review for uniqueness, details, and authenticity

  • 12th Grade

    Delayed Review and Submission | 3-4 weeks

    • Review once more after a slight delay
    • Make any final changes live on call with the counselor
    • Submit your essay stress-free and on time!

Setup a free profile review call today to understand how we can support your journey to your dream university.
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Tips From Our Ivy League College Counsellors!

Choose Your Topic Wisely

You should spend roughly 50% of the time on finding the right essay prompt for you! This is the hardest bit. 

Focus on the details!

Specifics set you apart from the others. Break down a topic into the smallest units and write about each one.

Get enough feedback

You need to get at least 3 rounds of feedback from a counsellor, english educator and a friend/family.

Start early

We’ve seen the best results when students start working on their essays 4 months before deadline. 

Ascend Now Students Get Into The Best Universities

Download Ascend Now 2023-2024 College Report

Student Success Stories

Grades increased 25% in IBDP English, Econ, and Biology in 4 months.

Built a social-networking app and published 2 articles about his non-profit Project Anya.

Read Full Case Study

Kate founded “Teach the Teachers,” partnered with UNESCO, and scored a 31 on the ACT and 1510, 1520 on the SAT.

Published research on water contamination, and gained offers from Tufts, Imperial, and Brown.

Read Full Case Study

What do parents and students have to say?

“Tangible outcomes”

“Regular communication”

“A Company that cares”

    Hands-on support in creating my non-profit project

    Ascend has tremendously helped me navigate this stressful college process. From providing hands-on support in creating my non-profit project to assisting with publishing my research paper, and, most importantly, crafting my college essays.

    Help with college application process

    Faaiza has helped me tremendously throughout my application process and thanks to her patience and amazing reliability, she helped me achieve my dream, getting accepted into Boston College. This could not have been possible without her.

    Strong, confident children

    Ascend Now is teaching our children to be strong, confident, thoughtful, resilient and, importantly, to embrace challenges. We are incredibly grateful and thankful for their ongoing support and commitment to our children’s success.

    Exciting news, accepted to St Andrews!

    Dear Ruchi and Amazing Ascend Team, we have some incredible exciting news!! Roger has been accepted to the most prestigious and 1st ranked UK University St Andrews for their most competitive Psychology study!!

    Amazing and very helpful

    Thank you Faaiza and Mohseena. Nadine has tried her best to do the essay with the help of amazing Faaiza (according to Nadine) and specially Mohseena who has been a very helpful conductor to make sure everybody is doing their job right at due time.

    Incredible kindness and assistance

    Hi Ms Arianna! I cannot imagine my highschool experience without your incredible kindness and assistance with all my endeavours, and Ascend’s program as a whole. I truly could not have gone this far without Ascend and all your help. I’ve decided to go to UIUC and have already comitted to the school! Thank you once again for these last 2 years and your efforts through it all!

    Would not have been possible without you

    Thank you Mr. Nitin for all your help with finding the right college and programs! Thank you Ms. Arianna for all your support, from check ins, scheduling, lessons, uni apps and more. I truly appreciate your kindness and generosity. And thank you Ms. Marijan for your endless help with all my essays. I could not have completed the whole process without you!

    Incredible knowledge and a well-structure approach

    Ascend Now has incredible knowledge and a well-structured approach which was a key factor during my son’s application. We were unsure between the UK and Japan but after deep consideration, we decided to try both and my son got accepted into UCL, Durham and Tokyo University.

    Key contributor to my college process

    I really enjoyed my time working with Ascend Now. I wanted to apply to transfer universities after my first year at BU – my dream being Georgetown. We worked on my GPA, recommendations, and all the essential elements. I got accepted and for sure Ascend Now has been a very important contributor to the entire process.

    Thank you for believing in me

    I still can’t believe I’ve been accepted into SCAD and Parsons! Thank you to the Ascend Now team in believing in me and giving me that extra push over the summer to perfect my portfolio!

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