Unlocking the Secret to Writing a Winning Common App Personal Growth Essay: Tips and Real-Life Examples
The Common Application (or Common App) is an integral part of the college application process. It streamlines the application process for over 900 colleges and universities in the United States and around the world. One of the most crucial components of a Common App application is the personal essay. This essay aims to give a glimpse into the applicant’s character, personality, and unique perspectives. Among the various types of personal essays, the personal growth essay is particularly important as it reflects the applicant’s ability to learn, evolve, and mature. In this article, we’ll discuss some tips and real-life examples to help you write a winning Common App personal growth essay.
Tip #1: Choose the Right Prompt
The Common App offers seven essay prompts for applicants to choose from. While all the prompts aim to prompt introspection and self-reflection, some prompts are more suited to personal growth essays than others. For instance, prompt #5, which asks applicants to “discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth” is tailored specifically for personal growth essays. Take your time to read all the prompts carefully and choose the one that resonates most with your story of personal growth.
Tip #2: Share a Personal Story
The personal growth essay is all about sharing a personal story that reflects your ability to learn, adapt, and evolve. As such, it’s essential to share a story that’s genuinely personal and significant to you. Choose a story that shows how you dealt with a challenge, overcame a fear, or learned a valuable lesson. Your story should be focused, concise, and engaging.
Tip #3: Show, Don’t Tell
One of the most common mistakes applicants make when writing personal essays is telling instead of showing. Instead of stating that you are a “hard-working, determined, and ambitious person,” show these qualities through real-life examples and anecdotes. Use vivid language and sensory details to transport your reader into the story and make them feel what you felt.
Tip #4: Be Honest and Vulnerable
One of the essential qualities of a personal growth essay is honesty and vulnerability. As you share a personal story, don’t be afraid to show your flaws, mistakes, and shortcomings. This vulnerability humanizes you and makes it easier for the reader to connect with you on a deeper level. Don’t shy away from talking about the challenges you faced and the mistakes you made. Instead, show how you learned from them and grew as a person.
Real-Life Examples
To give you a better understanding of what a winning Common App personal growth essay looks like, here are some real-life examples from successful applicants:
Example #1:
Prompt: Discuss an achievement, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Essay: Growing up, I struggled with perfectionism. I was always striving to be the best in everything I did, whether it was academics, sports, or extracurricular activities. This pursuit of perfection often left me feeling stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed. However, everything changed during a school camping trip when I failed to light a campfire. My fellow campers laughed at me, and I felt embarrassed and humiliated. But instead of retreating into my shell, I decided to face my fear of failure and keep trying. Eventually, I succeeded in lighting the fire, but more importantly, I learned a valuable lesson about the futility of perfectionism. This experience sparked a period of personal growth and self-discovery, and I learned to embrace my imperfections and value progress over perfection.
Example #2:
Prompt: Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Essay: During my freshman year of high school, I tried out for the varsity basketball team. I had played basketball for years and felt confident in my abilities. However, I didn’t make the team, and the coach told me that I lacked the necessary skills and athleticism. I was devastated and felt like a failure. However, instead of wallowing in self-pity, I decided to use this setback as an opportunity for growth. I trained harder, practiced more, and reevaluated my strengths and weaknesses. Eventually, I made the varsity team the next year and became a key player. This experience taught me the value of perseverance, hard work, and self-reflection.
Conclusion
Writing a winning Common App personal growth essay requires creativity, honesty, vulnerability, and hard work. Use our tips and real-life examples to craft an essay that showcases your unique story of growth and development. Remember to choose the right prompt, share a personal story, show, don’t tell, and be honest and vulnerable in your writing. With these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to writing a compelling essay that leaves a lasting impression on the admissions committee.
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