Gratitude Essay: Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?īelief Essay: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.Ĭhallenge Essay: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Looking for more college admissions essay examples about yourself? Check out more personal statements here.īehold, some of the best college essays of 2021 (in my humble opinion).Īccording to the 2021/2022 Common Application, the common app essays topics are as follows:īackground Essay: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. And yes, a few of these essays did help these students get accepted into the Ivy League, (I’m not telling you which!) though these are all great essays regardless of where (or if) students were admitted to their top choice school. Some essay samples below are by students who chose to write about a challenge, while other examples may be helpful if you’re looking to write about yourself more generally. Or, check out my complete guide for answering the most popular college essay prompts on the Common App. Need help writing your college essay? Click here for my ultimate guide. I've compiled a few of my favorite essay examples here that cover a variety of college essay topics. One of the best ways to write a successful college essay for your college application is by learning from real college essay examples that worked.

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