The New (Improved?) Common App 2022
The Common App has released its prompts for next year, and I’m delighted to see all of my favorites still on the list. There’s only one prompt that’s new for 2021, and you probably didn’t need the Common App writers to tell you it was directly inspired by our times—but they did, when they introduced the prompt on their blog on February 16.
Prompt 4: 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 first thing that stands out about it is the obvious way it differs from the old Prompt 4. The old prompt, about problem-solving, was the only one of the seven that didn’t really require a story of personal growth to succeed; instead it allowed students to highlight their critical thinking ability. The choice to drop that prompt indicates to me even more clearly than before that schools are not looking for proof of your intelligence in the essay—they are looking for a personal story about your character. The Common App blog post also indicated that the old prompt was rarely used—perhaps because students already knew that what they were “selling” in this essay was not their problem-solving ability.
This new prompt is coming from a thoughtful place. The people at the Common App said they hope it will “bring some joy into [a student’s] application.” If it brings you joy, then write it! But I see several possible pitfalls.
I have had students who were reluctant to talk about themselves, and this prompt provides a dangerous temptation to focus on a story of someone else—something someone else did for you. In order to express why it made you “happy or thankful in a surprising way,” you do have to tell the story—and my modest students would feel like that was the interesting part. The reflection becomes simply an afterthought. But the prompt is really in the question “How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?”
Gratitude is a feeling. Just as you don’t see the wind, but the movement of flags and trees, you don’t see gratitude. You can only see its effects—if the feeling of gratitude is strong enough to provoke an effect. If you can’t point to something pretty specific, I wouldn’t recommend this prompt. “I feel more grateful every day when I think about how much others have lost and how much I have” is a lovely sentiment, but without something more concrete, a reader can’t know if it’s heartfelt. In what ways have you changed because of the experience?
The final red flag I see with this prompt—and it’s a big one—is the potential difficulty in standing out. It seems to me that the most logical effect of gratitude would be the inspiration to “pay it forward.” If that’s your story, and you can point to a specific positive outcome from your “paying it forward,” it still might work. But it also might end up sounding and feeling cliché.
If the new Prompt 4 is a questionable choice, which prompt should you choose? I’m so glad you asked! Download my guided tour of the seven prompts, and I’ll tell you my two favorites—as well as the prompt I’ve never seen written successfully. I’ll also give you specific brainstorming tips to help unblock your ideas. Sign up below, and I’ll send you access to this and other great freebies!
Yes! I want the guidance that will help me brainstorm my best Common App essay.
(Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash)
