Common Application:

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and
helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your
application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option
that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using
the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not
your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application
won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.)
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 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?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted
your thinking? What was the outcome?
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.
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal
growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
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?
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.
Clear

Harvard University:
You may wish to include an additional essay if you feel that the college application forms do
not provide sufficient opportunity to convey important information about yourself or your
accomplishments. You may write on a topic of your choice, or you may choose from one of
the following topics:
- Unusual circumstances in your life
- Travel, living, or working experiences in your own or other communities
- What you would want your future college roommate to know about you
- An intellectual experience (course, project, book, discussion, paper, poetry, or research
topic in engineering, mathematics, science or other modes of inquiry) that has meant the most
to you
- How you hope to use your college education
- A list of books you have read during the past twelve months
- The Harvard College Honor code declares that we “hold honesty as the foundation of our
community.” As you consider entering this community that is committed to honesty, please
reflect on a time when you or someone you observed had to make a choice about whether to
act with integrity and honesty.
- The mission of Harvard College is to educate our students to be citizens and citizen-leaders
for society. What would you do to contribute to the lives of your classmates in advancing this
mission?
- Each year a substantial number of students admitted to Harvard defer their admission for
one year or take time off during college. If you decided in the future to choose either option,
what would you like to do?
- Harvard has long recognized the importance of student body diversity of all kinds. We
welcome you to write about distinctive aspects of your background, personal development or
the intellectual interests you might bring to your Harvard classmates.

If you plan to submit an additional essay, please select a prompt from the list below. If you do
not intend to submit an additional essay, leave this question blank.

Stanford University:
The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom.
Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (100 to
250 words)

Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future
roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – know
you better. (100 to 250 words)

Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why. (100 to 250 words)

What is the most significant challenge that society faces today? (50 word limit)

How did you spend your last two summers? (50 word limit)

What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed? (50 word limit)

What five words best describe you?

When the choice is yours, what do you read, listen to, or watch? (50 word limit)

Name one thing you are looking forward to experiencing at Stanford. (50 word limit)

Imagine you had an extra hour in the day — how would you spend that time? (50 word limit).

.
University of Pennsylvania:
How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the University of
Pennsylvania? Please answer this question given the specific undergraduate school to which
you are applying. (400-650 words)

*Students applying to Digital Media Design and Computer & Cognitive Science should
address both the specialized program and single-degree choice in their response. For
students applying to the other coordinated dual-degree and specialized programs, please
answer this question in regards to your single-degree school choice; your interest in the
coordinated dual-degree or specialized program may be addressed through the program-
specific essay. How will you explore your intellectual and academic interests at the
University of Pennsylvania? Please answer this question given the specific undergraduate
school to which you are applying. (400-650 words)

Yale University:

Why do these areas appeal to you? (up to approximately 100 words).

What is it about Yale that has led you to apply? (125 words or fewer)

Min: 1 / Max: 125

Please respond in no more than 200 characters(approximately 35 words), to each of the

1. What inspires you?

3. You are teaching a Yale course. What is it called?

Has any of your education prior to secondary school taken place outside of the country where
you currently reside?
Essay
Please choose two of the following topics and respond to each in 250 words or fewer.

1. Think about an idea or topic that has been intellectually exciting for you. Why are you
drawn to it?
2. Reflect on your engagement with a community to which you belong. How do you feel you
have contributed to this community?
3. Yale students, faculty, and alumni engage issues of local, national, and international
importance. Discuss an issue that is significant to you and how your college experience might
help you address it.

Please indicate the number of the topic you are writing about at the start of each essay. For
instance, 'Topic #3.'

First Essay Choice:

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Min: 1 / Max: 250
Second Essay Choice:

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Min: 1 / Max: 250