<p>They updated the common app with new essay prompts? </p>
<p>Also I’m saving my essays for August. I’m going to experience so much within the next few months and it might be good stuff for my essay.</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/2013/EssayAnnouncementFinal.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/2013/EssayAnnouncementFinal.pdf</a></p>
<p>Oh God. All of those prompts will make a terrible essay from me.</p>
<p>I’m planning on writing a terrible Common App essay over the summer and then edit the living beejeezus out of it later.</p>
<p>Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it.</p>
<p>So dramatic!</p>
<p>Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?</p>
<p>Ugh. No one’s going to write anything genuine for that. </p>
<p>Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.</p>
<p>Essay: “My mom started making me buy her cigarettes.”</p>
<p>“Essay: “My mom started making me buy her cigarettes.””</p>
<p>HAHAHAHAHAHAHA XD</p>
<p>I’m doing the describe a place where you are perfectly content.</p>
<p>None of these are like the summer program apps anymore 
Well, good thing I have an idea for all of them… Though they may not be good ideas</p>
<p>**Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. **
Essay: Having depression + LD/slight autism as an Asian. Being called lazy, stupid, etc. How I survived. </p>
<p>**Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn? **
Essay: Failure in sophomore year - failing 3 tests in a row. Had an emotional breakdown. I learned not to obsess over GPA. </p>
<p>** Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?**
Essay: How I decided not to be the *****y “popular” type of gal. Why I acted? Easy. I didn’t want to be a robot, I definitely didn’t fit in, I didn’t want to set myself up for failure. Would I do it again? Sure. It’s better for my mental health and personality. </p>
<p>Stupid idea, but it’s an idea… </p>
<p>**Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you? **
Essay: The Library. I can actually think there, and don’t feel stifled by the *****es at my school.</p>
<p>**Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. **
Essay: Not expecting to be a Siemens Semifinalist - finally not considered an idiot.</p>
<p>^ short comment: LOL…
Long comment: Laughing my f’n ass off! :D</p>
<p>srsly though,
"Stupid idea, but it’s an idea… " I don’t think it’s stupid at all actually (maybe I’m stupid? :P)</p>
<p>I feel like if you don’t pick the first choice you’re screwed…</p>
<p>The first one is the most… umm… “appropriate” one? lol
If it’s true, then it is the one you should totally write about yeah…</p>
<p>Yeah, I think I need to explain my circumstances since they’re strange. And especially since my GPA will at best be a 3.6 by the end of this year. Thanks.</p>
<p>Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
Essay: Grandparents raised me.</p>
<p>Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
Essay: Can’t say. I’ve never had a failure that drastically affected me; I love “failing”, and I analyze each experience in a way that allows me to do better next time.</p>
<p>Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Essay: Um. People view me as a walking anti-stereotype. Not in the hipster sort of way, but… I don’t really know how to explain it. This essay would be difficult to write. </p>
<p>Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
Essay: The Library. It’s quiet, it’s peaceful I don’t have to deal with people, I love the escapism books provide, and I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was little. So.</p>
<p>Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
Essay: My mother called me some not nice words that made me realize that I am the only person whom I can depend on, and this has since caused me to act accordingly. I’ve always been more independent than the average kid, but this took it to a whole different level.</p>
<p>**Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. **</p>
<p>I guess I could talk about my conformity issues and compare myself to Thoreau. LOL</p>
<p>I’m so screwed with the other prompts. I could only make generic essays with those.</p>
<p>Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
I read an article in the paper discussing the new prompts and they said this one can be treated as the topic of your choice and the place one don’t be too trite! Anyway if I can find the link to the article I’ll post it because it was really informative</p>
<p>@lldm21, I like your #2 and 5. #2 because if you make it sound genuine, I think it would be unique. #5 depends on how you elaborate on it. </p>
<p>@TinnyT, Thoreau? Haha…</p>
<p>@JDancer, that would be helpful.</p>
<p>What I want to know is why they got rid of the choice option…</p>
<p>^
It probably reduces the number of pointless essays that just repeat the applicant’s resume or something.</p>
<p>So many academic types are going to write about how the library is their favorite place and so many athletic types are going to write about how the field/court/whatever is their favorite place.</p>
<p>I’d probably write about a carnival I’ve gone to every year since I was born and how it doesn’t change even though I do or some such cliche. </p>
<p>I wonder what my actual favorite place is. Probably Starbucks, because I’m a fat coffee-drinking consumerist. :(</p>
<p>For the adulthood one, I’d probably write about riding the Chicago subway for the first time with my little cousins and going shopping without getting lost. I’m from rural Ohio and had never been on a subway before but we managed to navigate it.</p>
<p>Slightly off topic, but how many schools are yall applying to? I can’t seem to narrow it down to less than 10.</p>