One of the most time-consuming, stressful, and important parts of the college application process is writing an amazing personal essay. This is the main chunk of writing that goes along with your application; it is the longest essay you will write for college admissions, and it’s strictly about you. The Common App is the website students use to apply to multiple colleges at a time. While each college has its own, unique supplement to the application, every school receives the main section of the Common App. This contains your personal data, like your name and where you go to school, as well as your extracurricular activities, your parents’ information, and your personal essay.

To write the personal essay, students are asked to respond to one of seven prompts in 650 words or less. Over the past several years, The Common App has not changed the prompts.

Last week, the Common App released its 2025-2026 Personal Essay prompts for students who will apply to college in the fall. This year, there are seven prompts students can choose from to write their 650-word essay. This essay is required for most colleges that use The Common App, but there are some “exceptions” to this rule.

For example, Penn State University states that the Common App essay is optional, as is the 650-word essay in the Penn State supplement. However, the reality is that Penn State admissions officers will read one of these two essays, not both. While writing both essays can be a waste of time, we do not suggest that applicants submit their application without at least one essay. Confused yet? It’s all part of the “hidden curriculum” of college admissions. For more about “optional” essays, click here.

Most other colleges and universities that do not use The Common App, like Georgetown University, will also require a personal essay, and so the one you write for The Common App can and should be repurposed for those schools.

2025-2026 Common App Essay Prompts

Here are the prompts:

1. 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.
2. 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?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
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?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. 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?
7. 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

When should you start writing?

Some high schools encourage students to finish at least a first draft of their personal essay by the end of junior year. We at Aristotle Circle disagree with this tactic; juniors should focus on their school work through the end of the academic year, especially those taking end-of-year exams like the AP tests. Writing a great essay is a process that takes a lot of time, it’s true. But it is also the product of an accumulated set of skills – which means practicing writing great essays in your high school English classes.

We suggest students start brainstorming topics toward the end of junior year, but begin writing in earnest during the summer break.

Overwhelmed?

Aristotle Circle has the college admissions process down to a science. We’re professionals at keeping busy kids on track. Our Comprehensive College Admissions Package includes unlimited one-to-one meetings with NACAC-certified college admissions counselors with a long track record of success. Our students have matriculated to the top schools in the US and abroad, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, St. Andrews, and many more. Call (212-360-2301) or email (info@aristotlecircle.com) today for a free consultation.