How To Get Accepted With the Common App – Essay 6

Essay 4Option #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? 

At its core, this question is really asking, “what makes you tick?”  What do you do when you have no other obligations?  What are you passionate about and why?  How intellectually curious are you?  Are you satisfied with the information and opportunity that a school club or team will give to you or are you someone who will find your own opportunities to learn more and pursue that passion?

When answering any question, read the question carefully and break it into its component pieces.  Of the 650 word limit, what portion of your essay “real estate” should go to each section of the prompt?  Let’s revisit Option 6 in this context:

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?

Here’s how I suggest you attack this prompt:

  • 20% – 30% – describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging
  • 30% – 50% – why does it captivate you
  • 10% – 20% – what or who do you turn to when you want to learn more

To learn where most students go wrong in Essay Option 6, read examples from successful applicants and to get step-by-step instructions on how to leverage the essay as part of a compelling strategy that will help you earn admissions to your top choice colleges, get The Complete Candidate: A Comprehensive System for Solving the College Admissions Puzzle, available on Amazon.

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