Understanding the Common Types of College Personal Statement Prompts

Different schools hold different methods of filtering their hundreds of applicants. As an applicant, you should know that there are two main kinds of essay prompts: the general and the specific. Which of the two is easier to accomplish is actually a matter of opinion, according to many experts. You should at least know what to expect from each.

The comprehensive and general admission essay

Though you get to have more leeway with general admission essays, it does not mean you can bring up anything under the sun. There is still a guide to follow, and you have a thesis statement to expound on. Even for general essays, you must not include just any information you can grab on. If you have already mentioned your scholastic standing, scores, and achievements in other application documents, then spare the readers the pain of redundancy. Give them something fresh. You can always narrate personal experiences and show their impact on your life. These life experiences can only come alive through details so put them into writing.

The response to a specific application essay question

One kind of specific-genre prompts is the school-specific questions. The essay could ask you to elaborate on how you think the courses you’ll learn in their program would be able to bring fruition to your goals half a decade from now. That is just one, and this should be answered with honesty, clarity, and depth. Go direct to the heart of the matter. It’s a specific question, so do away with the trivialities that you are tempted to include.

These two essay prompts have a common denominator. Admission essay readers would always want to see the inner you. This would include your personality, values, discipline, goals, and even thoughts about certain issues. Whatever question is asked from you or whichever topic you choose to discuss, make sure that it shows the real you and highlights your goals, character, and purpose.

Related questions:

1. What are the most important tips when writing general essay prompts?

2. What are the specific questions asked in application essays?

3. How does one discuss values and principles in relation to the specific essay prompt?

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