10/08/2026
"Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you."
That's a real Stanford essay prompt. It's also a good reminder of what colleges are actually asking for in essays: not profound wisdom, just a clear sense of who you are.
Most students apply with more than one essay. The Common App personal statement is the 650-word cornerstone, accepted by more than 1,100 colleges. Then come the supplements, and they tend to fall into a few familiar types.
The "Why this school" essay asks for specifics. A course, a professor or a research opportunity shows real interest. General praise for a school's reputation doesn't.
The community essay asks how you show up for the people around you. "Community" can mean your family, your team or the coworkers at your part-time job.
Then there are the unusual ones. The University of Chicago once asked students to invent their own estimation problem, like how many piano tuners work in Chicago, and solve it. There's no right answer. They want to see how you think.
My top tip for all of them is the same: don't overthink it, and start with brainstorming. An hour spent thinking about what makes you you can do more for an essay than days of polishing.
It's often the first time a student realizes they have a story worth telling.
With early deadlines coming up in November, this is the right week to start.
