Undergraduate Resources — Beyond Polished

In an age of grade inflation, the Common App Essay is increasingly important. It's how you will distinguish yourself.
The essay is your best opportunity to show who you are and how you think—something grades and test scores can't capture.
Your story, but also how you tell it, will make your essay stand out.
Your essay should reveal something the rest of your application doesn't. If your resume and grades already show you're accomplished, use the essay to show how you think, what drives you, or what matters to you.
The Common App prompts are just suggestions. There is a prompt that allows you to choose your own topic, so write what's best for you.

Use supplementals to add dimension to your application. If your Common App essay shows how you think, your supplementals can show what you care about, what you want to study, or what you'll contribute to campus.
Avoid generic answers. "Your school is prestigious" or "I love your location" won't stand out. Schools want to know how you fit with their community and values.
Leave time to work on supplemental essays. Because they are short, every sentence and word has to be precise and contribute to the meaning.
Think of supplementals as a conversation with the school. They're asking questions because they want to get to know you better. Answer authentically.