If you’re a rising senior, it’s not too early to begin work on your college application essays. The Common Application (used by over 500 colleges and universities across the country) released the 2015-16 essays prompts back in March, and the application will be online by August 1, 2015.

Pondering the essay prompts now and drafting possible responses can make the application process go more smoothly. Why? Because essay writing demands considerable time. It is challenging to decide which prompt to answer and what to discuss. Remember, the key to successful essays and applications is to share some of your important and defining qualities with the admissions committee.

Here are the essay prompts, so start thinking, outlining and drafting…

i. Defining Background, Identity, Interest, Talent -- 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.

ii. Failure and Lessons Learned –- The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident/time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

iii. Challenging An Idea/Belief -- Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

iv. Problem Solving Something of Personal Importance -- Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you would like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma -- anything that is of personal importance to you no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

v. Accomplishment/Event Marking Transition to Adulthood -- Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

Students must select one of the five essay prompts. The length of the essay is between 250- 650 words. This year, participating schools can elect not to require the Common Application Essay but students still retain the option to submit the essay. I always recommend to my students that they write optional essays because the essays “put a face” on applications and are typically students’ only opportunity to directly address the admissions committee.

(See http://blog.commonapp.org/2015/03/31/2015-2016-essay-prompts/ )