If you’re a junior, you can get ahead in the college application game by beginning to think about your essay for the Common Application or Coalition Application. Both sets of essay prompts are available now and remain unchanged from last year’s prompts.

The essay can be especially challenging because, among other obstacles, it is difficult for students to decide on an essay topic.

Remember, the KEY to a powerful essay idea is sharing something of importance about yourself with the admission committee (e.g. your talents, passion, curiosity, inspiration, growth). As the Common Application Essay Instructions state: "What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores?"

So review the prompts and begin thinking…

2018-2019 Common Application Essay Prompts (650 word limit)

1. 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.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

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

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

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?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. http://www.commonapp.org/whats-appening/application-updates/2018-2019-common-application-essay-prompts

2018-2019 Coalition Essay Prompts (suggested limit: 550 words)

1. Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

2. Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.

3. Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?

4. What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?

5. Submit an essay on a topic of your choice. http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/essays.html