If you’re a high school junior who plans to attend college, you’re probably disappointed that COVID-19 is throwing off your college search plans. If you are like most students, you are worrying about how you’re going to submit a strong application that impresses colleges when you aren’t in school, you can’t participate in sports, clubs, jobs, or other activities, and you can’t take the ACT and SAT.
The Common Application has just announced that the essay prompts will be the same as those used in 2019-2020. Every cycle, the Common App offers six prompts that students can use to brainstorm great essay topics. There is also a seventh prompt to write on any topic of your choosing.
While the admissions committee learns a great deal about you from the rest of your application materials but recommendation letters can help them to see well beyond test scores and grades and other credentials and can illuminate intellectual curiosity, creativity, and love of learning.
If you are applying to selective schools with a high volume of applicants, admission officers need to look at more than just your grades — they must also take note of what you have done outside the classroom. Your extracurricular activities, such as jobs, sports, clubs, and volunteer work, give colleges a better sense of who you are and show them what you can bring to their campus community.
Building your college list can be confusing. You may be eager to put down colleges that your friends go to or that have great sports teams. You may ask for suggestions from friends or other people you trust. However, without knowing much about what you want in a college, those might not be the best way to build your college list.