Common App Core Question Topic Selection: Tip One

Last summer, I was working with a student at the Huntington Learning Center who attended a College Application Essay writing class at a local high school. The class was taught by a high school English teacher, ran for two weeks and resulted in a final draft of a response to the core question. So, I asked to see it.


The essay was technically perfect and followed all the conventional wisdom on what college admissions officers want to see. It was written in the active voice, full of active verbs, and was free from grammatical and spelling errors. The student wrote in his own voice on a topic of his choice. Flawless: and yet all wrong.

The essay was about an experience the student had with bungee jumping. It described in vivid detail his ascent to the top of a bridge, painted a picture of the panoramic view before him. You could here his heart pounding as he looked down and experienced true fear for he first time in his life. The essay moved to the student’s inner conversation as he struggled to find the courage to jump; and finally the climatic leap off the bridge; flying, soaring, breathless. This student had learned to overcome his fears! A life lesson to be sure. The essay was thrilling, engaging, memorable…surely this would make and impression on college admissions officers. It made an impression on me! In fact, Selective College Acceptance Counseling was born as a result of reading this essay.

I asked the student how he chose his essay topic. Did the teacher give him any guidance? No. Did she review his transcripts and test scores? No. Did she look over his completed Common app as if she were in college admissions? No. She left the topic up to him. But, his theme seriously missed the mark. Why?

The student carried a 2.5 GPA at the end of his junior year. With Huntington’s help, he was able to increase his ACT score to a 27. Admissions officers will view him as a smart, unmotivated kid. Not good. I happen to know that he surprised himself with how well he was able to score on the ACT. Prior to that, he had no idea that he had that kind of potential. He also had a 504 plan for ADD/ADHD and took medication to help him focus. What he actually learned at Huntington was that if he put forth a consistent effort, he could produce amazing results. This should have been the topic of his essay. He needed to address the glaring discord between his GPA and test scores. He needed to talk about overcoming adversity and learning to become a good student. He needed to prove to admissions reps that he was a mature young man who is ready for college and would excel in that environment as a result of what he learned about himself the summer between his junior and senior year. Did his essay on bungee jumping accomplish that? I’ll leave that for you to decide.

I implored the student to revise his essay, but he had spent two weeks on it and it was done! It was then I decided that I had something to offer to students beyond SAT/ACT Prep. I decided that an effective college application essay begins with a review of the Common app as a whole to identify the questions admissions reps will still have about the student after they have read everything else. I decided students need guidance and direction in selecting a topic that will enhance their application and not detract from it. I decided students need to work with a counselor (not an English teacher or writer) to develop a persuasive essay rather than a narrative. The Common app core question is a student’s ONE opportunity to speak for himself about his unique perspectives and experiences. Clearly, they need someone with expertise in the college admissions process to direct them. Thus Selective College Acceptance Counseling was born.

Selective College Acceptance Counseling provides individual academic and extra-curricular guidance to students seeking entrance to highly-selective universities. We understand the current college admissions landscape and provide keen insight, clear direction, moral support and strategic planning to students in Rochester, NY. Our services include:

• Individual College Counseling

• Summer Workshops

• International Student Packages

Call (585) 233-9502 for a FREE Initial Consultation to include: Review of transcripts, activities, test scores, fall schedule and recommendations for the fall.