It’s all about you. The college application provides an overview of who you are as a student: the classes you took, the grades you earned, the activities you participated in. Then there are test scores and teacher recommendations to help round out the picture. The college essay is your opportunity to get personal – to put your story into context.
2024-2025 Common Application Essay Prompts:
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.
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?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
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?
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.
The Common App will retain the optional community disruption question within the Writing section.
Looking for help writing supplement essays? Check out this recording from our Spring 2022 webinar with Prompt on the topic!
The College Office is available for essay meetings for juniors or seniors — to brainstorm, draft, or edit.
There are a number of college essay coaches and outside resources that our students have used in the past.
College Bound Directions
Complete college application counseling including essay writing coaching. Not local, but students have had success working collaboratively through a Skype connection.
Alexa Micley Education (former Beacon teacher)
A full-service private tutoring company with virtual services, offering a breadth of academic tutoring, standardized test prep, essay writing and application help across the board.
Livia Whitermore
Beacon alum, Livia Whitermore provides thorough and personable college essay review across three sessions. She graduated from Brown University magna cum laude and went on to complete a Master's at the London School of Economics. lwhitermore@gmail.com
Writopia Labs
Help juniors and seniors identify unique and meaningful personal stories, and give them the space and guidance to tell those stories in their own authentic voices.
Sally Green
Private college essay tutor; collaborative approach to assist students in building writing skills and writing confidence
College Essay Guy
Free simple and straightforward essay guidance in a clean and clear user interface.
Carter Hamontree (former Beacon Counselor)
Carter Hamontree is a past Beacon College Counselor who is familiar with our school and what admissions officers are looking for in an essay. She has edited countless Beacon essays and also worked as a college admissions rep before becoming a college counselor. She now works with students editing essays for the college process.
Story to College
Workshops teaching high school students to tell their own stories in their own voice.
Cohen Math Prep & Tutoring
NYC-based tutoring company with experienced writing coaches well-versed in college essay guidance. Plenty of experience with Beacon families.
Beth Saidel
Experienced writer and college essay tutor, and former Barnard Communications Director
In Your Voice
Leslie Seifert meets with students one-on-one to clarify the subject and focus of the college essays, then provides regular feedback throughout the revision process. Leslie was editor of the Sunday Opinion section of Newsday for 9 years, commissioning and editing essays from writers around the world. He has worked as a print journalist for over 30 years.
Cathy Altman
Cathy Altman has guided hundreds of students on three continents to identify and develop their own unique stories for college essays. She offers 24/7 assistance and sliding scale rates.
Launchpad Coaching
Jake Rosen, a past Beacon History teacher, has started a college consulting company to help students with essays and the entire college process.
Don't Sweat The Essay
Award-winning writer, journalist & professor of writing will guide you through the process with skill, compassion, and insight. Scholarships are available. Check out this article in the Huffington Post for more information.
Great Expectations
Great Expectations College Prep carefully pairs its students with highly experienced counselors based on a wide variety of factors, ranging from personality to academic interests and writing style to dream schools. They have helped thousands of high schoolers develop narratives that are both authentic and unique, enabling them to differentiate themselves in the application process and thus earn acceptances at some of the best colleges in the world – but more importantly, at colleges that are the perfect fit.
Schedule potential client consultation here
Jenna Greenspan
English degree graduate from Duke University, helps edit college essays in her spare time.
Remy Block
Former ELA Teacher at MS 51, experienced writing teacher and available to help students with essays or those who need help with reading, writing, or organization.
Joya Ahmad
Joya is a Columbia University alumna with over a decade of tutoring experience. She offers college essay and application assistance as well as standardized test preparation and interview practice. Joya also has years of experience working with students with learning disabilities.