10/12/2014 Real College Admission Essay Prompts From This Year's Applications

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M illions of high school seniors around the country are busy penning

college admissions essays based on prompts like the thought-

provoking ones below, which we pulled from this year’s applications. (In

many cases, the prompts below are one of a few options given by the

colleges.)

What would you write? Tell us in the comments below.

Barnard College

“Pick one woman in history or fiction to converse with for an hour and

explain your choice. What would you talk about?”

Common Application

The Common Application is a application used by 549 colleges and

Real College Admission EssayPrompts From This Year's

Applications AUGUST 23, 2014 – 5:15 AM – 2 COMMENTS

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10/12/2014 Real College Admission Essay Prompts From This Year's Applications

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universities in the United States and abroad.

“Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What

do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?”

Harvard University

“What [would you] want your future college roommate to know about you?”

Read JFK’s Surprisingly Short Harvard College Application Essay

Pomona College

“What does freedom mean to you?”

Rhode Island School of Design

“Is there something you love, have to do, can’t stop thinking about? Write

about a personal passion or obsession other than visual art or design.”

Texas A&M University

“Describe a circumstance, obstacle or conflict in your life, and the skills

and resources you used to resolve it. Did it change you? If so, how?”

United States Naval Academy

“Describe a personal experience you have had which you feel has

contributed to your own character development and integrity.”

West Point (United States Military Academy)

“Why will you be successful in working with leaders, peers, and

subordinates of a gender, color, ethnicity, and/or religion different from

your own?”

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10/12/2014 Real College Admission Essay Prompts From This Year's Applications

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