The Secret Sauce in Solid Common App Essays is Storytelling

By Naazish YarKhan, CEO WritersStudio.us

The best Common App essays are more than just a recounting of facts—they’re stories. And like any good story, they should capture the reader’s attention. I often say good stories are like families - they evoke emotion and offer a deeper understanding of the protagonist. When it comes to the Common app essay or similar personal statements the protagnoist is your child. So how can your child make their storytelling come alive?

1. Encourage them to focus on a specific moment or experience that had a significant impact on them. Instead of trying to cover too much ground, a detailed story about one meaningful event can be much more powerful.

2. Beyond the storytelling, reflection is key. Admissions officers want to know not just what happened, but why it mattered. What did your child learn from the experience? How did it shape their perspective or values? One of our students wrote about his grand-father who arrived as an immigrant with all of $50 dollars and how his ambition and courage to move to a foreign land shaped this teen. Another wrote about her aging grand-parent and how his issues have shaped her goals as a dental student. This deeper level of reflection is what makes a good story a great essay.

3. Encourage your child to think of their essay as a narrative that reveals who they are and how they see the world. Storytelling, combined with thoughtful reflection, will make their essay stand out.

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