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One of the best ways to get noticed as one of thousands of applicants to a college or university is to have a compelling and memorable story. The application as a whole is the story of you, from your transcripts to your activities list and expressed interest in their school, but the Common App essay is a uniquely open-ended chance to share who you are at your core.
With that in mind, exploring your personal background might be the best way to share the story of you, and this guide will feature examples of effective essay topics and provide insights on crafting a memorable background-focused essay.
Let’s take a look at the prompt:
Common App Prompt #1: 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.
This prompt has been around for years and offers all the flexibility an applicant could ask for with just enough direction to get those creative fountains flowing. Focus on the key words, “background,” “identity,” “interest,” and “talent,” and use them as launch points for your brainstorming. What about your history, personality, hobbies, or accomplishments might be worth highlighting for an admissions officer? It can be something as small as seeing an episode of a television show that ignited your career ambitions or as large as the struggle of moving to a foreign country (especially if you had to leave behind grandma’s cooking).
The most important thing to consider for this prompt is that your subject and/or perspective is dynamic and specific to you and who you are and no one else. Could anyone else put their name at the top of your essay? If so, get more specific!
Sharing a story of your unique background in an essay helps convey more than just academic achievements. You’d be surprised at just how many applicants have impeccable transcripts and GPAs only to get overlooked because their application is, otherwise, generic or lacks details that engender human connection. Admissions officers are human, after all! They want to get to know you and are compelled to take note of students who will enrich their campus and soak up all their school has to offer.
On top of being a breath of fresh air in a pile of endless applications, your unique background can also showcase your resilience, initiative, and cultural awareness. Admissions readers want to know where you have been to get an idea of whether or not where you’re going lines up with their institution.
Remember: attending college is a two-way street, and they want to know if their community will benefit from adding you to their ranks as much as you’ll benefit from completing their coursework. Keep reading for tips on how to translate your background into proof that you deserve to be one of their top picks for candidacy.
You should use this prompt as an opportunity to highlight your unique traits rather than generic accomplishments. There are many teenagers out there who like to cook, but are you so inspired by Ina Garten that you’ve started to dress like her? (So chic.) Seemingly small details can lead you to some of the most important insights about you.
For example, an obsession with perfecting that hasselback potato recipe has led you to join your dad at the grocery store, and now it’s the weekly tradition you’ll miss the most when you’re living on campus. Maybe you’ve learned how to budget your weekly allowance and navigate the aisles of the market like a shark hunting for prey during these trips. Never buy name-brand products if there’s a generic brand with the exact same ingredients! We also recommend choosing a topic that features character growth then connecting these experiences to your future goals. How will those skills serve you as a college student living on your own for the first time? Do you use the same level of scrutiny when it comes to group projects or creating a database of woman-owned brands for your social media followers? The possibilities for connecting your background to your future are endless, and once you get your thoughts moving, they’ll be impossible to ignore.
We are all a product of our backgrounds in some way or another, and below is a short essay snippet from a Tufts student who was able to reveal how their unique background has enriched their approach to life and learning:
Raised by an architect and an interior designer, I learned at a young age that creativity and imagination are integral parts of life. My dad would let my sister and I sit with him while working, placing a pencil in our hands and pointing at objects for us to draw. I also have fond memories of sitting on piles of fabric swatches “organizing” them for my mom. I grew up believing my purpose in life is to wonder and create. Even after my parents divorced, art was the thread that kept us connected to each other.
At age 14, I moved to Madrid with my mom, step-dad, sister and new baby brother. It was quite a challenge at first–mostly because of the language barrier and my Spanish school. But the experience allowed me to appreciate and absorb a new culture, make new friends and discover strengths in myself that I didn’t know I possessed. For the past three years, I have tested my courage, and language skills, and used my love of art as a way to navigate the city–its architecture and museums are especially energizing to me. Conquering my relocation has made me a more inquisitive and adventurous person and will help me to transition to university life. I have grown as a person, and as an artist, and I look forward to continuing on that arc.
Quincey Kras ’20 (Madrid, Spain)
See how this student began by letting the reader into a quiet, private moment and then moved on to explain how the lessons learned there have translated into larger parts of their life? Small moments are shaping you every day, and this is the time to shine a light on those defining experiences. This student didn’t pass a bill to fight climate change or invent an app that solves world hunger; they simply moved to an unfamiliar place and used the skills they acquired as a small child to be open to new experiences and blossom into a more adventurous person.
What has emboldened you to live life the way you do? Who has made an impact on your outlook? Think back on challenges, mentors, and even mundane everyday experiences that have challenged your perspective and molded you into the unique person you are today.
Let’s take a look at another example:
My first vivid memory of swim practice is of being yanked by the ankles from underneath the kitchen table, my nails scratching against the wood floor and my screams loud enough to elicit the neighbors’ concern.
Clearly, I hadn’t “gotten” swimming yet. As a first grader, I simply couldn’t understand how shoving my hair into a cap, wearing goggles that almost pressed my eyes out of their sockets, and flailing my limbs in freezing liquid for an hour could possibly be worth my while.
However, as I came to understand the mechanics and elegance of the sport, my attitude started to change. It really changed in 4th grade, when I began to win races. The little gold medals gave me a confidence that was addicting. More than that, they motivated me to cultivate good habits before I learned that discipline, daily practice, and just being part of a team are rewards in and of themselves.
Swimming has definitely influenced the way I move through the world. To avoid head-on collisions with lane mates, swimmers are taught from the beginning to always stay to the right of the lane, called circle swimming. Sometimes I feel as though I “circle-live”-walking on the right, driving on the right (naturally), even sleeping on the right. Yet, thinking of how focused and alive I feel after swimming, I think it’s more accurate to say that my time in the pool keeps me centered.
Tessa Garces ’19 (Larchmont, NY)
This student took a look back at how a sport they initially hated became a major influence on how they navigate the world. Don’t be afraid to share the moments of “nails scratching against the wood floor” as you discuss your growth as a person. Perfection is not the goal when sharing your story; growth and personal development matter most, and admissions can appreciate those moments that lead us to who we are today, even if they’re not all pretty.
One fear of students who read this prompt is that their life story isn’t that interesting. Not much has happened yet! We beg to differ. The key to this essay is to get specific and zoom in on a story or experience in detail. This doesn’t need to be your magnum opus or even the beginnings of a published memoir, just a short trip into your past (and present) to bring the reader into your world.
Has your family’s hosting of foreign exchange students allowed you to connect with cultures from around the world? Did your years of training as a dancer give you the confidence to try musical theater for the first time last year?
Your essay also doesn’t need to feature a life-altering event (though it can!). Has your experience as a youngest child given you empathy for the “underdog” in life, leading to your unending devotion to the Cleveland Browns? (No shade.) Does your spikey, dyed-blue hair define who you are?
Overall, this prompt is what we at College Essay Advisors call a “choose-your-own-adventure” prompt. It has historically served as a fabulous catch-all for subjects that don’t fit within the confines of the other prompt options and really can stretch to fit nearly any story you want to share. We encourage you to think about what experiences or backgrounds have shaped your life most deeply.
While your story doesn’t have to be dramatic, it should genuinely reflect your personal growth and character. With authentic storytelling, you can share a compelling narrative that rounds out your application and leaves a memorable impression on admissions!
