Both the Common App essay and a personal statement are required for most or all university applications and give your admissions officers a chance to better understand why you would be a great fit. Writing them can be scary, so let’s start together!
So What’s The Difference?
The Common App essay is a required part of your application to universities in the US system. For universities not on the Common App system, they usually still require a ‘personal statement’ type essay like it. There are seven prompts, which are released late February before the application cycle starts. The personal statement, however, is more for the UK or Hong Kong applications. For students beginning their studies in 2026, UCAS is changing the format to three 350 word questions instead of the personal statement.
The style and content of the Common App and personal statement are similar, but still have some differences. You can use a more casual tone, and can generally write about any topic you want (though you should shy away from more controversial or inappropriate subjects). In the personal statement, however, it should be more tailored to the course you’re applying to and your academic interests in it. The tone should be more polished and formal.
Common App Essay Tips and Tricks
Think of the Common App essay as a reflection of what you want to communicate to your admissions officer. This is a big opportunity to tell them exactly what makes you stand out from any other candidate, and at top schools with selective processes, it definitely gives you a leg up.
- Start by reflecting on your experiences. What makes you unique? What do you think defines who you are? This serves as the ‘base’ of your essay. Keep a topic in mind and stick to it through your writing process.
- The hardest part about writing is getting started. Most students get stuck in the first stage and procrastinate until the last minute; but this is probably the worst thing to do! Start early, right when the prompts come out (because they usually don’t change year by year) and write as many drafts as you can. Get your trusted friends and family, College Counselors, and trusted teachers to look over your essay.
- Picking a prompt out of the seven to write on is hard. But really, which prompt you do end up choosing doesn’t matter. All of them are good to respond to; just pick the one that you resonate with the most, and make sure your essay directly responds to it.
Personal Statement Tips and Tricks
The personal statement is more of a chance to reiterate your academic interest in your given course and what you’ve done to explore it, as well as what makes you a good fit. Think back on your past experiences, academic accomplishments, and most importantly, your supercurriculars. Supercurriculars are extracurricular activities that directly relate to your course- for example, shadowing a doctor for med students and a writing competition for English majors. If you haven’t done any, don’t stress. Try to link your activities back to your course: for example, if you’ve done a lot of volunteering with food packing and are applying for a business course, write about how organising your packing line is similar to supply chains. Write about any reading you’ve done (journals, articles, books) about your course, and make sure to link it back to a personal interest you have.
Final Words of Advice
Don’t stress! While these pieces of writing may seem daunting, the best way to tackle them is to take a deep breath, reflect, and to just start writing. There are resources everywhere for you, and The College Essay guy is especially useful for the Common App essay and any supplemental essays you may need to write.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to start writing early. Use your summer to write multiple drafts; schools rarely change their prompts year to year. The more drafts and the more time you have between starting and submitting, the higher the quality of writing.
If you find yourself confused and wanting guidance, our top-university educated Consultants at Studia Consulting can help you write a robust and compelling essay that can get you into your dream school.
Contact us via Whatsapp at +852 5487 8448 or email us at enquiries@studiaacademy.com today to learn more on how we can help you!
