{"id":358,"date":"2018-06-19T22:52:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-19T22:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ec2-50-17-66-55.compute-1.amazonaws.com\/2018\/06\/19\/common-application-prompts-question-1\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T08:32:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T16:32:33","slug":"common-application-prompt-question-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/common-application-prompt-question-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Common App Essay Prompts: Question 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Question 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.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Identity \u2014 what makes you, you<\/em>? This is typically the most popular Common Application prompt, because we all have a story to tell about what makes us the way we are. But just because it’s the most-picked prompt doesn’t mean it’s the easiest. It’s actually one of the riskiest \u2014 because “tell me about yourself” is so open-ended that it’s easy to write something vague, generic, or trying to cover too much<\/em> at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colleges are trying to get to know YOU by reading your application, but that’s hard to do with only test scores and a GPA. This essay fills the gap by directly telling colleges about pieces of your identity that don’t show up on paper. Where do you come from? What’s your family life like? What’s something you’re passionate about that may be non-academic?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why This Prompt Trips People Up<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because it’s so broad, students often make one of two mistakes: they pick something too big<\/em> (their entire cultural background, their whole childhood) and end up skimming the surface of everything, or they pick something too small<\/em> (a random hobby) without explaining why it actually matters to who they are. The best Question 1 essays do the opposite \u2014 they zoom in tight on one specific thread and follow it all the way through to a real insight about themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Common App Essay Prompt 1 \u2013 The Identity Essay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3 Tips for Conquering This Prompt<\/strong>:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Choose a part of your identity that you are passionate about.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just because you grew up in a household with divorced parents doesn\u2019t mean you are obligated to write about this. Maybe you don\u2019t feel like that part of your life has dramatically shaped you. That\u2019s okay. There are dozens of unique aspects of your background, so only write an essay about one you are eager to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Avoid summarizing too much<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rather than trying to include everything about your identity in one essay, focus on a single aspect of yourself. Colleges want to understand what excites you, what influences your environment, and what makes you unique compared to other applicants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid writing an essay that simply summarizes events. Instead, explain the thoughts and emotions behind your identity. Do not spend too much time describing the sequence of events. For example, if you are writing about loss, focus on the impact of one person\u2019s passing to represent your experience with grief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Show how you have grown.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is not enough to simply describe events from growing up in a low-income family. You must describe why these events make you the person you are today. Colleges look for students who are able to grow and learn from experiences (because college is essentially an experience that we are expected to learn from, right?). So, show colleges that your interests and background has molded you to where you stand today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Simple Structure to Work From<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re staring at a blank page, try this shape:<\/p>\n\n\n\n