Common Application Writing Prompts 2013-2014

Admit It!  Some of you are eager to get started on your college applications.  Some of you may be less so, but you recognize that those essays will sadly not write themselves.  Well, for those of you applying to schools that accept the Common Application (W&M is an exclusive user of the Common Application), you still have a bit of waiting to do.  The 2013-2014 Common Application will be live on August 1.

However, for those of you who like to work ahead of deadlines, there are components on which you can get started.  The Common Application requires one essay.  The four prompts being used in the 2013-2014 application cycle have been announced.  You must choose one of the specific questions to respond to.  Feel free to begin writing.  Whatever you write between now and August 1 can always be loaded to the application when it goes live.

The only writing sample we require is the Common Application’s essay.  However, we do have a W&M-specific optional additional submission prompt.  It reads as follows:

Beyond your impressive academic credentials and extracurricular accomplishments, what else makes you unique and colorful? We know that nobody fits neatly into 500 words or less, but you can provide us with some suggestion of the type of person you are. Anything goes! Inspire us, impress us, or just make us laugh. Think of this optional opportunity as show and tell by proxy and with an attitude, but please restrict your submission to what will fit on one sheet of paper. For additional context, check out the William & Mary Admission Office video message.

So while we would not encourage you to spend your entire summer break writing college application essays, there’s nothing wrong with at least getting started.  We look forward to reading the results.

Wendy Livingston ’03, M.Ed. ‘09
Associate Dean of Admission

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12 Comments
  1. Nancy Graham
  2. Admit It!
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