10 Great Common App Essay Examples From Accepted Students

We've compiled a selection of standout essays from past students who have successfully navigated the complexities of the Common App.

10+ Outstanding Common App Essay Examples 2024

The word limit for the Common App essay is 650. That doesn't mean you need to use all 650 words—many of the great example essays below don't.

10 Exceptional Common App Essay Examples - College Advisor

The first of our sample Common App essays discusses a topic that many students might assume is too ordinary: a student's love of books. After reading each of ...

12 Common App Essay Examples (Graded by Former Admissions ...

If your Common App essay is like an introduction, then you also want to make a good impression. That means that your essay should communicate ...

10 Successful Harvard Application Essays | 2024

While I can't run, I can swim and play water polo, and I can walk the campus giving Admissions tours. My family might not look like everyone else's, but I can ...

14 College Essay Examples From Top-25 Universities (2024–2025)

Here are some example essays from some of the thousands of students we've helped get accepted to their dream school.

10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples — 2024

However, your essay alone will not get you admitted to or rejected from any given college. What are the elements of a strong Common App essay? A ...

25 Elite Common App Essay Examples (And Why They Worked)

Here are Common App essay examples from Top-20 colleges. Learn how these admitted students wrote their personal essay.

21 Stellar Common App Essay Examples to Inspire Your College ...

These Common App essay examples demonstrate a strong writing ability and answer the prompt in a way that shows admissions officers something unique about the ...

12 Best & Brilliant Common App Essay Examples for 2025

We researched the best common app essay examples to help with your college application. Get tips on writing compelling essays that highlight ...

10 Successful Personal Statement Examples from Elite Colleges

What makes these essays so great is that they are authentic to the student and don't spend their 650 words saying what they think admissions ...

Common App Essay Examples | Accepted

Discovering and choosing a university that fulfills all of my needs was a rigorous yet exciting task. The Ivy U clearly emerged as the best choice for me and I, ...

Essays That Worked | Johns Hopkins University Admissions

We share essays from previously admitted students—along with feedback from our admissions ... topics like the college search process and essay preparation ...

College Essays That Worked: See Examples

US News has compiled several college essay examples that helped students get into school. Shared by admissions staff or referenced from admissions websites.

15 College Essays That Worked - PrepMaven

... essays that earned students acceptance into top-tier colleges. Grab these for free below! Download PrepMaven's 35 College Essay Examples. COLLEGE ESSAY ...

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays.

The truth is that you don't have to be a good writer to create a successful admissions essay. ... “I learned a great deal from writing my college application ...

50 Successful IVY LEAGUE Application Essays

The truth is that you don't have to be a good writer to create a successful admissions essay. Nor do you need to have survived a life changing event or won a ...

Common App Essays | 7 Strong Examples with Commentary - Scribbr

I stared in disbelief at the big red letter at the top of my paper: D. Never in my entire high school career had I seen that letter at the top ...

4 Winning College Essay Examples from Top Schools - Prepory

Not only is this essay creative and entertaining, but it also demonstrates how this student is eager to challenge themself and embrace a wide ...

How They Got Into The Ivy League (25 essay examples)

You will learn what is expected from your college admissions essays and how you can play upon both your strengths and weaknesses to shape ...

Think and Grow Rich

Book by Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich is a book written by Napoleon Hill and Rosa Lee Beeland released in 1937 and promoted as a personal development and self-improvement book.