If you also desire to interest the committee in your personality, do not include the information provided in your resume in your paper. The common app essay questions: The Great College Application Timeline When You Should Be The college essay is your opportunity to show admissions officers who you are apart from your grades and test scores (and to distinguish yourself from the rest of a very talented applicant pool). Common app essay ideas . We will retire the seldom used option about solving a problem and replace it with the following: A prompt 1 topic must go beyond what's in the rest of your application The common app essays that worked are the pieces of writing that have managed to attract the boards’ attention to the applicant’s personality. We've covered a lot of ground, but don't panic. My love of engineering has taught me collaboration, social justice, curiosity, and diligence. If you want your essay to be of the highest level, you should brainstorm....