New Common App Prompt for 2021-22
Last year, Common App included an optional Covid-19 essay for the 2020-21 admissions cycle to give students a space to describe the impact Covid-19 has had in their lives. As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on students’ learning experience, Common App has replaced a rarely used prompt for the 2021-22 applications with the following:
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Common App’s decision to include this prompt is apparently based on scientific research on gratitude and kindness. The prompt is intended to lift your student’s spirits by writing about the positive impact of other people in their lives.
Should your student respond to this prompt?
In short, if your student can speak from the heart and has in fact turned their motivation into action, then it should be considered. As is the case with all of the prompts, this one won’t be suited for all students. If your student is considering this prompt, here are some tips for how to respond:
Brainstorm: write down a list of specific events, people or situations that made you grateful since the onset of the pandemic. These should reflect how you faced challenges, were resourceful and lessons learned.
Draft a gratitude letter: The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley has good samples of this. This exercise will help you select a person or event that you haven’t thought about in a while. This is also a helpful tool to learn how to network and keep in touch with your mentors.
Take action: A student can’t just say they’ve been motivated, they have to prove it. If you are applying in Fall 2021, you need to make some big plans for this summer.
Optional COVID-19 Essay
As we stated last year, every student applying to competitive schools should respond to this prompt. The top 25 schools want students who go above and beyond, who always do the extra credit assignments and do them well. Write the COVID essay, and submit SAT or ACT scores.
For additional admissions advising and application assistance, schedule a consultation with an Ivy Link advisor. Our programs are tailored to fit the needs of every student, at every stage of the process.
