Guide to the 2024-25 Common App Essays: Writing about Your Background (Prompt 1)

The 2024-25 Common Application's essay prompt 1 (full text below) asks you to write about your background or identity. But what is it REALLY asking? Get the lowdown from College Essay Advisors Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook. She’ll break this prompt down into its basic building blocks and offer some insider tips and strategies for picking the perfect topic.

For more tips and advice on college application essays:

Stay tuned for more videos on the other Common Application prompts, the Coalition Application essay prompts, and more!

Full prompt text:
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.

[SimpleNinjaFTW]

"What in this 17 years on this Earth has made you into what you are today" is perhaps the most stress inducing question I've received in my life

[stacybediako]

Before I had no idea how to start this essay, but I instantly got ideas after watching this.

[sammy]

personally, i don’t think i’m that much of an interesting person. i’m just a typical student. i complete my work and i’m off. the only thing that has found itself to be consistent in my life, especially when it comes to interests, happens to be my love for a couple video games and... music. no, i don’t play an instrument, but i am a lover of all types of music. rap, pop, disco, classical, banda, kpop... i am open to all sorts of ideas. that is the only thing i think i am able to tie into this essay of mine, but i have absolutely no idea how to go about this in a way where a college will take interest.

[ariellavolk]

This video definitely sparked some ideas into my head. I'm Russian and Jewish and I really want to write something about that, but I'm really unsure of how to start it. Do I write about the struggles of growing up where no one else has the same background as me? Or should I make it more into a story of who I am? I'm really struggling and your feedback would help a lot.

[jimmicialkorsor]

Hello.... Thanks for the video. I have a question. I was thinking about writing about dance as a interest how do you think I can fit that with identity and talent as well. I mostly do Afro dance ( Afro is short for African), but I'm also into hip-pop and contemporary ( not super good at this one), and praise dance too. My younger sister inspired me when it comes to dancing and it's the one thing we both have in Idk how to make all of these fit together.

[sheila]

Hi, can I write about my course (nursing, why I’m studying it, and all about nursing) under prompt 1 since it also includes interests?

[joaquinjanicke]

the Argentina thing caught me off guard, love hearing people know Argentina still exists lol

[surajs]

Hello, would it be alright to write about how 2 separate backgrounds/interests have clashed with each other to create your identity?

[kilonhusk]

can i write about financial difficulty i faced during childhood and how it influenced me under prompt 1

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