Summer Work & Reading 2023

Wilbraham & Monson Academy
College Counseling

Class of 2024 Summer Writing Assignment: The College Essay

In addition to the summer work assignments outlined on the WMA website, members of the graduating class must write their college essay — or better yet, a personal narrative — over the summer. The multiple demands on WMA students, especially at the beginning of the senior year, can make it challenging to find the time to write a compelling, self-reflective and thoughtful piece. To ensure that every senior completes a high-quality narrative in a timely manner, well in advance of college application deadlines, every member of the graduating class will be required to submit a carefully edited and revised college essay to their college counselor at the beginning of the school year, no later than Sept. 15.

As we discussed in Junior Seminar, during individual college counseling meetings, and in our hour-long essay workshops on April 21 and 28, the college essay presents each of you with a unique opportunity to communicate with admission officers in a meaningful way, one that can provide for a genuine “human” connection. The ultimate goal is to create a personal narrative, uniquely yours, that will leave "admission officers feeling like they've had a conversation with you and want to learn more,” as described on the Yale University website.

We spent several weeks brainstorming possible essay topics together in our essay workshops and in individual meetings. These brainstorming sessions asked you to think about a range of ideas from favorite memories, to your values and beliefs, from challenges that you’ve experienced to qualities you’re most proud of. By July 9, you are encouraged to review your workshop notes and any ideas, insights or inspirations that will lead you to an essay topic(s) that excites you. After a final week of reflection, organizing your thoughts and outlining, you are advised to have a first draft of your essay completed by July 18 and a polished (fifth) draft by Aug. 25.

The summer months, free from school year assignments and other commitments, offer an ideal time for further self-reflection as you identify a compelling essay topic and craft a unique, impactful and well-written personal narrative. A thoughtful and purposeful approach in this regard will help to remove the biggest hurdle for many students, the notion of: “I don’t have anything to write about!” You do or will, so write, and don’t concern yourself at any point with the “worthiness” of your ideas or the quality of writing - simply write. 

Below you will find a list of the 2023-2024 Common Application essay topics. Since most colleges and universities accept the Common Application, seniors can usually write one main college essay in response to one of these topics. Many colleges will also require additional supplemental essays, making it even more important that students use the summer months to focus their efforts on this main essay. If time allows, students are also encouraged to prepare drafts of any supplemental essays. 
 

2023-2024 Common Application Essay Prompts: 

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don’t feel obligated to do so. (The application won’t accept a response shorter than 250 words and any words in excess of the 650 will not transmit.) 

• 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.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• 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?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.