A Bad Week at Camp (Sample Common App Essay)

Jacob applied to eleven schools and was accepted by all of them. Two schools offered him scholarships awarded in part to the quality of his essay. His first draft, which he wrote on his own, was pretty dull. His second draft, taking his English teacher’s advice to...

With a Cup and a Spoon (Common App Essay–Middlebury College)

The topic doesn’t matter. What you do with it, does. This is a simple story that captures the writer’s personality, intellect and voice. It’s a thoughtful meditation on values, culture, learning and community written as simply as can be. It was...

That’s Puzzling (Common App Essay–Williams College)

Audrey struggled for a couple of weeks to find her topic. Sometimes the little things you do can reveal the most about who you are. Audrey started in the early summer, and spent countless hours over five months perfecting this essay. I hit a boy with a bat in the...

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Saved My Life

This student used Essay Mentors’ process to write a fantastic essay. He was accepted to Williams College, Boston College, Tufts University and Wheaton College. He was born in Kenya, and moved to Boston when he was in the 8th grade. Michelangelo’s Sistine chapel saved...