Getting Ahead of the Application Essay 🎓🦅
Is it too soon to consider some of those 650 words?
Sure, summer is the season to start procrastinating essay writing but why put off until tomorrow what you can put off today? But first the news…
COLLEGE NEWS
Borrow with care: While taking out student loans have long been seen as standard practice for college students, the other part of the financial contract–paying them back–has become more challenging and, apparently, rare. A million or so borrowers defaulted on their federal student loans in 2025, and nearly 10% of student loan balances are more than 90 days past due. Maybe the tradition of taking on six-figure debt for college should be reevaluated.
Earnings over education: The new trend in confusing college for career training has reached Indiana, which may be asking its public universities to cut programs deemed to produce “low earning” graduates. Here’s hoping Hoosiers enjoy engineering…
Bearcats are a bargain: U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Binghamton University the #3 best value public institution in the nation and the #1 best value public institution in New York State. Meanwhile, Seawolves are in shambles.
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BIG IDEA
The consensus among experts has long been that the summer after junior year presents the ideal time to work on college essays, mainly due to a brief respite from the intense grind of the academic year during 11th and the first half of 12th grade. That said, anyone looking to get a head start on the 2026–27 Common App essay prompts is in luck: Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2026–2027.
Interestingly, Common App shared the popularity of each of the prompts in the last admissions cycle, even though insight into whether certain topics piqued admissions interest over others is regrettably lacking:
Topic of your choice: 28%
Facing adversity: 23%
Personal growth: 20%
Background, identify, interest, or talent: 18%
Intellectual curiosity: 5%
Gratitude: 3%
Challenging an idea: 3%
All of these options may present a false choice. According to essay expert Susan Knoppow, the real Common App prompt is always, “What do you want readers to know about you beyond grades and test scores?” Always focus on revealing character traits and insights not already evident in other components of the application.
Excellent resources abound regarding how to write (or how not to write) an excellent application essay, so no one should enter into this exercise unprepared. But also be sure to put the essay in perspective and tackle it in its own time. Current juniors should use the spring season to mentally prepare themselves for both the preliminary ideation and actual writing of their college essay even while nailing down those grades, test scores, and extracurriculars that carry the weight of most admissions decisions.
NAME THAT SCHOOL
Think you know a lot about colleges? Try to guess this institution of higher education. (Find the answer at the end of the newsletter.)
Founded in 1850 as the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute
known for its distinctive 12-3 plan: 12-week traditional semesters followed by an immersive 3-week term for focused courses, travel study, or projects
Emphasizing close, personalized instruction with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio
Leverages a rural setting with a focus on field science with access to forests, streams, and research sites for environmental and biology studies
A U.S. President not only graduated from this school but also returned as a professor.
APPLICATION ACTION STEPS
🎓 Find out what makes a great college town.
🎓 Do the math on where your tutoring dollars should go.
🎓 Apply for “The Math Gift” scholarship for high school students.
🎓 Explore the benefits of the International Baccalaureate program.
HOTLINE
Do you have any burning questions to ask or want to share an issue, article, or resource our readers should know about? Dial up the College Eagle hotline through this easy form. We appreciate you!
NAME THAT SCHOOL ANSWER
Northeast Ohio’s Hiram College celebrates its most famous alum James A. Garfield by preparing students to be proactively engaged citizens at the The Garfield Center for Public Leadership. Go Terriers!