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college essay - q&a: common app & supplemental essays

originally streamed in 2020
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Get honest answers to your college essay questions and learn how to write an application essay that showcases your authentic story. This Q&A session covers Common App prompts, supplemental essays, and what admissions officers look for. Writing your ...more

timestamps

  • 0:00

    Q&A Session

  • 0:00

    Same Essay for Every College

  • 0:30

    Supplemental Essays Explained

  • 1:01

    Essay Importance Factors

  • 1:32

    Selective Programs and Essays

  • 2:04

    Essays in Test-Optional Year

  • 2:35

    Research for Why This College

  • 3:06

    Specific Reasons for School Fit

  • 3:38

    Trauma and Growth in Essays

  • 4:08

    Seeking Advice on Topics

  • 4:39

    Personal Statement vs Common App

  • 5:10

    Main Essay vs Supplements

  • 5:41

    Finding Required Essays

  • 6:12

    Avoiding Bragging in Essays

  • 6:44

    Storytelling and Growth

  • 7:14

    Sharing Personal Obstacles

  • 7:45

    Overcoming Setbacks Prompt

  • 8:16

    Making Why Statements Unique

  • 8:48

    Research and School Fit

  • 9:19

    Lock and Key Analogy

  • 9:51

    Specific Interests Matching

  • 10:25

    Coalition vs Common App Essays

  • 10:57

    Coalition Word Count

  • 11:29

    UC Application Differences

  • 11:59

    Final Draft Timeline

  • 12:29

    Editing and Feedback Importance

  • 12:59

    Tinkering for Better Essays

  • 13:31

    Avoiding Perfectionism

  • 14:02

    Starting Early Advice

  • 14:33

    Last-Minute Edits Risks

  • 15:03

    Reading Full Essays

  • 15:34

    Essay's Role in Application

  • 16:04

    Changing Submitted Essays

  • 16:34

    No Changes After Submission

  • 17:05

    Brainstorming with Journaling

  • 17:36

    Social Media for Ideas

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👩🏽‍🎤 arts👔 business🎤 communications🏗️ engineering📓 humanities➗ math🧑🏽‍🔬 science💶 social science

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🏛️ alabama history⛰️ appalachian studies🌴 california history🌍 earth science🌐 ethnic studies🐊 florida history🍑 georgia history🌎 global studies🌺 hawaiian studies📰 journalism🪶 native american studies🌵 new mexico history🤠 oklahoma history⚗️ physical science🎙️ speech and debate🤝 texas government🤠 texas history🌲 washington state history🕊️ world religions

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© 2026 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

every AP exam is fiveable

Fiveable

Study Content & Tools

Study GuidesFRQs + AI ScoringAP Essay Grader for StudentsAI Grading for TeachersPractice QuestionsGlossaryScore Calculators

Company

What's New?PricingBulk DiscountsTestimonialsFAQsEmail us

Resources

AP Exam Schedule 2027AP Exam AccommodationsAP ClassesAP ClassroomEasiest AP ClassesHardest AP ClassesAP vs IBAP vs Dual EnrollmentAP vs Honors ClassesAP Scholar Awards

history

🌎 ap world history🇺🇸 ap us history🇪🇺 ap european history

social science

✊🏿 ap african american studies🗳️ ap comparative government🚜 ap human geography💶 ap macroeconomics🤑 ap microeconomics🧠 ap psychology👩🏾‍⚖️ ap us government

english & capstone

✍🏽 ap english language📚 ap english literature🔍 ap research💬 ap seminar

arts

🎨 ap art & design🖼️ ap art history🎵 ap music theory

science

🧬 ap biology🧪 ap chemistry♻️ ap environmental science🎡 ap physics 1🧲 ap physics 2💡 ap physics c: e&m⚙️ ap physics c: mechanics

math & computer science

🧮 ap calculus ab♾️ ap calculus bc📐 ap precalculus📊 ap statistics💻 ap computer science a⌨️ ap computer science p

world languages

🇨🇳 ap chinese🇫🇷 ap french🇩🇪 ap german🇮🇹 ap italian🇯🇵 ap japanese🏛️ ap latin🇪🇸 ap spanish language💃🏽 ap spanish literature

career kickstart

💼 ap business with personal finance🔒 ap cybersecurity

go beyond AP

high school exams

✏️ PSAT🎓 Digital SAT🎒 ACT

honors classes

🍬 honors algebra II🫀 honors anatomy🐇 honors biology👩🏽‍🔬 honors chemistry💲 honors economics📐 honors geometry⚾️ honors physics📏 honors pre-calculus📊 honors statistics🗳️ honors us government🇺🇸 honors us history🌎 honors world history

college classes

👩🏽‍🎤 arts👔 business🎤 communications🏗️ engineering📓 humanities➗ math🧑🏽‍🔬 science💶 social science

hs classes

🏛️ alabama history⛰️ appalachian studies🌴 california history🌍 earth science🌐 ethnic studies🐊 florida history🍑 georgia history🌎 global studies🌺 hawaiian studies📰 journalism🪶 native american studies🌵 new mexico history🤠 oklahoma history⚗️ physical science🎙️ speech and debate🤝 texas government🤠 texas history🌲 washington state history🕊️ world religions
RefundsTermsPrivacyCCPAAI TransparencySchool Data Privacy

© 2026 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.