College Essay Example 1: The Itch. This Common App personal statement has been accepted by Stanford University. Common Application Prompt 7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. This can be a · Choose one of the things you wrote, turn your paper over and write it at the top of your paper, like this: This is your thread, or a potential thread: Below what you you wrote, A student should write a college application essay that sets them apart from other applicants. For example, writing about playing a specialized instrument or winning an Olympic medal can help students stand out from other applicants. It also demonstrates how your distinctive qualities will contribute to life on campus. 5.For the - cycle, the Common App essay prompts remain unchanged from - with the exception of a completely new option 4. As in the past, with the inclusion of the popular Topic of your choice, you have the opportunity to write about anything. that you want to share with people in admissions, a personal statement is a short -1 essay, in which you tell a compelling story about who you are, what motivates you, and why you are applying. To write a successful personal statement for a graduate school application, don't just summarize your experience, instead write a focused narrative in your own voice. To aim.