What’s the smartest way to approach the Coalition App personal statement? This is an essay that about 150 colleges and universities accept. How do you make the most of it?

We have a few easy tips for you here at Prompt:

• Word count: Don’t be fooled by the lack of a strict word limit. Coalition recommends keeping it between 500 and 550 words — which is hard. But you should do it. Anyone can ramble on. Saying something powerfully in a short space is an important skill that admission officers want to see.
• Choose your prompt wisely: Coalition gives you five choices. But we actually don’t recommend you start by choosing the prompt —this article contains our counterintuitive advice for getting started with your essay.
• Get personalized help: Your college essays matter. A lot. Should you get personalized advice and support as you write yours? If you think that sounds helpful, check us out here. Our advisors will work with you on any aspect of this task, whether that’s getting started, or giving you feedback on a draft.

Coalition App Prompts 2020-2021

1. Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
2. Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
3. Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?
4. What is the hardest part of being a student now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?
5. Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.

Choose one of the prompts for your essay.

Keep it between 500 and 550 words, as recommended by Coalition.