Common App Essay Examples That Actually Got Students In

Short answer: Reviewing Essays that Worked is a trap. I encourage you not to fall into said trap.

Longer answer: There are a couple of inherent dangers. First, you’re comparing yourself to someone whose application data you don’t have. That places too much emphasis on the essay. An essay that worked would be useful if you saw three highly qualified candidates with nearly identical profiles and their essays. Then, and perhaps only then, would the essay prove valuable to you as a resource.

If you read those essays, ask yourself: what did they do to make it easy for the AO to fill in the blank — This Applicant Is blank?

Fun fact: Everything you do should focus on the AO filling in that blank for you.