The 2026-2027 Common App Essay Prompts Explained Every year I get questions from parents and students about the Common App essay prompts. Which prompts do colleges like most? Does my student need to write about a challenge? Will it hurt my chances if I select Prompt 7, the "catch-all"? Here's the short answer: It doesn't matter which prompt you choose. As a college essay coach, I have worked with more than 100 students applying to colleges across the United States. One of the