Countdown to College: Picking a problem for Common App Prompt No. 4

Last week I introduced the Common Application’s (www.commonapp.org) newest question and provided some background information on prompt No. 4:

“Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.”

Let’s talk about how a student can identify a “problem” that would satisfy this prompt. It’s important to read the wording closely. There is a lot of flexibility here in the type of “problem” – it can be an intellectual challenge, a research query or an ethical problem.

The significant caveat here is that it must be personal, and as a great gift to the student writers, Common App specifically states “no matter the scale.” That means that it can be something as small and personal as, say, having freckles.

Recently, when I was discussing this prompt with a student I shared a personal story from when I in elementary school. I was teased because I had very dark, hairy arms for a girl. I was occasionally called “Magilla the Gorilla,” a popular cartoon that had been on years earlier.

The comments set me apart in a negative way. It wasn’t brutal teasing by any measure, but it did make me feel uncomfortable. In response, I shaved my arms with an electric razor and my parents weren’t pleased. I remember having a conversation with my mother and sharing that if I could change anything about myself, I’d get rid of my hairy arms. She was empathetic but I also remember her saying, “that should be the biggest problem you’ll ever have.”

Thankfully she responded quickly and we started bleaching my arms so that the hair was less noticeable. I actually liked being a blonde! A small recollection or trivial problem like this could work for Prompt No. 4 because of the personal anecdote and the personal reflection about how you deal with problems, big and small.

But if you want to think bigger, there are loads of issues to consider:

Intellectual challenge: This will be a more serious topic and a student’s solution or the steps chosen to try to solve the problem need to contain critical thinking, analysis and solid writing skills.

A research query: This response will be more academic. If students choose to respond with a research query, they need to make certain that it is something they are passionate about, and they may struggle to make it personal.

An ethical dilemma: This can be a great window into what makes a student tick, which is the essence of a strong essay. To handle this successfully, students will need to talk about the moral challenge and their specific resolution.

This story was originally published June 26, 2015 at 6:51 PM with the headline "Countdown to College: Picking a problem for Common App Prompt No. 4."