We loved this article at Huffington Post College yesterday: “Best and Worst College Application Essay Prompts, Supplements, and Common App Questions.” Some essays are more painful to write than others, and no one knows that better than arts applicants.
What people often don’t realize is that students applying to arts programs usually write many more essays than the “normal” college applicant. The ArtsBridge team helps our BFA and BM applicants edit, on average, twenty individual pieces of writing. When we work with BA applicants, they typically have to write between five and ten essays.
At ArtsBridge, we like essay prompts that are short, to the point, and tell the college something about you as a person. We like essays that leave a little room for creativity. We believe essays should be an opportunity to humanize your application, to show that you are more than your GPA and your SAT scores.
On that same note, we don’t like essay prompts that really don’t tell the school much about the student at all. We hate when essay prompts are needlessly verbose, too abstract, or are otherwise confusing. It’s an application, not an exam.
Here are some of our favorite prompts of the year:
Emerson: Much of the work that students do at Emerson College is a form of storytelling. If you were to write the story of your life until now, what would you title it and why?
The University of the Arts: Tell us something positive about yourself that we can’t learn from the review of your transcripts, test scores, portfolio or audition.
Syracuse University: Who is the person you dream of becoming and how do you believe Syracuse University can help you achieve this?
Mannes College of Music at the New School: Describe the biggest risk you have ever taken.
Manhattan School of Music: Tell us about your name. What does it mean? Does it have a special meaning? Do you think your name fits you? Finally, would you ever change your name; and if so, what name would you choose?
And here are some of our least favorite prompts:
As huge book nerds, we want to like this one from Bennington College, but we don’t love the idea of student being judged by their literary tastes:
Carlos Ruiz Zafon wrote in The Shadow Of The Wind, “Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens.” What book would you recommend?
We think these prompts from Juilliard are asking a little too much for a college essay:
1.) The painter Piet Mondrian stated, “The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel.” Do you believe that artists are conduits for art, or its creators? Please explain why, with examples where possible.
2.) If you had the opportunity to adapt a work of visual art or literature to your own artistic medium, what would you choose? Why? What would your adaptation be like?
Both of Ithaca College‘s prompts are confusing:
1.) Integrative learning is the process of making connections among concepts and experiences so that information and skills can be applied to novel and complex issues or challenges. Ithaca College wants all our graduates to be integrative thinkers, critical and analytical problem solvers, and reflective learners. Please select one of the six themes of Ithaca College’s Integrative Core Curriculum and discuss how an integrated approach to learning will help you reach your professional or personal goals.
2.) Ithaca College began as a music conservatory in 1892, emphasizing theory, practice, and performance. Today’s Ithaca College provides a rigorous education blending liberal arts and professional programs of study in over 100 majors. Combining theory and performance to contribute to the world’s scientific and humanistic enterprises is at the heart of the IC educational experience. Please reflect on how you learn best, and describe how you might put theory into practice at Ithaca College.
And lastly, one from Cornish College of the Arts: If you were given a million dollars, and tasked with “Making the Future,” what would that future look like?
This one could be fun, but a million dollars isn’t that much money, Cornish! Give the students a billion if we’re playing pretend.
