The Common App, short for “Common Application”, is a platform that allows students to apply to universities. It is used throughout the United States, including in the public. Length requirements for the short answer have changed over the past decade. At the top, the Common App guidelines said the essay should be , or less. the online form had a limit that often allowed a few more words to be added. Many colleges were satisfied with the short answer essay example. Christie wrote the following sample short answer essay to develop her love of running: It's the simplest movement: right foot, left foot, right foot. This is the simplest of Laura's short answer essays. In response to her college application's short-answer question about an extracurricular activity, Laura wrote about her love of horseback riding: I don't ride for blue ribbons or Olympic gold, although I respect and admire the chosen few who do it. I don't ride for training, even if my muscles are shaking. For the second year, the Common App offers a writing question about how COVID-19 has affected you. There is no doubt that the coronavirus has turned our lives upside down. For starters, many schools closed their doors and remained closed all year. For many students, from Los Angeles to New York, the “Tell me about a time you failed.” This question is very similar to the error question, and you should approach your answer the same way. Make sure you choose a real, real-life failure that you can talk about honestly. Start by clearly explaining to the interviewer how you define failure. Our writers and consultants come from the best schools in the country, such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. After going through a rigorous selection process, our team is ready to support students interested in continuing their university studies with personalized essay feedback and admissions advice. We've broken down Harvard's additional trials for -2024,