Inside the Common App: Personal Statement Prompts

About Devery Doran

Devery Doran worked as a Senior Admissions Officer at Harvard University for four years and has read application essays at UC-Berkeley in addition to her current role as a college admissions consultant. A graduate of Harvard with a master’s degree from the University of Texas, Devery has spent her career helping diverse groups of young people unlock their potential through educational and career opportunities.

About the class

The Common App opens on August 1, so let’s not waste any time putting it to use! Join former Ivy League admissions officer Devery Doran to break down this year’s personal statement prompts and gain expert advice on using them to make your story stand out to schools. You’ll learn the do’s and don’ts of personal statements, get an insider’s view of the types of stories that each prompt allows you to tell well, and pick up other ins and outs of the Common App process so that you hit the ground running with this year’s Common App opening–or lay the foundation for a future August 1 if you’re not yet headed into your application year.