Common App

Common App

Common App 2026: Gratitude and Aspiration

Reflect on a moment when another person's action toward you gave rise to an unexpected sense of joy or profound appreciation. In what ways has that experience of gratitude come to shape your outlook or fuel your sense of purpose?

Scored areas

5 sections

Point range

0—5 pts

Essay length

250—650 words

Evaluation criteria

  1. 1

    Selection of Moment and Its Unexpected Dimension

  2. 2

    Emotional Depth and Authenticity

  3. 3

    Influence and Inspiration

  4. 4

    Quality of Writing and Narrative Craft

  5. 5

    Future Orientation and Revelation of Character

Focus Themes

  1. 1

    Surprise Authenticity

  2. 2

    Behavioral Causality

  3. 3

    Narrative Specificity

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Submit your essay against Common App 2026: Gratitude and Aspiration and get structured feedback across every evaluation criterion above.

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Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about using the Common App 2026: Gratitude and Aspiration rubric.

It can be someone you know, but the act itself must be genuinely non-routine. Scoring penalizes predictable gestures like parental support; choose a moment whose generosity reframed your understanding in a non-obvious way.