Common App · 2026–27 prompts
An honest second read. Not a ghostwriter.
A score out of 100, a comment on every sentence, and the questions that make your essay stronger, without writing a word of it for you. In your inbox in 5–10 minutes.
Reviewing several drafts? 3 reviews for $19.99, credits never expire.
Paste it in. Your score out of 100 and full report arrive in 5–10 minutes.
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
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How it works
Pick your prompt and paste the essay exactly as you plan to submit it. No account needed.
Seven dimensions scored, every sentence annotated, coaching questions written for your material.
Work through the notes in your interactive report or the PDF in your inbox, in 5–10 minutes.
Your report
Every sentence, every part of your prompt, and the questions that get the better version out of you. Never a sentence written for you.
Check my essay ↑Across seven dimensions, calibrated on essays colleges published as ones that worked.
A numbered note on each line, and what to do about it.
The one change that would lift your essay furthest, with how to start.
Five things your prompt asks for, each marked met, partly or missing.
The sentence that says what your story means, or the question that finds it.
Questions only you can answer, each tied to a line in your essay.
Prioritized actions, and how you will know each one is fixed.
An independent detector reads every line; we explain the flags that matter.
Opening, thread, pacing, ending and more, before you submit.
The seven prompts
“The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?”
What you actually did, and how your thinking changed because of it.
Spending most of the essay on the hardship and one sentence on what it taught you.
Not sure which to pick? Read how to choose your prompt, or the full guide to each one in our Common App guides.
What we score
Grammar and structure refine an essay; they never rescue one that reveals nothing. So reflection, voice and character together outweigh the other four combined.
Why no rewrites
Common App asks every applicant to affirm that their essay is their own work. A tool that hands you polished sentences puts that at risk, and it makes your essay sound like everyone else's.
Instead, your report quotes your own lines, explains exactly what is holding them back, and asks the questions only you can answer. The better version comes from you, in your voice.
Your options
| Statementory | General AI chatbot | Paid human review | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scores against a fixed rubric | Yes, 7 dimensions, out of 100 | No stable scale | Depends on the reviewer |
| Comments on every sentence | Yes | Rarely | Sometimes |
| Writes sentences for you | Never | Often, if you ask | Some services do |
| Turnaround | 5–10 minutes | Instant | Days |
| Price | $9.99 per essay | Free or a subscription | Often $70+ per essay |
The calendar
The new application and prompts go live each year.
Many Early Decision and Early Action deadlines fall here.
Most Regular Decision deadlines. Check each college.
Deadlines vary by college and by plan. Always check each college's own dates.
What students say
These are real Trustpilot reviews from students who used Statementory for their UCAS personal statement, the UK version of this review. Common App reviews are new, so theirs will appear here as they come in.
“It was efficient and provided far…”
It was efficient and provided far superior advice and next steps to any other personal statement checker human or otherwise!
“This is really an incredible tool”
It has significantly boosted my confidence when writing my personal statement. At first, I was very skeptical about what I actually wanted to write. But using this really helped me be sure of what I needed to write and where my strong areas for improvement are. It pushed my personal statement from a 58 to a 90 out of 100, which I am truly happy about.
“Useful Tool”
Fantastic insight into what I needed to do next in my personal statement. Really helped after I felt like I had hit a wall in my writing and had no idea where to go next. Would recommend.
A score out of 100, a comment on every sentence and a revision plan, in 5–10 minutes. $9.99. No account.
Check my essay →Applying to UK universities too? Check your UCAS personal statement →