Maximize Your Common Application: The Challenges & Circumstances Section

Knowing how to navigate each section of the Common Application means putting together your strongest application for admission!

In August 2025, the Common Application will launch for the new application season and students will find revised language in the newly named, 250-word-limited “Challenges and Circumstances” section. 

What should you consider including in the Challenges and Circumstances section?

In short, any important, personal information about the factors that may have impacted your academic scheduling, grades, or your ability to fully participate in extracurricular activities.

Here’s the exact language you will find in the Challenges and Circumstances prompt.

---

Sometimes a student’s application and achievements may be impacted by challenges or other circumstances. This could involve:

• Access to a safe and quiet study space

• Access to reliable technology and internet

• Community disruption (violence, protests, teacher strikes, etc.)

• Discrimination

• Family disruptions (divorce, incarceration, job loss, health, loss of a family member, addiction, etc.)

• Family or other obligations (care-taking, financial support, etc.)

• Housing instability, displacement, or homelessness

• Military deployment or activation

• Natural disasters

• Physical health and mental well-being

• War, conflict, or other hardships

If you’re comfortable sharing, this information can help colleges better understand the context of your application. Colleges may use this information to provide you and your fellow students with support and resources.

Would you like to share any details about challenges or other circumstances you’ve experienced?* (   ) Yes (   ) No

Please describe the challenges or circumstances and how they have impacted you.

---

As you read through the prompt, you can immediately recognize the impact that any one of these potential challenges would have on a young person. You can also immediately appreciate the vulnerability needed to share more information about these circumstances. 

Here are some tips for tackling these difficult topics. 

1. Know that you don’t have to share something that you are not ready to share. 

If a topic feels too personal or you simply don’t want to include certain details about your life in your university application, that’s ok. Only you can determine what feels right for you. 

2. Try to be concise and stick to the facts. 

When dealing with highly personal and potentially vulnerable topics, sticking to the facts can make the process of sharing easier. Finally, a "facts only" approach will help you communicate the most important details about the circumstances in the very limited 250-words available in this section. 

3. Focus on the challenge or circumstance’s impact on you. 

What’s important to communicate is the impact of the challenge or circumstance on your academic success, access to resources, and/or your extracurricular engagement. Like in #2 above, stick to the facts here. This will help you target the most important information and successfully share its impact in the limited space available. 

Want more help navigating your college application process?