The 7x7x7 Method: Jumpstarting Your Personal Statement with Substance

Every spring, summer, and fall, the same scene unfolds: a blinking cursor, a blank document, and a student staring at the Common App essay prompts like they’re riddles with a single right answer.

Here’s the truth: writing a personal statement isn’t about cracking a code. It’s about trying things out. About getting out of your head—and onto the page—before your inner critic shows up.

That’s why I encourage students to use the Jackpot Essay Activity, a writing warm-up designed to unlock the unexpected stories that make students come alive on the page.

A Screenwriting Technique, Repurposed for College Essays

The Jackpot approach borrows a technique from screenwriters known as “writing into the story.” Instead of overplanning or obsessing over structure, writers experiment—quickly, freely, and without self-judgment.

Here’s how it works:

7 x 7 x 7

• 7 prompts (the Common App options)

• 7 minutes per prompt

• 7 sentences or lines per response

That’s it.

You don’t need a polished essay. You just need starts. You might reflect on a moment that felt awkward or ordinary, or write a scene you’ve never shared with anyone. It might be silly. It might be intense. It might surprise you.

That’s the point.

You Don't Have to Know the “Big Idea” Yet

The Jackpot Activity isn’t about choosing the perfect story upfront. It’s about shaking loose ideas from unexpected corners of your memory. Some prompts may feel like a total miss—that’s okay. Others might give you an emotional jolt or a flash of insight. That’s your cue.

Once you’ve written your way through as many as you can (even 3–5 is a win), we talk. I read what you’ve written—not to grade it, but to listen for what you might not yet hear in your own voice.

And here’s the magic: often, two “half-stories” you wrote for different prompts actually belong together. A childhood memory about building furniture with your grandfather might echo a recent realization about perfectionism in school. On the surface, they seem unrelated. But there's often a deeper thread—one that we’ll uncover together.

Why Small Moments Can Lead to Big Impact

Many students assume they need to write about something extraordinary—winning a championship, surviving a crisis, launching a nonprofit. But that pressure often leads to writing that feels inflated or disconnected from who they really are.

I encourage students to consider the small moments. The ones tucked inside routines, habits, quiet realizations, or passing interactions that shaped how they see themselves or the world. The most remarkable stories often live in the seemingly unremarkable moments—packing lunch with a grandparent, staying late to help a classmate, or noticing the way your mindset shifts over time.

An over-the-top achievement can be a fluke. But steady behaviors, quiet growth, and recurring patterns? That’s you. And that’s what colleges are hoping to understand.

The Drafting Process: Why It Takes Time

A strong personal statement isn’t written in one sitting—it’s developed over time. At Catapult, I guide students through a 3–5 week process that allows for brainstorming, voice development, layering, and refinement. Rushing toward the finish line too early often leads to essays that are safe, surface-level, or overly packaged.

By giving the personal statement the time it deserves, students not only gain confidence—they also create space to tackle supplemental essays, which are released in early August inside the Common Application’s "My Colleges" tab. Some are easy to find. Others are tucked away within sections like "Activities" or "Program-Specific Questions."

That’s why we aim to finish a personal statement by early August—so students can pivot to the dozens of smaller, but still impactful, responses that will round out their application.

What Makes a Personal Statement Compelling?

A good essay shares a story.

A great essay reveals how the student sees the world.

That means going beyond a simple analogy or theme. My goal is to help students add layers, texture, and personality to their writing. I encourage them to slow down and zoom in: describe the crack in the wall of your dance studio, the smell of the Tupperware your grandfather packed lunch in, the way you stood up to a micro-aggression.

We’re not just telling admissions officers what happened. We’re inviting them to experience how it felt—to understand what it meant, and what it changed.

Ready to Hit the Jackpot?

So if you're feeling stuck, don’t wait for inspiration. Write your way toward it. Give the 7x7x7 method a try and see what emerges. Start messy. Stay curious. And remember—you’re not in this alone.

At Catapult, we don’t just edit essays. We help students discover the stories that only they can tell.