Undergraduate / Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea - The Common App Essay [3]

Begin by examining the question: what is the purpose of the question, what specific skill is
the question trying to address? Then, pick an experience that you could describe to address
the question at hand. In your mind, recollect specifics of your experience. Structure your
answer and narrate your experience using the four steps in the 'STAR' technique.

1. 'S' for Situation : Commence your answer with the background to your experience.
Detail the circumstances of your involvement. Provide sufficient detail to develop a
context to the rest of your narration.
2. 'T' for Task: Describe the challenge at hand: what needed to be done, what should
have been done. Detail the outcome that was expected, constraints or conditions that
needed to be satisfied.
3. 'A' for Action: Elaborate your specific action in response to the challenge. Specify
analytical work, team effort or project coordination. Use 'I' and 'we' statements as
appropriate [more details here.]
4. 'R' for Results: Explain the results of your efforts: what did you accomplish, what
did you learn, how did your managers and team respond, how did your organization
recognize you. Wherever possible, quantify your achievements and improvements -
e. g., "20% improvement in ..." or "reduced manufacturing costs by 1.5 million dollars
per year ... ."