College Essay Writing 101

A word of advice to parents weighing in on your child’s college essay:
If your advice is to suggest your child stuffs their essay with ALL of their accomplishments, it will take from the essay rather than add to it. Don’t give into the temptation! The student’s resume will have all of that info, or they can work it into the supplemental questions/short essays.

“Stuffing” the essay takes from the story and narrative (which should be the focus!). It is far more effective to make sure the essay reads like an interesting, creative, engaging and on point story (keep the prompt at the top of the working copy of the essay and regularly look back to make sure the essay fits the prompt).

Need some help? Reach out!

NOW is the perfect time to start thinking about and choosing an essay topic!
I met with a student last week who was convinced she had ‘absolutely nothing’ about her of her life that could be spun into her Common App essay.
Using gentle interviewing skills I honed as a journalist, I asked the questions that helped her uncover what it is about her life that is SO unique, resulting in her perfect essay topic.

After just 90 minutes, she had her idea and is now well into a draft of her essay, months before the due date and before the stress of application season officially arrives.

If your student is struggling to come up with a topic, book a session today!

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I’m starting to get questions about the right time to start thinking about college essays and if you think it’s too early, I promise it’s not!

Now is the time to start talking about topics.

Are you working at a job that is something new, something challenging? If so, take notes

Did you face a personal challenge recently or are you going through something difficult? If so, take notes.

Is there something going on in the world that’s inspiring , or making you rethink a career choice? If so, take notes.

Taking a minute now to jot down some feelings, impressions, creative descriptions, whatever it is that will help you remember those details, they will help immeasurably when you sit down to write your essay. What you think you will remember will be that much easier if you have a cheat sheet.

3 years ago, during that little life-glitch called lockdown, all video production was completely shut down. Like so many others, I did a pivot. It started innocently enough, helping my own daughter with her college essays.
Soon enough, her friends started asking for help. When it went beyond friends, and others were reaching out for help, it was clear my journalism and copywriting skills could be put to another use, one that I found so fulfilling that I decided to keep it going.

I’m limited in how many students I can work with each season, but that feeling of fulfillment is present each and every time I see a student light up when their final essay sounds and feels exactly the way they intended.

If you’ve been a student client, thank you!! And congrats to you because your appreciation, satisfaction (and acceptances! Holy cow are they impressive!) and referrals speak volumes.

2 lessons here…..

1. Find what you love, what brings you joy, and know that those skills do not have to be limited to any one career. Diversification is fun!

2. Essay writing is a process…it takes time and patience, and each student begins at a different starting point.
The end result should be honest; possess a clear theme; be engaging (a bored application reader is NOT ok); and maybe the most important: The essay should not be a recitation of achievements found elsewhere within the application. Avoid the temptation! This is the time to tell them something they won’t already know about you.