Let’s face it: the college admissions process is broken. Admission to elite colleges, frankly, is a crapshoot, no matter your student’s scores, GPA or extracurriculars.
It’s the essay that can set your student apart.
Imagine being a college admissions officer. You’d have to read hundreds, if not thousands, of essays from hopeful students. That could make anyone’s eyes glaze over. But imagine what happens when one student stands out, writes something unexpected and differentiates herself from her peers.
How can I help? I’m a writer by profession, but I’m also a mom of three kids – two in college. I’ve been knee-deep in the college admissions process and I know the angst. I also know teenagers and how to help them reach deep inside to share their experiences in a meaningful way. So from me, you get experience, careful attention and the practiced eye of a professional writer whose work has been recognized with both local and national journalism awards.
What’s my philosophy? Here’s a real life example to illustrate.
A friend of the family, a talented musician who has played with prestigious orchestras across the state and beyond, faced an injury and was told her high-level instrumental career was over. She’d never be competitive again. Her fingers just couldn’t do the job anymore. But after physical therapy, training and gusto, she staged a comeback. She overcame her challenge.
It’s an inspirational story and the essay was well-written, but it wasn’t quite right.
Why? Lots of students have faced injuries only to come back and succeed. Call me jaded, but how many injury comeback essays do you think the average admissions officer reads? I’d bet a lot.
Instead, I would have advised this student to find a less common story to share – something an admissions officer won’t see on her college resume.
Take my son’s Common App essay as an example. The first sentence? “I never meant for my principal to hate me.”
That’s an opening line that draws in the reader. He then told the story of how he got in trouble after planning an off-campus welcome picnic for incoming freshmen at his high school. After the successful summer event, which was filled with team-building games and pizza – not drugs or alcohol – the principal told the planners they were facing a punishment. How my son handled this challenge – standing up for what he believed was right and unafraid to show controversy to an admissions officer – displayed his character and his leadership abilities.
It told a story that wasn’t on his resume and it set him apart from his peers.
What can I offer? Common sense help. I don’t believe in ghostwriting essays for students, but I do believe in offering guidance, inspiration and a little bit of editing.
I believe in storytelling. I believe in motivating students to find their own way. I believe in taking risks. If you play it safe, you’re going to be part of the pack, not a standout.
What I will do:
- Guide the student throughout the process.
- We’ll start with a brainstorming video meeting (FaceTime, Skype, etc.) or a telephone call so I can get to know the student’s background, personality and accomplishments.
- I’ll review the student’s resume, test scores and activities.
- We’ll discuss the student’s experiences so we can select the best prompt/essay topic. I believe an essay should offer something the reader won’t see on other parts of the application.
- Together, we’ll explore how to tell a story and how to be conversational (something they’re not taught in school).
- We’ll come up with a game plan, and I’ll give the student goals/assignments and set firm deadlines to avoid last-minute panic.
- The student will write the first draft. I will help to find the right opening line, set the tone, smooth transitions between paragraphs and copy edit for grammar, consistency and word count. The service includes two rounds of editing/feedback via Google Docs and a final read to make sure the essay is error-free.
- In the end, the student will have a completed essay ready for submission.
What I won’t do:
- I will not write your student’s essay for him or her. Admissions officers can tell when a student’s voice is not consistent and when someone other than the student did the writing. I want to bring out the best in the student with a singular, engaging voice.
- I’m not promising a magic formula to guarantee admission to any college. I can only guarantee an awesome essay that will help the student rise above other applicants who have similar test scores, GPAs and extracurriculars.
