The College Essay: How To Navigate The Senior Year With Your Almost Adult!

School is getting ready to start!  You have a senior and this year comes with much anticipation and honestly, a little fear.  You’re concerned about what’s next! Of course, you are!

As the parent of two adult daughters, I understand the often conflicted feelings that parents go through in this season.  Suddenly, you’re wondering if you really taught them everything?  How will they survive next year?  I remember dragging our oldest into the laundry room and asking her to remind me how to separate clothes and what temperature to wash them.  And, I probably did it on prom night!  Panic does begin to set in.

If this is your first to head to college, the process is far different from what you and I went through. Maybe the Common Application wasn’t even in place then?  Or, perhaps it’s your last to go through the process and you are already exhausted by giving advice that often goes unheeded and ignored.

Please let me step into the mix for you.  I’ve worked in college admissions at an independent school and understand the nuances of this process.  As a college advisor, I’ve attended numerous workshops, met with admissions directors, and worked with colleagues to help students find colleges that are good fits.

This process can be daunting!  The college essay is the first BIG step!  It’s one of the hardest essays to write even for those students who enjoy writing. Colleges do not want to hear about a state championship or a mission trip.  They want to know who your child is.  They are applying to college, so admissions personnel already know they are smart.  Now, they want to know who will they be admitting?  Is this one more smart student who will be sitting in their dorm room playing Call of Duty?  Is it someone who just wants to party and doesn’t seem to care for others?

How does your child write an essay that conveys his depth of compassion and his desire to be a part of the bigger picture? How will your daughter let the admissions committee know that her essay about working with special education students isn’t mere words but is already a reality in her life?

I worked with a student who was struggling with his essay.  He couldn’t find a focus and honestly, his essay was boring.  As I asked powerful questions while talking with him, I noticed his very interesting tennis shoes.  I discovered he had an artistic flair and had started a small business on the internet customizing others’ tennis shoes.  We worked with that creative flair and he developed an essay that really portrayed his artistic, entrepreneurial, and out-of-the-box thinking.

Almost every family I have worked with thought they had the essay under control. Mom was an English major or Aunt Susie used to be a college English professor. But, times have changed. I, too, used to be an English teacher, so I bring that expertise to the table, but after being in this profession for years, I can say that this essay needs guidance from someone who has read thousands of essays and helped hundreds of students in the process.

Often, the essay is the “make or break” piece in the process.  So many students have great GPAs and high test scores!  The essay helps to set your child apart from the thousands of applicants.

I’d love to work with your child to write an essay that conveys him or her in a unique way that highlights those characterizes that make him or her so special. We’ll create a piece that not only stands out but also resonates with admissions officers, helping your child tell their story in a way that feels authentic and impactful. And mom and dad, you get to relax and let a professional handle this next step! That way, your family can focus on the excitement of what’s ahead. Contact me today to learn more about how I can support your child in crafting an essay that opens doors to their future!