WHY COLLEGE ESSAY COACHING?
An original, well-written personal essay is a key component
for admission into the country's top colleges and universities.
THE PERSONAL STATEMENT & SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS ARE NOT THE TYPICAL
kind of writing assignment that most students are used to working on for school. The goals of application essays are quite different. Most school essays or papers are evaluated primarily on organization (usually an assigned form and structure) and content that demonstrates analytical mastery of a particular topic and the English language. While these elements can benefit a college application essay, a formal essay approach can sometimes suck the life out of a piece and defeat the primary objective of the college essay––which is: to establish a personal connection with the reader and allow them to really get to know (and ideally love) an applicant.
There is no formula to writing the best college application essay. Success comes in many forms, and the strongest essays are no different. Most importantly, the essays are opportunities for students to give the application readers some new information about their lives––stuff that isn’t going to be found in teacher recommendations, transcripts and SAT scores. The most effective essays deepen what the admissions office knows about a student as an individual. They aim to share, rather than impress. These essays make a difference when they provide readers with insight into a student on a human level––a glimpse into the experiences and motivations that shine light on the student as a person. They should also give an indication about what a student will bring to campus.
Admissions officers read 20-40 essays a day––strong essays stand out for several reasons:(1) Engaging, colorful, vivid writing that has a distinctive voice and allows the reader to feel a connection to the applicant. (2) A topic that contextualizes the student and sheds light on something integral to their identity (doesn’t have to be a happy subject). (3) A clear sense of what the applicant will bring to campus and how they will fit in at the college.
For a high school senior, planning and executing an essay that does all of this can be a big challenge––especially writing something deeply personal for unknown readers. Most students struggle to approach this kind of writing––even without the added pressure of college admission at stake. Showing essays to an English teacher or College Counselor/Guidance Counselor at school is always a good idea, but often, these educators work with many students and may not be able to give each student or essay the attention needed. Parents, though well intentioned, often make the process worse by unintentionally increasing the pressure. Even great writers are not always great teachers––plus, those who read thousands of essays written by teenagers can pretty quickly determine when adult help was too heavy-handed (I have had Pulitzer Prize winning writers ruin college application essays). We believe that the key to effective essay guidance is a coach with both teaching and writing expertise and vast experience with college application essays specifically. Ultimately, this background and experience is our greatest strength in helping students with this element of the application.