Trusted College Admission Counseling

Trusted College Admission Counseling One of the best opportunities that you have to introduce yourself to admissions counselors is through your college essays. Be warned that some college essays demand more creativity than others. Of course, your college application essay is just one part of your admissions package, along with your GPA, your class rank, and your extracurriculars. Every college weighs these factors differently. The best way to move forward is to see a college essay as a conversation. If they could, colleges would welcome you to campus and ask you questions for hoursâ€"but if they did that, no one would be admitted to college until they were 43. To accelerate the process, they want you to talk on paper; let them get to know you by giving them a guided tour of your heart, your brain, and your life. If you succeed, they will look up from reading your essay, and be surprised you aren’t in the room; indeed, they will swear the chair next to them is warm from your having sat in it since Tuesday. It was so descriptive and evocative of feeling, values and youthful enthusiasm that to this day I remember it. It doesn't matter if you are pro-life or pro-choice, a Democrat or an Independent, the important thing is to have passion about something and present that in a way that doesn't negate the other side. Be passionate about your major subject or your career choice. Show intellectual curiosity and the desire to learn and grow in that field. Mention particular faculty at that University you might like to study with. Think about your best personal trait, your interests, values and goals. Focus on one of these qualities and make it the theme of your essay. Like everyone else impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, high school juniors are quarantined with a lot of time on their hands. Many have decided to use the extra time to get a head start on college essays â€" after all, applications are due this fall, when they're hoping to be back in high school. Consider the cultural identity of your prospective school as you formulate your topic. Some may embrace a tradition of creative thinking. In some instances, you can actually see this cultural identity reflected in an essay prompt. Word limits vary widely on supplemental essays, so Rachel may have to expand or contract an essay when tweaking it for different colleges. While students should never go over a word limit, they can be well under it if the essay is cogent and well written. This is no time to write in generalities or in a broad sweeping style. Instead, use descriptions and adjectives galore. Tell a story that comes visually alive as well as intellectually alive. I know that this is not a creative writing assignment, but in March after an admissions officer has read thousands of essays, the one that stands out is the one that leaves you with a sense of place and time. Once at an essay writing seminar, I heard an essay from Stanford that told the story of a bowling trophy and what it meant to this person at a young age. For example, your best trait might be determination, creativity, or compassion. Tell a story that makes that trait clear to the reader. Provide evidence by citing specific instances from your life. In fact, most admissions officers prefer a shorter, tightly constructed essay over one that’s longer but rambling. It can take some convincing for many kids and parents to believe that when it comes to writing the essays, in particular, college admissions officers care about who students are. The essays should reveal their personalities, passions, dreams, weird talents, favorite foods, sickest playlists, inexplicable loves and undeniable quirks. When writing your college essay, avoid creating a list of your activities and accomplishments. Tell the reader something about yourself that isn’t evident in the rest of your application.