The College Essay Season Begins!
This past weekend I began working with my rising seniors on their college essays. Although it may seem strange to start in July, one of the best ways to write a great essay is to get started early!
With that in mind, one of my students and I sat down to read over and discuss a few sample essays. The first one can be found here. Take a minute to read it! The second was a more traditional essay documenting a student's trip to Africa and the great life lessons she learned while she was there.
After my student took a few minutes to read over both works, we had the following conversation:
Me: What did you think of the two essays?
Student: I thought the first one was funny and interesting, but the second one was deeper. So I think the second one is a better essay.
Me: Really? Why?
Student: Because it shows how the writer thinks. She cares about the people in Africa and she's a good thinker. She's traveled a lot, so I bet colleges will like her. I don't know much about the writer of the first one.
Me: Okay...what can you tell me about his personality?
Student: He's funny and creative. He's also pretty weird. He's really brave. There's no way I'd send in an essay like that.
Me: Why?
Student: Because the college wouldn't know what you've done.
Me: Do you think the college cares about what you've done? Do you think your experiences are unique enough for them to admit you because you've won an award or gone to a different country?
Student: *blink*
Me: High school experiences are kind of universal. Everybody has won something important, gone somewhere interesting, or met someone special. That stuff doesn't matter.
Student: So even though he just made all that stuff up, he told the college all about who he was?
Me: Yup. He's a creative, dynamic, intelligent student. Although both essays are really strong, his will definitely stand out in the crowd. Trips to Africa are commonplace. Good writing isn't.
Student: My mind is blown.
Most essays that college admissions officers read are incredibly boring explanations of some accomplishment that the student thinks will impress the school. Schools want just the opposite! They want to know who you are and what you care about. They want to hear your voice ring through and feel confident knowing that your will add something new to the student body.
Anything you write that reeks of "college essay" is probably dull, uninteresting, and repetitive. They've read it before. If you want to stand out, write something worth reading. Then they remember you!