Essays

Essays

Students, accustomed to writing for rubrics and teachers’ preferences, often ask what the colleges are seeking. The colleges want to know who each student is as a person beyond the grades, course rigor, test scores, and activities listed on the application. Students have limited avenues to bring their personalities to life: recommendations (which are not submitted by students), interviews (which are not offered by all universities), and essays.

College essay writing is unfamiliar to most students, even confident writers. Without guidance from the beginning of the brainstorming process, students can encounter pitfalls such as selecting uncompelling or trite topics, neglecting to consider the essay in the greater context of an entire application package, trying to anticipate the college’s “expectations,” being overly ambitious by putting too many ideas in a single essay, and/or “telling” rather than “showing.”

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As objective third parties with expertise in college essays, we assist students in brainstorming interesting topics and crafting original, thoughtful essays to fit each prompt. Ideally, an essay will make the student “come alive” in the mind of the admissions officer reading it, make a lasting impression, and stand out in a sea of essays. Strong essays are authentic, written in a student’s own voice, and convey students’ distinctive qualities and how they will add value on campus. The key to crafting compelling essays is allowing each student’s personality to shine through! ​Parents can provide valuable input in the brainstorming process while being mindful of the fact that their children are the ones in the driver’s seat. Admissions officers frequently say they can easily spot the difference between an essay written by a high school senior and one written by a middle-aged adult. We ask that parents trust that we will use our experience and expertise to guide their students in selecting appropriate essay topics and sharing their own stories in a compelling way. Parents may be surprised by essay topics that may seem whimsical and/or overly personal, but we are careful to guide students in selecting topics that are appropriate for the specific essay prompt as well as the application package as a whole.

Some of the most effective essays can be about seemingly “ordinary” topics such as eating ice cream or taking a shower. Parents should also keep in mind that their students’ essays are not a referendum on their family or parenting and they need not be overly concerned about how their family/parenting is portrayed in the eyes of admissions officers. Nevertheless, if there are any topics that are “off limits,” we ask parents to let us know at the beginning of the brainstorming process.

To ensure the authenticity of students’ essays and the integrity of the writing process, we do not collaborate with family members in the essay-writing process. Multiple eyes and editors dilute the student’s original voice and perspective. Involvement of anyone other than the student and consultant tends to be a hindrance, leading to unnecessary back-and-forth, a less effective essay, and, ultimately, additional expense. We are hands-on so parents do not have to be. Although parents should take a backseat regarding their student’s essays, we will always be available to address questions or concerns.

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