AMA & GIVEAWAY: Have your college-essay questions answered by a Harvard-educated professional editor

College Essays
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52

Thank you. This was quite helpful.

53

@Reee

  1. The transitions between your montage paragraphs should aim to fulfill 2 goals:

  • Provide readers with a chance to take a breath and absorb what you just described in the preceding montage paragraph and prepare for the next montage paragraph. Assuming your montage paragraphs are relatively dense with description, I would aim for your transitions to contrast with them using concise, impactful writing. Sometimes this means short sentences at the end of the preceding paragraph combined with short sentences at the beginning of the next paragraph. Other times this means a short paragraph between your montage paragraphs. Which you choose depends on how you approach the next goal.

  • Use transitions to guide your reader through your montages and to the ultimate point of your essay. In other words, transitions serve as waypoints. What is the takeaway (of the preceding paragraph)? Where are we going next (what will the next paragraph cover)? Why there (what is the overall theme or point of your essay)?

You may find it helpful to review my response to @larissa123 (above).

  1. Prompt 7 of the Common App allows you to write about any topic of your choice, so you can certainly respond to a question of your own design, but you do not have to. The Common App website also says you can share an essay that you have already written or that responds to a different prompt.

  2. I assume you mean if your essay for prompt 7 of the Common App should be centered around answering a question. I would say, not necessarily, unless it provides you with direction for your writing. After all, prompt 5 does not include a question. That being said, you should decide based on the rest of your application and essays. How will this essay fit in? What gap does it fill in your narrative about yourself based on your background, achievements, and goals?

54

For college specific essays such as “Why Georgetown” for example
should it be written in the present with the assumption of acceptance? For example, “As someone who has been juggling for 15 years, I am looking forward to being involved with the juggling team”

55

@GlamamamaB

While there is a degree of personal preference and style, yes, I would encourage you to continue writing with the assumption of acceptance. In my view, doing so demonstrates a confident tone.

For the example sentence you provided, I would edit it to read, “As a juggler of 15 years, I look forward to joining the juggling team.” Granted, I am not sure what comes before and after this sentence, so this advice may change depending on its context.

1 Like
56

Thanks!

57

Should an applicant mention legacy status in the “Why us” essay, in addition to the institutions’ specific academic offerings related to major/career choice? Both parents are alumni and have shared their great experiences at the school. This is how the student initially became interested in that school, but has since learned the school is a great fit for many other reasons.

58

@JBess12

While most schools allow you to indicate legacy status in their application, students can certainly mention legacy status as part of their essay. However, I recommend doing so as part of the initial discussion of their background and interest in the school, which later developed based on their research into the school and consideration of their individual goals and needs.

1 Like
59

How can ı studie for win a good university like Harvard?

60

Thanks everyone for the great questions and @GradeSaver_Neal for all the thoughtful responses! This AMA is now closed. We will be in touch soon to those who earned the free pdf with more examples of successful essays.