Wondering what college admission officers like to see in your essays? Hint: They are tired of reading about “Catcher in the Rye” … https://www.collegeconfidential.com/articles/application-essay-tips-college-admission-officers/
I’ve worked with dozens of students over the last few years on their essays. The memorable essays are few, but I still think about them. One girl wrote about how she loves her religion and traveled to Eastern Europe to take part in a youth conference. It was memorable because it was sincere, and her opening sentence was beautiful. One boy wrote about his trip in a very rural part of a Western state to work on a research project. That essay was memorable because there was so much vivid detail that was truly fascinating. Another boy wrote an essay on how he developed his love for robotics, and he began the essay with an anecdote of being afraid of mannequins at the mall. He tied it all together by talking about his interest in robotics that assist humans.
The single best essay I have ever read, by any student anywhere, was by a girl who wrote about being approached by a drug dealer while she waited for a train in the city. It was gritty, raw, and compelling. She was taking a risk, and she knew it, but she never wavered, and applied ED to an Ivy League school. She didn’t get in, but she had plenty of good choices.
The thing linking all of those essays was that each student was (I hesitate to use this word) passionate about the topic. I have helped a ton of kids with okay essays that could have easily been much, much worse. My students LOVE their okay essays, because I always encourage them to write about something they really care about. I also never expect anyone to write better than they are capable of writing.
I would say, in general, most kids are average writers, but even an average writer can tell a story that will keep the AO awake. If your essay does that, you’ve won half the battle. The other half of the battle is writing an essay that will make the AO say “Yes, I like this student. Admit.” That’s best achieved by writing about something that sheds light on positive aspects of your personality.
Thanks @CCEdit_Torrey for posting that link. Excellent advice. Liked reading that mundane topics can make for great essays, because the topic of my D’s essay is quite mundane.
And the lovely @Lindagaf has good advice as usual.
The link has some great thinking points. Just please remember to make it relevant and relatively recent. How you got over stage fright in 3rd grade won’t show much they can hang on to. And, “Show, not just tell.” Don’t make them take you at your word that you grew, changed or are now more compassionate.
This is really helpful, allow me to send it to my cousin who’s currently preparing for some college admission test as she take’s a premed course.