<p>For folks applying this year, would you mind posting details about what essays are required for the schools you are applying to? I am compiling a list of what we are going to have to do for our apps next year; my D is a junior planning to apply to 15 schools for a BFA in Acting.
Some of the schools we plan to apply to have their essays posted and some essays are only accessible once you start to fill out an application. Some are on the common app and some aren't showing up on the common app. The only way to see all the essay questions is to be a senior applying this year.
I thought it might be helpful to many families with juniors to have a list from this year of the required essays and suggested lengths. Then the kids can get started on their essays earlier in the summer. Even if a couple of the essays change next year, they are still likely to be able to use an essay for another school. Or even if they only get a couple essays done before the August release, it is still helpful to get a little ahead!
Or maybe this is a silly idea... I don't know! Just trying to be organized for what seems to be a marathon task. My older son applied to 6 schools for chem engineering and that was a lot of work! Can't imagine what 15 is going to be like. I've started a binder! Thanks all</p>
<p>I know that feeling, of being aware of the marathon coming up and hoping to get ahead of it! But I think it would be a mistake to get ahead of the essays. The main common app essay can always be “topic of your choice”, so your D can definitely get that done ahead. And others change year to year. And kids mature so much as writers that you probably wouldn’t want to start too early.</p>
<p>My D has composed a pretty good essay that fits under “topic of your choice.” In it she talks about being in her sister’s shadow always and needing to find her place, which ended up being theatre. She has used that one, in some form or another, for just about every essay. She has various versions of it shared: long, short, by word count, etc. Then, we just go in and edit as required.</p>
<p>The only other specific essay topic we’ve seen is telling why you want to attend that particular college. Again, she put together a basic essay and then plugs in the necessary info for that school. </p>
<p>We learned with my older D just to have a good essay or two and then adjust to fit the specifics.</p>
<p>Yup, one good Common App essay, subject of your choice. She decided even though some schools only saw that, she wouldn’t write so much about theatre. She did reference her personality and how she thinks, her creativity in particular. She knew that the theatre programs were more going to look at her audition, and many of them had “why this school” or “why theatre” essays, and that’s where she put the theatre stuff. Several BA schools had very particular essay topics that she had to take as they came.</p>
<p>So I’d say that focusing on the Common App essay (which usually works for schools that don’t use CA but have a general essay), and writing something as a draft for the “why theatre” essays that might come up, is enough to start, and maybe completely. My D had a basic version of this, which she adapted for “why this school,” since usually her point was that their theatre program suited her needs, and she could contribute positively theatre-wise, etc. She cut and pasted that quite a bit.</p>
<p>
One thing to work on while you are waiting is to rid your vocabulary that pesky first person plural. Even though college applications are often very much a joint effort between students and parents, its really not looked well upon by colleges or the world in general to come across as an over-involved parent. “We” is a giant red flag. You may be helping your student through the process, but he is the one applying. It will take some mental concentration-- like when an old friend tells you that they are no longer to be called “Maggie” but rather “Margaret.” You can do it-- we, I mean, I did.</p>
<p>On a different note, the “why this college” essays can be tricky. It’s pretty transparent when you have no reason to apply to a school other than its reputation.That makes you seem like a shallow applicant, which, of course you may well be, but given the system and the need to apply to so many schools, there’s no shame in a few shallow applications. </p>
<p>My daughter just sort of gave up on “Why Vassar” since she had no clear reason other than a lot of people had told her she would probably like it there. We’d (“she’d”) never had time to visit. If we had, she’d have had something solid to say. By contrast, she was able to write vivid, detailed responses for the “Why this College” essays when she had actually visited the campuses (even if these were not her first choice colleges.)</p>
<p>So-- in preparation for the dread “Why this College” question-- visit a few of them, if you can. (I think these questions only really matter for liberal arts colleges with non-auditioned programs. For auditioned programs, it’s the mostly audition that gets you in.</p>
<p>At The Hartt School, they also ask you to write an essay to incorporates two Qs - what life experience directed you to the arts, and how can Hartt help you further your career? I think that’s kind of a tougher set of Qs than “why this school”. You need to know about the program, etc. I know it is a way for them to see who really has researched the school, visited, etc.</p>
<p>But every school is different - and more confusing! Purchase, for example, has you do the SUNY application if you want the BFA in acting, but you can use the comm. app. for the BA in theatre(?). And if you do the SUNY app., you don’t have to do the Purchase supplement but you do need to write an essay (on something meaningful to you) and email that to them separately, then bring a copy of the essay to your audition along with photo/resume.</p>
<p>I need more Dunkin’ Donuts coffee . . . .</p>
<p>At glass harmonica. I disagree. I think families do apply to schools, and then students attend. I see nothing wrong with parents trying to help their child make an important decision like choosing a college. And since finances are a major part of college, families must be a part of the application process. My oldest son just started as a freshman this year, and throughout the application and acceptance process parents were clearly expected and welcomed. There were special sessions for us, etc.
As far as my D goes, we are a team. We have been working together for several years to find good training and performance opportunities. We will continue to work together to find the right school. She of course will solely handle writing her essays, reading plays, choosing and rehearsing her monologue and auditioning. (She actually won’t want help with any of this part!) I will keep track of the paperwork and travel. I am glad that we are able to work together and that she appreciates my help and respects my input. I know from friends that many families find the college application process to be a battleground. While I appreciate your input, I feel fairly certain I will continue to view this process as a team, as part of a “we.” In fact as long as she asks for my opinion and input I will gladly share it with her!</p>
<p>dramamaom0804, I don’t think you read my post very carefully. I don’t disagree that you are a team. Good luck with your journey.</p>