<p><<a knockout=“” application=“” can=“” mean=“” tens=“” of=“” thousands=“” dollars=“” in=“” merit=“” aid=“” -=“” course=“” people=“” will=“” game=“” the=“” system!.=“”>></a></p><a knockout=“” application=“” can=“” mean=“” tens=“” of=“” thousands=“” dollars=“” in=“” merit=“” aid=“” -=“” course=“” people=“” will=“” game=“” the=“” system!.=“”>
<p>Why not just hire a professional writer, then?</p>
<p>It’s justified, to get the merit aid.</p>
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<p>I’d like to respond to at least a few of the themes and posts above. It was amazing to me to put out the OP and a brief response and then go to dinner with my wife, then come home to see about a gazillion responses.</p>
<p>Putting it all together it seems like the consensus of the wise members of cc is that it is fine to get some help in writing the essays. Apparently lots of people are doing it above ground and it is even sanctioned by the adcoms. And, as noted above, authors do it all the time and then thank all their helpers at the beginning of the book.</p>
<p>Maybe what the adcoms are saying is that this is not a writing test; it’s an opportunity to hear your voice. And one thing they are certainly looking for is motivation, so maybe for them it’s a good thing if you pull out all the stops in preparing the essay. If you’re very motivated to get in, you’ll be very motivated to succeed once you are in.</p>
<p>Sounds like after that point everyone is on his/her own. How much help? What type? etc.?</p>
<p>One final point. In our family one of the ways that we stay in touch with the kids is to discuss their school assignments. We encourage debate, hear what they’re capable of, maybe even get in a quick bit of educating while we’re at it. But it’s fun in any event. So I’d hate to think that we’d be cut off from any discussion of these essays until it’s over. It may work in some families, but it would be very sad to be so disconnected next semester.</p>
<p>OK, one final, FINAL point. We just saw the movie “Every Little Step.” Great film if you like documentaries. I naively thought that Michael Bennett just sat down at his typewriter one day and it just came pouring out. Not quite. He had more collaborators than the Manhattan Project, from the beginning (focus groups) to the end (changes made in response to suggestions after friends and colleagues saw it live).</p>
<p>I didn’t show my parents my essay, but that was just because I don’t feel comfortable having them read any of my work ever. It had nothing to do with feeling like I was cheating.</p>
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<p>While I agree that it is wrong for someone to get too much help, I doubt that the student would be unable to succeed. In most cases the essay only helps choose the best applicants from a much larger group that is qualified.</p>
<p>ThisCouldBeHeavn</p>
<p>Congrats on your 1000th post.</p>
<p>My D let me look over her essays. Several colleges we visited said that they as college X occasioinally received essays that concluded “and that is why I really want to go to college Y.” This was my job; to make sure any essay on why I want to go to college X did not say “and that is why I really want to go to college Y.” I was happy to help and I think I did a great job. 
Actually none of her apps had a problem with this. But if there were a problem, I think I would have caught it.</p>
<p>H & I don’t help with essays or proof read etc. Their friends and/or siblings do that! </p>
<p>Besides it should be the voice of a 17-18 year old student in this essay. I am sure that an experienced admissions person can probably tell if a Baby Boomer parent wrote it.</p>
<p>I helped a co-worker’s kid, who was having trouble getting started, with his essays using the same focus-the-thinking method that I used for my own daughters. He correctly wanted the essay to be his own work. But so much so that every time I suggested some point to consider, that was immediately disqualified from further use because it had come from me instead of him. I finally said “Look, there is no point in me helping with this if any help I give is, by definition, off limits. I’m not going to write this essay. You are going to do that. I’m just suggesting things for you to think about. It’s going to be up to you to generate a meaningful essay.” </p>
<p>He thought about it and continued with the session. I never did see the final essays, but the drafts I saw were definitely his voice and not mine.</p>
<p>Parental help = reading over for grammar or spelling mistakes.</p>
<p>We heard the same message that vicariousparent reported above. The admissions counselors from 2 selective colleges advised in public sessions to “make sure you have an English teacher or parent proofread your essay” and “make sure you are really telling your story so we can understand who you are–so get a favorite teacher or other adult to read it and give you feedback before you submit it.” They also warn against cliche essays–but how is a 17 year old supposed to know what those overused sorts of essays might be without some kind of adult advice? </p>
<p>It’s been mentioned here that some large public schools have kids do their essays as classwork and some top prep schools have “panels” or GCs to review essays. I suggest that these schools are certainly not in the habit of doing anything unethical. Far from it. They understand that colleges do not frown on editorial and proofreading help. In fact, many highly selective schools talk about reading the personal essay as a way to gain insight into the student–their passions, challenges, character. From what adcoms themselves say, the college essay isn’t a grammar test, and getting proofing help isn’t “cheating”. Colleges can look at four years of English grades, SAT scores, and even the SAT essay score to judge the student’s technical writing prowess. </p>
<p>Not all kids are natural storytellers and have little exposure to this sort of writing in their academic subjects. But even good writers may not have the maturity or depth of self-knowledge at age 17 to realize which of their special traits will best reveal themselves to a dozen or so adult strangers who are professional readers, and who are used to reading thousands of essays. </p>
<p>That’s my 2 cents. In all other matters, I seem to agree with Curmudgeon and xiggi.</p>
<p>I’m curious, regarding the parents who read their kid’s essays - what do you do if your child decides to write about aspects of their experience that you might not be “chill” about - such as sexual orientation - or politics -</p>
<p>On the one hand, the kid might not write about more “edgy” topics, knowing their parent was going to read it. Would choose the “safe” topic. On the other hand…</p>
<p>I’d advise them that it’s their essay but that they should realize that they risk alienating the reader if they get too opinionated. Their call, but be sure that they know the risks.</p>
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<p>I guess it would depend on whether I thought it would hurt or help their application. If I thought it would help at a particular school and hurt at another, that’s what I’d say. You?</p>
<p>edit: I mean if she was gay and applying at Bob Jones or Grove City I’d probably say it was not a great idea.
But that’s me. I’m a “gamer”. ;)</p>
<p>From post #68: "I think colleges should provide more specific guidance about what they want. They should have a FAQ section on their admissions websites where they go into details about what level of help is okay and what is not. And I’m not talking about bland statements like it should be in “the student’s own voice”. "</p>
<p>Here’s what a couple of colleges have to say about help with essay, taken right from their own admissions sites:</p>
<p>Stanford: “In reading all of your writing, we want to hear your individual voice. Write essays that reflect who you are; use specific concrete details and write in a natural style. Begin work on these essays early, and feel free to ask your parents, teachers, and friends to provide constructive feedback. When you ask for feedback on an essay draft, ask if the essay’s tone sounds like your voiceit should. If your parents, teachers, and friends do not believe your essay captures who you are or what you believe, surely we will be unable to recognize what is most distinctive about you. While securing feedback is suggested, you should not enlist hired assistance in the writing of your essays.”</p>
<p>Princeton: We ask applicants to write two essays as part of the application. This is your opportunity to display your best writing as well as your ability to convey ideas in your own voice.</p>
<p>While you may want to have a parent, guidance counselor or teacher proofread your essays, it is extremely important that the essays be your own work.</p>
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That would be a great way to start a family discussion. I’m sure we’d have some fun.</p>
<p>^Curmudgeon, why would a self-aware lesbian even consider applying to Bob Jones U, never mind writing about sexual orientation? </p>
<p>Well, since Liberty U. now has a group of Campus Democrats, I guess (almost) anything is possible.</p>
<p>The recent Grove City College story about the gay porn star almost-a-grad seems to suggest that…you never know. And, as you could guess, my use of those schools was simply “hyperbole for a purpose” (a common literary ploy of the unethical but one I wouldn’t proffer to my evil-doers whilst they are doing evil.) ;)</p>
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<p>Stone them!! That is , if they aren’t already stoned, being Democrats and all. ;)</p>
<p>^^^That group was suspended Thursday, so I would advise my Democratic son to not write about his political affiliation should he be applying to Liberty. Though, if he were applying to Liberty, I’d be concerned about more than his essay.</p>
<p>This all sounds like a bunch of hooey to me.</p>
<p>It is well-documented that more matriculating college freshmen don’t write as well than in past years/generations. Whether that’s the result of lack of writing curriculum in HS, lack of emphasis on such or frankly the disintegration of good writing overall, it’s there.</p>
<p>That being said, whose business is it to pass judgment on some other parent who helped their kid with a college entrance essay? Certainly, you don’t write the essay for them. But there’s nothing in the world wrong with proofing for syntax, punctuation & the occasional sentence structure.</p>
<p>My D’s are a study in contrast. D1 has the science brain, and needs all the help she can get with her writing. I proofed her entrance essays for undergrad, as I did for med school admissions. But there was a fine line I walked, and when I judged it was getting to the ‘changing things around’ point, I stopped. I imagine had I continued editing, it would’ve helped the overall thrust. However, I suppose that’s where the ethics of it kicked in. D2 has been a great writer right out of the box, and needed virtually no help for her undergrad or scholarship essays. I gave them a quick look-see for errors, rarely finding any.</p>
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<p>If my D were applying to Liberty, I would swap out her essay for one of the gay, atheist, drug-abusing, Brie-eating, communist variety.</p>