I didn’t post this in the College Essay section because I noticed those posts are overwhelmingly students looking for critiques of their essays. My question is coming from more of the ethical end of things as a parent- how much help is it ethical to give your S or D with the essay.
I obviously don’t mean writing it for them. even partially, but how far do you go even saying things like “you need to vary your sentence length in the essay” or “be more specific in this paragraph”. Is it fair to function as an English teacher to help them to polish the essay that way?
I think that is definitely fine. At my school we had devoted time in our English classes for our teachers to look over each essay if we wanted and make comments. She would help fix grammatical errors, awkward sentences, and just give feedback that would help us improve our essays.
Have him go to his favorite english teacher for advice, after all the typical teen’s definition of an expert is “anyone who doesn’t live in their house”
Sending him to an English teacher for help (“suggestions to polish it up”) can instill in him the idea that it is okay to turn to the writing lab or tutoring program for help when he starts college. Many college students flounder when they are too proud or embarrassed to ask for help that is readily available.
At my D’s school they have been told to have their common app essay draft done by the second week of school because that is when they will spend time on them in class.
I do plan to proofread and make general suggestions but its her essay.
As an aside, my D plans to apply to four schools early and only one uses the common app. I wish they would spend time reviewing other essays in school and not just the common app one.
“As an aside, my D plans to apply to four schools early and only one uses the common app. I wish they would spend time reviewing other essays in school and not just the common app one.”
They can afford to spend time on the Common App essay because, as the name suggests, it is common to everyone in the class that is applying to college (I assume she is in a “tracked”: english class & everyone , or almost everyone will apply). If they then have to spend time on many different essays they may not be able to make it through their required curriculum. It seems more reasonable that help with these essays be pursued outside of class time.
The type of comments you have in your question are fine/appropriate. Both of my kids also had the essay reviewed by an English teacher. But if your child feels strongly about something don’t require that it be changed. Bottom line is it should be the kids essay but you don’t want errors etc. in it.
My D had her favorite English teacher (10th grade) read the essay and he only minor comment mostly about grammar stuff and one thing he felt needed clarification – her 12th grade teacher asked for everyone’s essay and suggested bigger changes which my D did not especially like and chose not to make – and she got into her top choice college so I guess it was fine.
We got the following advice at a college visit: “Kids, don’t let anyone change your essay so much that is becomes sanitized. We want to hear your voice!” My husband and I only corrected grammar and spelling.
My D did not use any of her high school English teachers, rather, she sent her common app essay to our neighbor, an English professor, for proofreading. She felt like she would get a more objective opinion from someone who was not familiar with her writing. Fortunately my D has been blessed with the gift of writing and did not really struggle with the prompt. I stayed out of it. I just read the final copy and said “Wow, great job, honey!”
Rightly or wrongly, this worked for us, but I understand how it may not work for others.
English is my second language, so I can’t help fixing the grammar. However, I gave comments like " it is too boring for AOs who have to read so many essays", " you better “show” instead of “tell”, show what you want to say in a story is more interesting"…
The amount of help you specified is okay, though an outsider (English teacher as mentioned by others) would probably be better for an unbiased opinion.