Some essay advice for your student...

Parents Forum
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<p>I won't cross-post, but just give a link to a post I did on the Essay forum. This is an easy exercise that could get your student started in choosing a topic and starting the actual writing process: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/979752-easy-exercise-get-started-terrific-essay.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/979752-easy-exercise-get-started-terrific-essay.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Let me know if you think it would help.</p>

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<p>That’s what I try to get through to some of the '10 applicants whose essays I’m currently editing. I especially like Tip 1. I actually enjoyed my own essay process because I really had the chance to self-reflect and get back in touch with the elements that crafted me into who I am, and that’s who these colleges really have to know; the human behind the numbers and activities.</p>

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<p>Definitely.</p>

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<p>I was just talking about this with my son, picking an essay topic. He has decent scores and grades, not a whole lot of EC’s, and I think his essay could really help his application. Writing about himself does not come naturally, thanks for the tips, I will pass them on to him.</p>

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<p>digmedia - I thought this was helpful. From what I have read/heard good essays focus on smaller moments rather than huge topics - which is consistent with your advice.</p>

<p>The other main tip that I have heard repeatedly is not to write about death, divorce or sports injury - since these events - while important to the individual - are so commonplace. The best advice I have heard came from an info session at UVA - the speaker described holding 10 essays in his hand - without names on them - and dropping them. And could he then pick them up and match the essay to the applicant. His point was that the generic death of pet or sports injury essay could have been written by pretty much anyone. But if you had a truly unique essay topic - something that could only have happened to you - or could only describe you - then he could easily match the essay to the correct file. That point has really stuck with me and I plan to share it with S2 when the time comes.</p>