How do AO’s view submitted essays that have been harshly graded compared to essays that have been praised? For example, if one is to submit an essay that best reflects their writing skills but was given a B, would it be looked at as worse than an essay that is less of a reflection but was given an A.
Is the point of the submitted essay to show the caliber of the school you are currently attending, or is point to showcase “A+” work?
Perhaps I am overthinking but any thoughts would be appreciated!
(When I use the term “submitted essay” I am referring to the essay with the teachers comments + grade, not the prompt responses)
Good question: Andover is the only school we are applying to that requires a graded essay. My child has a nightmare teacher that marks the paper up so much that it is comical.
At the risk of veering into a touchy topic …we live in an area with “excellent public schools.” Personally, it’s form over function, quantity over quality. We have teachers that seem to think that boatloads of work with harsh grading is real teaching. Instead, it is regurgitate what I think and do it my way or you can’t get a decent grade . Further, there is hostility toward students leaving for private schools… Personally, we have selected a graded paper from a different class. We hope that between the writing sample and essays the graded paper won’t be a major component of the weighting.
I think the purpose is to compare the writing and voice on the school paper to the writing and voice in the application essay(s) to determine how authentic the application is. I don’t think the boarding schools care about the quality of your middle school, and they have your SSAT scores to compare against your grades to determine grade inflation.