Summer college application essay coaching is open!
As we approach the final weeks of the school year, it’s time for high school juniors to begin making a plan for working on their college essays. Because the fall semester can be extremely busy with college visits, taking the SAT one final time, and filling out college applications, plus completing homework assignments for school, participating in sports, and finding time for other extracurricular activities, summer before senior year can be a great time to let a leg up on writing your personal statement for the Common App, as well as supplemental essays for individual colleges where you plan to apply.
I love working with students during the summer because we can use our time spaciously for thinking and planning, and then drafting essays at a pace that feels purposeful and calm. Last year my summer clients each wrote four to five drafts of their personal statement by mid-August, which enabled them to begin their senior year feeling confident that they had plenty of time to get their applications done and still have time to enjoy their senior year.
We begin by reviewing the essay prompts that Common App uses. Some students know right away what they want to write about, and normally I encourage them without trying too hard to manage their decision (unless something about their idea is an obvious red flag—perhaps it’s too broad, for instance, and needs refinement). Other students benefit from some short writing exercises to spark ideas. Most students, once they settle on an idea, find it enjoyable to draft their 650-word personal statements. Then we take multiple sessions to shape, refine, and sharpen the story and the prose to make it shine. It’s my view that most of the learning that occurs during the writing process happens in revision.
Initially, most students have a nugget of a great essay idea. Where they tend to struggle is finding a way to tell their story in a way that is specific, that gets beyond a mere reporting of facts. In my sessions with students, I help them find language that gets the reader inside their lived experience, and in doing so helps the admissions committees to get to know them. This is ultimately the goal of the college essay—not impressing people with your achievements (which are already described elsewhere in your application).
Having a completed—or nearly completed—draft of the personal statement enables students to shift their attention toward writing supplemental essays for particular schools that are on the student’s college list. I am familiar with these prompts as well, and can offer ideas, strategies, and exercises that will get you rolling. Again, multiple drafts will allow you to be as clear, succinct, and intentional as possible.
If you’d like to sign up for essay support this summer, or if you’d like to learn more about fundamentals and comprehensive packages for high school students at any grade level, please reach out to me to schedule a free one-hour consultation.
