What’s your hero story? How would you write the major motion picture of your life? Writing compelling college admissions essays can be a game-changer. Students use the personal essay as a way to showcase their unique voice, writing skills, their experiences, reflections and their growth. The personal statement and supplemental essays offer the opportunity to share yourself beyond grades and test scores, providing a more holistic and human perspective of you as the applicant. They say that compelling essays increase your admissions chances up to 10 times. Although I’m not sure whether or not that’s true, it certainly offers a reason to put your best foot forward!
Which brings me to the next point. Putting your best foot forward refers to that of the student, not that of the parent, the tutor or the college coach. The narrative needs to be the student’s work, in his/her/their voice, and be real. Please–empower your student by not over-editing and rewriting his/her/their essays. Offer feedback and advice. Allow full agency to your student. Challenge your student to be honest, to be vulnerable and to dig deep.
Some tips:
Tell me a story, imagine you are writing a piece of creative non-fiction.
Get deeply personal. Allow your reader into your world, into your headspace.
Remember, you are not writing an analytical essay. You’re sharing your hero story, something that will allow your reader to get to know you intimately. Think about the framework in which you will tell your story.
Read aloud to yourself as if you are reading these words for the first time.
Proofread, make final edits and be done.
