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More than ever, the personal essays are a crucial factor in admission decisions at top colleges. “Eighty percent of our applicants are qualified,” an admissions officer at Columbia told a group of prospective students recently. Clearly, other considerations come into play and character is a big one. Yet writing about themselves — while striking a balance between self-promotion and authenticity — is no small task for most applicants.
Having coached hundreds of successful applications to top colleges, I have found that the most important stage is the one that receives the least attention, namely deciding what to write about. Most students set out to build the house without an architectural blueprint or the necessary materials. They rush past the important step of brainstorming ideas without reflecting much on what they want to say. I send them back to Home Depot. A big part of what I do is drawing the story out.
Although the results are as different as each individual applicant, the process is similar in every case. I teach a structured method for effective communication with minimal effort. After the brainstorming, we shift to critical thinking and organizing the outline to prepare for writing. Besides ending up with a great personal statement, the student will also gain valuable tools for all future essay writing.
How to Write a Successful College Application Essay Without Breaking a Sweat
Please join us for a one-hour Zoominar for college-bound students and families about the essay writing process. We will focus on the Personal Statement for the Common Application, decoding each question and discussing strategies for answering them. For illustration, we will analyze essays by successful recent college applicants. The session will include brainstorming exercises that students can practice on their own and some time for questions and answers.
Looking for a College Application Essay Coach? Contact us!
My son was tutored for the ACT by Jake. Jake was able to find the most efficient way of getting the work done. What impressed me most was the interest he took in lowering the test anxiety, making the test if possible more enjoyable. He was able to take on the issue of test anxiety and it worked!
My son who has dyslexia enjoyed working with Jeffrey on his math skills so much that he didn’t want to stop at the end of sessions. Jeffrey connected to my son. He was gentle with his teaching approach and helped to build his self-esteem and confidence.
Matt tutored my son for the SAT & ACT this fall We liked his positive approach to help learn the necessary testing skills. He is friendly, thoughtful and points out strengths while emphasizing areas that need extra work. Thank you for sending him to us!
I’ve had many tutors come thru my door over the years and feel there is something very special and extra professional about the tutors from Themba. They all understood my son s needs and had an amazing way of working with him. Kadyn tutored my son last year and I feel she contributed to his growth in all areas of learning. Her level of education was high and she had a very kind and calming personality that made it easy for my son to connect with her. I asked him what he thought of Kadyn. He said she helped me read articles, pull out information, organize my thoughts and put my ideas on paper. It made me feel more successful as a student.
My son, a junior in a private high school worked, with a wonderful tutor from Themba to get ready for his SATs. I spoke with Blythe and she asked detailed questions about my sons strengths and weaknesses. She put me in touch with Don, who worked beautifully with my son. Don immediately understood where my son needed help and focused their time together on specific areas of need. He also recognized my sons strengths ( math )and was able to accelerate his understanding in those areas. My sons score jumped 190 points! The individualized instruction he got from Themba and Don was amazing! I highly recommend these wonderful people.
Having been through the SAT/ACT tutoring process before with my older daughter, I knew we d need something less conventional, more tailor-made, for my son–someone who could adjust and meet the needs of my son s specific learning needs. My son has ADHD and easily becomes overwhelmed and anxious with regards to test-taking. After his first tutoring session with Dr. Brooke, we knew it was a “good fit . She was able to quickly develop a great working rapport with my son. She understood that he needed to be gently challenged, praised and continually encouraged to keep him from becoming overly frustrated. His original PSAT score was a 26. Dr. Brooke helped him to bring his ACT score up to a 31. We can’t thank her enough!
At Themba Tutors, we will let you know what kind of help you need once we set up a free intake. Knowing the student’s strengths and weaknesses is vital for helping the student with the challenges they’re facing. We offer services that include academic coaching and tutoring based on the student’s needs. We also offer a hybrid model for those students who need help with content and improving their underlying study skills.
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MEET OUR FOUNDER AND STAFF
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FINDING A QUALIFIED TUTOR
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CONTACT THEMBA TUTORS TODAY!
Our College Application Essay Coach Alan is ready to help you!
Call: (917) 382-8641, Text: (201) 831-9848
Email: info@thembatutors.com
(we respond to email right away!).