WRITE A SUCCESSFUL

COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY

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!

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