Confronting the blank page: How first-gen can navigate the college essay

While Halloween festivities may have come to a close, high school students across the U.S. are entering an even scarier time of year: college application season.?

For students whose parents never attended college, completing college applications can feel like diving into truly uncharted waters. And as the competition among applicants ramps up, first-gen students may not know how to stand out and present themselves.

“This can be a really challenging time for first-generation college students, who may not have all of the resources or even be aware of the resources available to them,” says Dr. Yolanda N. , founder and CEO of FirstGenCollege Consulting. After working for 20 years in higher education, Norman started her own company to help first-generation college students navigate the application process and more.?

This week on The Starting Line, we spoke with Norman about one of the most important components of the college application —?the personal essay — and how first-gen applicants can craft a meaningful, authentic narrative.

Share what you’re comfortable with

First-generation students may feel compelled to dive into their darkest moments or most difficult challenges in their personal essay. While being vulnerable is welcome, it’s okay if you’re not looking to write a sob story, Norman says. Some students may not feel ready to share certain stories with admissions counselors they’ve never met. Instead, they may want to lean into their successes and goals.

What’s more important, Norman says, is to make sure that you’re answering the question each school is asking you. Some essay prompts may ask you to share an accomplishment that you are proud of, or an experience that changed your perspective. When it comes to crafting a great essay, starting with the prompt is key.?

“We all have different stories, but it’s important to relate it back to the university,” Norman says.

Lean into your inner storyteller

Writing a personal essay is a creative process, Norman says. Rather than spewing out a list of accomplishments, aim to piece together a scene that your reader can visualize. This can be difficult for first-generation students, who often think that to stand out and prove their worth means to highlight their grades, extracurricular activities, volunteer work and more.

“There’s this pressure of, ‘Oh man, I get to achieve something that hasn’t been done by my parents before,” Norman says. “‘I possibly get to change the trajectory of generations after me because of this experience.’ And so it becomes very much so, ‘Let me give [admissions] what they want.’”

Let go of those preconceptions, Norman urges, and instead draw attention to what makes you unique. Reading literature can show you how authors carefully craft stories and scenes, and you can even use storytelling techniques like speaking out loud about experiences that have impacted your life. Not only can this help you structure your essay, it can also help you hone in on the most important parts of your story.?

“If you can catch that reader’s attention through your words, they’ll start to imagine where you are,” she says. “Figure out what story you want to tell.”

Help is all around you?

When it comes to feedback, first-gen students may have more resources than they think. Family and friends who know you best may be able to tell you if your personal essay feels authentic, while English or creative writing teachers at school can help you with the more technical aspects of the essay. And if you know of any former students who are currently attending your dream school, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask them for tips — more often than not, people are willing to help.

“As [first-generation students] are going through this application season, the most important thing I can say is, reach out,” Norman says. “Reach out to your community, reach out to your church, reach out to your teachers to your friends and do not do this alone. Your story is not only going to impact the admissions person reading, but when it comes to fruition after you get that acceptance letter, it’ll impact the entire campus.”