Don't Ruin Thanksgiving! Untangle that Messy Essay before the Next College Admission Deadline

The early application deadlines have passed. But the clock is still ticking for students applying to school for next fall as the regular college admissions deadlines loom.

Are essays stressing out your favorite college applicant? Are you a teacher? Counselor? Parent? Family friend? College coach? Do the essays they've already written look messy? Or is something missing from the story?

We don’t want any student's college application journey to ruin Thanksgiving.

Here are some reminders - and tips - for any well-meaning adult trying to support a student applying to college to share with college applicants, so they can master the college essay with meaningful content that shows insight and answers the prompt. We know the college essay is arguably the most daunting task of the application process, but we’d prefer to help calm you, and give you and this year's crop of college some peace of mind.

Be Supportive and Positive

We share this message with well-meaning adults who work with high school students applying to college, whether you are a friend, professional or parent. It's important to understand that your job is to support the student who is writing an essay, and encourage them along the way. Be a cheerleader.

We know what admissions officers want in any essay used in the admissions process because we talk to them all the time. And, no matter what type of college they come from, Ivy, public, faith-based or small, liberal arts, admissions officers tell us they want the same thing. They use the essays to:

• Find out something that is meaningful to the student and is not apparent in the rest of the application package.
• Gain insight into an applicant’s character.
• See if the student is a good fit for the university.

“There’s a misconception about what we do inside the admissions office,” cautioned Calvin Wise, Johns Hopkins University’s Director of Recruitment. “We are trying to predict future potential. We need to dig deeper where the essay comes into play. That’s where we find out more about the student.”

Look at the Essay is an Opportunity

The admissions essay is an opportunity to support a student’s application – to help them show who they are and how they think. It is a chance to speak directly to the admissions office. Their voice matters.

Make sure those essays are written by the student, not their mom or dad, sister, friend, or another adult. Do not write the essay, change words or sentences, or tell the student what topic to use. Wise (and every admissions officer we’ve ever asked) says he can tell when essays are over-edited or written by someone else. It won't help the student.

Christoph Guttentag, the Dean of Undergraduate Admissions for Duke University offers similar advice. He wants to read genuine essays that are authentic.

“By the time the application comes to us, many of them have gone through so many hands that the essays are sanitized,” Guttentag said. “I wish I saw more of a thoughtful voice of a 17 year-old.”

Put Down That Red Pen

Our biggest piece of advice comes from years of working inside of this industry. Review, but please don't "edit". Any adult who is guiding a student should drop the word “editing” from their vocabulary. Begin the college essay review process by letting go of any preconceived notions about what makes a good essay. We suggest replacing the word “good” with the word “effective.” Tell your students to write their story in their own voice using their own words.

Unlike a school assignment, there is no rubric for an effective college essay, but the ones that stand out all share a few common features. Regardless of the prompt, they:

• Answer the question.
• Showcase a positive trait or characteristic.
• Sound like a high school student.
• Illustrate something meaningful about the student.
• Demonstrate reflection.

You will know if an essay is effective if it has a theme, which answers these two questions:

1. What happened?
2. Why does it matter?

We recommend reading without a red pen in hand, and without your hands on the computer keyboard. Just read. Make sure you know what the essay is about and why the student chose this topic. Then ask two key questions:

• Is anything missing?
• Is the college essay’s purpose clear?

When you review, double-check the prompt. If the prompt asks the writer to reflect on an experience and its influence on them, be sure your child has talked about both the experience and its effect.

Use the essay review checklist below to evaluate a traditional personal statement, such as the Common Application essay, the Coalition application, the University of California personal insight questions, ApplyTexas or any primary prompt from schools that use their own applications.

COLLEGE ESSAY REVIEW CHECKLIST

CONTENT REVIEW

• Does the essay answer the prompt?
• Can you tell why the writer chose this topic?
• Is the essay about the student, or is it really about the place, person or experience featured in the essay?
• Does it illustrate a trait the student wants to share with colleges?
• Does it tell colleges something meaningful about the writer that is not clear from the rest of the application package?
• Does the essay sound like the person who wrote it?

 STRUCTURE REVIEW

• Does the first paragraph make you want to keep reading?
• Does the essay move smoothly from beginning to end?

POLISH REVIEW

• Does the essay use the same verb tense throughout?
• Has the writer avoided sentence fragments and run-on sentences?
• Is the punctuation correct and consistent?
• Is every word spelled correctly?
• Does the student feel confident and proud of the work?

That’s it. No magic. No special tricks.

Good luck to your favorite college applicant. We wish them well on their journey. Wishing each of you a peaceful Thanksgiving!

Our Gift to You! Get a Free Book!

Get more insight into how we talk to students with your free electronic copy of How to Write an Effective Application Essay: The Inside Scoop for Parents. Paperback versions of all three of our books ($9.99 each) are available here.

About the Author

Kim Lifton, named one of 10 LinkedIn's Top Voices in Education, 2018 , is President of  Wow Writing Workshop,  a strategic communication company staffed by experts who understand the writing process inside and out. Since 2009, Wow has been leading the industry with our unique approach to communicating any message effectively. Click the Wow Method to find out how we help business and nonprofit leaders create better blogs, manage social media, develop websites and create other communication materials. It also helps students write college application essays, grad school personal statements and resumes that get results. If it involves words, Wow can help.