Posted on by ivyquill2019

College Admission: Essays

Read through posts that provide great tips, strategies, and advice to calm “essay anxiety” when affronting the admission essay process! For any inquires, please contact us and feel free to comment!

“In the ever-changing world in which we live, life as we have known it has rapidly shifted due to a pandemic and a call to consciousness regarding equity and equality for all. In order to provide better opportunities and more access for college-bound students to apply to colleges and universities across the nation for the upcoming 2020-2021 application season, Harvard University (among others) has announced the temporary suspension of test scores as part of the application...”

“When I coach students through the personal statement development process, I have come to realize that time and time again, their thoughts on how to present themselves don’t really match up with the reality of how they should tell a personal narrative that is thought provoking, memorable, reflective, and creative…”

“As the summer beach season is in full swing, many rising seniors struggle with why they need to brainstorm at the beach about their personal statement…” Re-posted from Campus to Career Crossroads.

“For those of you who don’t know what the personal statement is or you have kind of heard about it but don’t really fully grasp why it is important, this essay is considered to be your true moment to shine when applying to college…”

“One of the most challenging things about writing is sitting down to a “new” word document or to a piece of lined paper…”

“Though some schools (e.g., Wake Forest, UChicago, Brown) will have their own bizarre essay prompts, most college essays can be grouped into a type, the most common being…”

The Key to Unlocking the Personal Statement: Understanding How to Write A Personal Narrative “When applicants learn that they must write a personal statement as part of their college application, one of the first (and natural) thoughts that comes to mind is, ‘Am I all that interesting to talk about in 650 words?’”

“Start as early in the process as possible. The more time you have to write, the more revising you can do and thus, the better your essay will be. Also, procrastinating leads to unnecessary stress…”

“If you saved someone in a swimming pool and that experience really changed you, okay, write about it. Just make sure the essay does not come off as arrogant…”

Supplemental essay #1: “If you are ever asked to ‘evaluate’ anything, your response must involve critical thinking and analysis…”

“Avoid repetition, fluff, and verbal fillers—there is no place for excess in a piece which is meant to be as engaging and effective as possible…”

Supplemental essay #2: “When faced with this question, most students write about major, complex, and global issues such as the detrimental effects of global warming on the environment. Such broad topics are unoriginal and impersonal…”

Supplemental essay #3: “The explanation is the core of this type of essay, as it will reveal your personality and passions…”

Tackling the Common App personal statement – Prompt #5: “It is rare that one event will instantaneously transform you from adult to child, but if you have one in mind, by all means write about it…”

Tackling the Common App personal statement – Prompt #3: “Was the idea you questioned your own, your family’s, or your school’s? Or was it even broader than that, such as a socially accepted or cultural norm?”

Tackling the Common App personal statement – Prompt #2: “This essay prompt seems to defy most applicants’ inclinations to brag. It is far easier to bask in success than to tell strangers about a failure.”