Diagnostics, tune-ups, and overhauls for college application essays and grad school personal statements
There are a few harsh truths that no one wants to face about college application essays, writing in general, and the state of this aspect of the humanities in K-12 education as it relates to higher education. Since no one seems to be addressing them, I'm going to say the quiet part out loud, but I'm going to try not to re-litigate the case for literature, philosophy, and the humanities as they relate to culture.
Thinking about using the Common Application Personal Statement’s (CAPS) “personal growth” prompt for your college application? Good. It’s a strong prompt and one of the best ways to demonstrate your maturity, growth, and perspective. One of the problems that students encounter in this essay – and in most personal essays – is not knowing how… Continue reading How To Write The Personal Growth Essay (Common App Prompt 5)
So you're wondering how important college applications actually are. Students that intend to apply to competitive colleges and universities spend most of their high school years in something of a vacuum, pursuing extracurricular activities (ECs), volunteering, preparing for standardized tests, collecting letters of recommendation, and taking AP classes to demonstrate their academic ability and discipline as well as their "fit" for the schools they're targeting.
Looking for some tips to make your college application essay stand out? Avoid falling into the trap of using clichés and overused language that can make your essay – and you – sound uninspired and unoriginal. Every year, students unwittingly rely on the same tired phrases and ideas, which can hurt their chances of being… Continue reading Don’t Let These Clichés Kill Your Essays
Are you struggling to come up with writing topics? You're not alone. Many students feel that their experiences are not as exciting as those they read about online, from peers, or in the news. This is particularly true when applying to college, where certain hardships and obstacles seem to be more valued than others.
Adapted from two AMAs I did on Reddit in May 2019 and August 2022
The Common App's first prompt reads: "Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story." But how do you approach it...?
The Common App essay, also known as the Common Application Personal Statement or CAPS, is a vital component of the college application process. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most misunderstood aspects, causing students and parents alike to experience genuine malaise and panic.
At one point, I was offering $300 reviews of the Common Application Personal Statement for students who wanted actionable, detailed feedback on their CAPS. My reviews covered syntax, thematic and narrative consistency/cohesion, grammar, spelling, academic sophistication, redundancy analysis, word choice and whatever else I saw fit. In addition to in-text/sidebar comments, I also provided separate… Continue reading Common App Personal Statement and Other Essay Reviews
You must be logged in to post a comment.