Fourth of July fireworks and the All-Star Game are behind us, and the Target Back-to-School display is in place. Know what that means? No, it’s not time to buy marble composition books and Ticonderoga pencils. Not yet. There’s plenty of summer left. But if your kid is a rising senior in high school, and college applications are on the horizon, it’s not too early to think about The College Essay. Starting the school year with a complete and polished personal statement can make the entire application process run much smoother.
As a parent, published author, and freelance college essay consultant, I’ve read and edited my fair share of college essays over the years, including personal statements for medical school applications. Here’s some advice to pass along to your kid. It’s the same advice I gave my child and anyone who’s ever come to me for college essay advice.
Don’t tell college admissions folks what you think they want to hear, tell them who you are. By that I mean, don’t simply tick off a list of accomplishments and accolades, many of which might be remarkably similar to those of other applicants (i.e. The Competition). Write your essay in a way that shows who you are and why you’d be a unique and valuable addition to the campus culture. The essay also gives you an opportunity to showcase your thinking and writing abilities. Saying you volunteered at an assisted living facility to earn community service hours isn’t as interesting as telling a story about what you learned from an older guy named Hank who used to play trumpet in the high school marching band, just like you, and beat you in chess at every time.
Let your voice shine through. After reading hundreds of essays during the application cycle, college admissions people probably find it refreshing to hear a real person’s voice leap off the page. Me? I talked about how my Italian family calls pasta of all sizes and shapes, “macaroni” and the stuff we put on top is “gravy,” not sauce as a way to show how food and family shaped my childhood and teen years.
Take advantage of the “Is there anything else you’d like to tell about yourself?” question. This is a wonderful opportunity to explain to admissions gatekeepers how your part-time job prepared you for college, or why being a caretaker for an older family member or younger sibling impacted the hours you were able to dedicate to schoolwork. Grades and test scores don’t always tell the whole story, but YOU can. Maybe you were able to overcome crippling anxiety and tried out for the high school play every year even though you never got a speaking role. Maybe you sat on the bench for almost every JV basketball game. This says something about your character and determination.
Be specific on the “Why (fill in the college name here)?” question. Some schools will ask why you’ve chosen to apply to their institution. Do the research, find out the specific names of courses, programs, and professors you’re interested in and include those in the answer to that question. Even better? Take a course for high school students offered by your first-choice college. This will signal your interest and give you another talking point for your application.
Don’t let AI draft your essay. If you believe artificial intelligence can tell your story better than you, what is that saying about your college readiness? High school seniors should know how to organize their thoughts to write a coherent essay. If you can’t, it might be time for a reality check. (Writing is thinking, but that’s another discussion.) It’s not too late to hire a writing tutor or take advantage of whatever free tutoring your school offers during the school year. Plus, if you use AI, admissions folks, just like your high school English teacher, will find out. By using AI!
Hire a professional. I’ve published five novels and have been writing for more than 30 years. Before submitting my manuscripts to agents and editors, I had my books professionally edited. Why? Because every piece of writing can benefit from professional editing.
Don’t wait until the last minute. Four years of hard work in high school deserves better than an essay composed on your smartphone between episodes of whatever you happen to be binging on Netflix and Hulu. Give your college essay the time and attention it takes to make your application stand out.
—Jennifer Salvato Doktorski received a 2024 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. A proud mom and Jersey Girl, she is the author of five young adult novels who, along with her family, lives in Central NJ and spends summers down the Shore. Learn more at jendoktorski.com. For college essay help, email her at jen@jendoktorski.com
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