The Funny Thing About Essays
I usually keep this type of comment to myself, but late in the office last night, I unloaded.
I was meeting with a prospective client, talking about how we help with everything relating to getting into and paying for college, including essay writing.
Somehow, the tone and subject morphed into how BAD some essays are.
I'm talking two page, one paragraph drafts.
Utter absence of capital letters at the beginning of a sentence.
Or for proper nouns.
Sentences that run on longer than the Iditarod.
But those aren't the worst transgressions, sadly. Grammar and punctuation are easy fixes.
What's harder to pull off is the Big Idea of the essay. What personal quality or qualities do you want to convey?
What is the before and after, Hero's Journey or other tale you have to tell?
It's not just the essay that tells your story, incidentally. Your entire application, including the Activities Section, teacher letters of recommendation, guidance counselor's letter of recommendation, etc. should display what I call a "Thread of Continuity" throughout the whole enchilada.
I don't claim that this is easy to pull off. 99% of college applicants (and their moms) don't think this way, mainly because they're not a marketing consultant trapped in a college advisor's body.
(I know that's creepy but that's how I think of myself.)
If you approach your college applications this way, instead of being all over the place without rhyme or reason, you'll have a much better shot a persuading your admissions officers
THIS is why you should choose me, instead of my 50,000 near-identical competitors
Attention Class of 2024 seniors: the clock is ticking on our November Sprint program -- our "express" college advising service -- and we have five (5) spots left.
It's time to get real. It's happening! We're here to help, one-on-one, in your corner.
Here's where to go before the door slams shut:
This program is part time-cop, part marketing consulting, part essay brainstorming and editing and 100% about getting it all done without you (mom or dad) screaming or threatening your kid.
- Andy Lockwood
P.S. This doesn't happen all the time, but, frequently, our clients not only get into their Dream Colleges, but also get feedback on their applications from their admissions officers.
Sophie Riegel, now graduated from Duke University, said her admissions officer told her guidance counselor that her "application was the best one she read" that year.
Julie Pareles, mother of twins who went to Cornell, relayed this, from their admissions officer:
"This was an incredibly competitive year for Cornell ED and that we had exceptional applications and should be proud. Guess who made all this possible? We are so grateful to you. So much of the application was based on your sound advice. Thanks again!"
P.P.S. The November Sprint is your last minute, 11th hour to package it all up and answer the question, "Why should we choose YOU, compared to 50,000 other competitor-applicants who look the same on paper?"
