The Stone Cold Truth About Essays and ECs
I'm deep in the weeds with our 2026 kiddos, working with them on their essays and applications.
Many are confused.
Confused about what makes a "good" or "bad" essay topic.
Example: Is it ok to address political or hot button issues, or is it best to stay away from them entirely.
Example Deux: Confusion about what kind of extracurricular activity impresses an admissions officer, and what doesn't.
Side bar: It's not only about "leadership."
If you read as many applications as I have over the years, your only reasonable conclusion would be that everyone applying to college is a leader.
There are no followers.
(Back in the day it was acceptable for me to describe this as "All chiefs, no indians." Alas, no more.)
Back to the email. I'm re-running a webinar from a few weeks ago, that went over what you need to know about writing college essays that help you stand out, and get in.
As well as a very public mistake that one kid made, that kept him out of 12 of 15 colleges.
I'll also spend some time covering extracurricular activity tips and traps.
The session is tomorrow, Thursday night, and it's free.
Check it out by clicking the button below.
See you in class!
-Andy Lockwood
P.S. Please feel free to share this with anyone who suspects that they won't stumble across this information anywhere else, like from their kid's English teacher (they're right about that).