The College Essay Timeline

The College Essay Timeline The admissions officer reads to determine if they should offer you one spot out of probably relatively very few. Many applicants will have high GPA’s and SAT scores, volunteer in a local organization, or be the president of a club or captain of a sports team. Admissions officers are looking for something, anything, to distinguish your essay from the pile. I recommend that students try to find an adult other than their parents to help with essay editing. The essay needs to be a reflection of the student’s creativity, writing ability and personality; not the parent. While it is okay to have a parent proof an essay, they are not always the best option. Asking someone who is slightly more removed from the application process may be the wisest route to go. While parents mean well, any constructive feedback may be misinterpreted, creating conflict at what can already be a stressful time. Teachers, guidance counselors, even friends are viable candidates when looking for a second opinion on your writing. Introductions and conclusions play a special role in the academic essay, and they frequently demand much of your attention as a writer. Parents are blinded by love and perhaps perfection. Each student needs to be able to claim authentic ownership of their essays. Your English teacher reads your essay as 1 out of 30. The admissions officers reads as 1 out of 1000’s and possibly even 10,000 or more. Your English teacher reads your essay to assign one grade out of many. A good introduction should identify your topic, provide essential context, and indicate your particular focus in the essay. A strong conclusion will provide a sense of closure to the essay while again placing your concepts in a somewhat wider context. It will also, in some instances, add a stimulus to further thought. Since no two essays are the same, no single formula will automatically generate an introduction and conclusion for you. But the following guidelines will help you to construct a suitable beginning and end for your essay. And read about other grave mistakes like plagiarizing your college essay. As expressed in an article of “The Daily Beast,” don’t use profanities in your college essays. So conserve your efforts and work smarter, not harder. Since the admissions committee is reading hundreds of essays, it’s your job to move them, make them laugh, and force them to realize that they need you at their institution. Your essay should exemplify the manner in which you think. Instead of basing your character off of grades and standardized test scores, the essay provides the reader with a sense of your personality and views from your perspective. of students who completed applications with Ivy Coach earned admission to their first college choice. I would still suggest that a English professional still read over the essay for expert editing purposes. However, parents should not try to change the voice of the student, which can be difficult to refrain from. Mom and Dad may be great help during the brainstorming process of generating essay topics. Parents may know other details about the student that they should include in the essay. Parents are also a great second pair of eyes for grammar and spelling errors.