THE COLLEGE ESSAY – A TIME TO EXPRESS YOURSELF

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Whether you are a parent, student, teacher, coach or neighbor, there’s a good chance that you know it’s college application season.  How can you tell?  Because it consumes the conversation at the dinner table, fills the air while in the car riding to school, becomes the distraction during class or on the field, and causes angst for the entire family of a college senior in the midst of the process. These students are no doubt pulling their hair out trying to respond to questions and prompts like:

  • What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give younger siblings or friends (assuming they would listen to you)?
  • Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of this university.
  • What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?
  • Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

And two of my favorites:

  • Hashtag to describe yourself:
  • What is your theme song?

During the last 5 years or so, I’ve seen a tremendous uptick in the number of colleges to which students apply.  This has been made easier to do with the advent of the Common Application, the UC Application and recently, the Coalition Application.  Utilizing these platforms, students can complete one basic application, write one main essay of 650 words, and submit to multiple colleges and universities.  Sounds simple, right?  While it is more efficient than completing multiple, separate applications, there are still two important caveats.  First, some schools require additional essay questions, which could be more essays, short answer responses, lists, etc.  Second, although there is one main application, each school typically has a separate application fee. For example, the fee for each UC is $70 and $55 for CSUs; private colleges range from about $60 to $90 for Stanford’s application.

I often caution students that although the application process is streamlined, each application submitted will have its own admission decision rendered.  In other words, if you apply to all of the 9 UC campuses, you will be waiting for 9 separate admission decisions – even though there was only “one” application.  For the first time, I am working with several students who have 20+ schools on their college lists! I implore my students (and their parents!) to focus on having a quality list, that is balanced in terms of selectivity (reach, target, likely) in terms of the student’s academic, standardized testing and extracurricular profile.  Once the balanced list is developed, then the student can focus on enhancing his/her profile with thoughtfully written essays that provide the reader (admission officer) with an opportunity to learn more about the student, how s/he would fit at and contribute to the specific college community.

So the next time a high school senior comes to you seeking input or asking you to help them brainstorm for their college essays, consider passing along these reminders:

  • Follow directions and make sure to answer the prompt – all parts of it!
  • Don’t write to impress by using flowery, thesaurus-driven language
  • Do not procrastinate, as this type of essay writing is different and it’s an iterative process

Most importantly, I tell students: “Be your authentic self in your response.”  That really is the goal.  Good luck, and remember, The Journey Begins with You…

 

Antoinette Battiste is an Independent Educational Consultant and 20+ year resident of Evergreen.   She is an active volunteer with many community organizations in Silicon Valley, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators (SCCABE), Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce the African American Community Services Agency (AACSA), and the Northern California Association of Morehouse Parents (NCAMP).