Even though many soon-to-be high school seniors are spending their summers doing a variety of things from going to the beach to volunteering for an organization, summer is definitely the time to start getting prepared for the fall and understanding what you will need to do for the college admissions process and essays.
A recent article from Elizabeth Benedict focuses on some important things you should consider as the summer progresses.
Actually writing your college admissions essays during the summer may be the farthest thing on your mind, but here are some helpful tips to get you started.
- Although you don’t have to write your essay or essays yet, it is a great idea to get organized. According to Benedict, you should make a chart of all the colleges you are going to apply to and list the essay prompts that are required by each college. Also include the number of words required and the due date for each essay and application. It is vital to know if the college requires the Common App essay and if each also may require its own supplementary essay.
- Remember that your essay does not need to be a masterpiece. Benedict explains that your essay should be thoughtful, proofread well, and include your college and academic goals. In addition, your essay should reveal to the college who you are and what sets you apart from all of the other applicants applying to the same college. It is important to keep in mind that you will be attending an institution of higher learning where critical thinking, in-depth reflection, and intellectual curiosity are what is valued.
- Benedict also explains that essay prompts are usually very specific. So, by looking at the prompts well beforehand, you can get a great idea about what you will need to include. You can look at the Common App prompts which will be the same as last year’s and start planning on what important information you will use. If you are planning on applying to a University of California school, you will want to check out how to write a personal statement.
- Remember that for whatever essay you have to write, you should get into the excellent habit of showing your essay to other people for feedback before you submit it. Have parents, friends, teachers, and counselors proofread your essay and ask for any constructive criticism on how to make your essay more powerful.
If you need help in applying to college and/or guidance in writing your college essay, we offer a variety of programs that can help. Please give us a call and set up an appointment so we can discuss what you need to do to make your college application a success.