College Applications

By: Sean Savoie 

            I am now making myself available to coach high school seniors who are writing their college application essays. A workshop and private lessons are available for students who need guidance. Please give me a call at 917-992-9360 to get more information or schedule a lesson.  

            One of the skills that almost all teachers eventually develop is the keen ability to perceive talents in students. I am no exception; I can see unique talent and patterns of thinking in young students. In order to effectively teach children, one must first judge how much information they are able to comprehend and process, as well as their attitudes towards and responses to learning. This kind of judgment is precisely what a college recruiter must be able to make. When planning and writing a college application essay, you, the student, must put yourself in the mind of the recruiter. Ask yourself this: if you owned a school, would you want a person like yourself in that school? Why?           

            All types of college application essay questions serve to reflect the nature of the writer. Therefore, if the student has a choice, the topic that the student chooses reveals something of the state of mind of that student. I generally suggest that, when presented with more than one essay topic, the student choose the essay that is broadest in scope. An opinion expressed about an international situation, not simply a personal feeling, shows that a student desires to understand and make some sense of the world. This indicates that the student is “thinking big” and will probably become more successful. However the trapping is in determining the scope; a big idea must be captured in less than 500 words, not an easy task for anybody. In addressing a global topic, a student must carefully narrow the focus of what to express, or risk creating a hopelessly incomplete idea. And ironically, personal examples in the essay can serve to show a greater understanding of the world.           

            Regardless of its form, the function of the question that is directly or indirectly posed by a college to the student is "How would this college, the community, or the world benefit from your participation here at this college?" Or, more simply put: Why you? What makes you extraordinary? Essay questions may be disguised in various ways, but make no mistake, this is what the question is really asking. Read the essay question again and again, perceiving the deeper meaning behind the question. Be extraordinary! Do not limit yourself to the ideas that first come into your head; this is a common trapping. Think outside of the box.  

A crucial essay topic often suggested or required by colleges involves writing about an experience that impacted your life. Do not write about your beautiful trip into Hawaii, the death of your pet hamster, or the time you learned to ride a bicycle (although one of my students did successfully write about learning to ride a bike). These topics are not wrong, but simply too ordinary. Meditate for a while and follow your mind to a unique event that keeps coming back to you in clear memory. Your recollection of this event may keep pushing at you, crying to be expressed. This indicates that the event somehow had a major influence on you. While continuing to re-read the essay question every now and then, capture the many possible ways of interpreting the event until patterns begin to emerge between it and other important, positive experiences you have had and decisions you have made. This brings you to the next step. 

            Brainstorming, the writing down of every conceivably related idea, is a necessity! Think in single words and phrases and do not consider whether any idea is right or wrong, significant or insignificant, exciting or boring; just write it. List it. Think with a pencil. The key to addressing this type of essay is to later discuss your abilities, achievements, experiences, and activities with friends and family members while attempting to surround the idea you have focused on. Ask a person who may have been with you about the event. How do your friends and family think this event has changed your life? You will be surprise by how much a person may really understand you, and this person may point out many related events you had not even thought of. And, young gentlemen especially, make sure to listen most carefully to your Mothers! I know many of you have calloused ears as a result of listening, or not, to your moms. But if you are ever going to listen to your mom talking about your unique qualities, this is the time. Listen to all opinions. Take notes; something may strike you later. 

            Sell yourself. Colleges adore leadership positions, extreme trauma or risks that become success stories, and high achievements of all sorts. Keep in mind the possibility that a college may find appeal in something that you experienced even though you doubt this event was so significant. This is precisely why you must speak with friends and family. And because the numbers expressing your GPA, SAT scores, and number of AP/honors classes will speak for themselves, you must take a stand and show, without room for denial, that you are much more than simply numbers. In your essay, this unique and extraordinary quality about you, whatever form it may take, must be written in a powerful way.  

Do not be shy! If you have a slightly lower GPA than normally accepted at a certain college or university, you must catch the recruiter with your first paragraph. Interest, or even shock, the reader into reading the whole essay. Most recruiters will, at best, be thinking about what to have for dinner while reading your essay if it does not strike them distinctly. If the process of writing this type of essay is not very difficult for you, the essay itself is probably a joke. Do not write a “normal” essay! These college application essays may be the most important things you ever write. Take them very seriously! 

            Lastly, give yourself some time to get away from the essays for at least a few days. Then, go back and read them as if you were the recruiter for a college. Make revisions and avoid being wordy. In my experience, the most successful final drafts of essays emerge when a 750 word essay is revised until it is 500 words or less. This takes a great deal of work, so give yourself enough time. And, if at all possible, try to enjoy the process of expressing yourself in writing. This enjoyment is infectious; the recruiter will at least want to invite you for a personal interview. Good luck and shoot high!