Does Your Kid Have Writer’s Block for College Essays?
Kid got writers block?
Here’s the thing… the entire college application is filled with
-Grades, GPA, Test scores (stats)
-Lists of activities, community service, employment, maybe some leadership roles.
BUT
What’s missing is WHO you are and what’s important to you.
There is no such thing as “a topic” they haven’t heard before. None. They’ve heard it all. I promise!
What you are looking for is what is missing from your application that says more than what is there.
YOU/(your teen)-are more than a GPA/test scores/list of activities.
Who are you?
What are your character traits and WHAT stories illustrate that?
What are your values and WHAT illustrates them?
Have you ever noticed an object or a scent repeatedly reminds you of someone important in your life?-Why is that person important? Remember the essay is not about the other person. It’s about the student. How they think, or what THING may have occurred that changed his or her perspective, thoughts on something, or on life.
——-
My son wrote about his first martial arts tournament after receiving his first-degree black belt. He lost. His essay was about his dilemma of how to move forward afterward. (The essay not only won admissions but was repurposed for several private scholarships and won a ton of money.)
My daughter wrote about how her grandfather taught her to waltz and how that 30-minute time frame changed her life and the lives of countless other youths in her state. (Again the essay was repurposed for various private scholarships that won tons of cash.)
It’s not about the topic. it’s about the student, their character, and who they are.
Essay prompts are a jumping-off point to get you thinking. Many times there are many options or a “write what you want” if nothing really fits well. For college applications, there will be several essay prompts to choose from. But the best essay is the one you write before seeing the prompts. Write about you. Then if possible, fit your essay to one of the prescribed prompts.
Do You Know What Scholarship Judges Are Looking For?
Don't make these mistakes! Use this checklist before hitting the 'Submit' button.
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