MCPS high school application — ‘responses should be completed by the student without assistance’

[Anonymous]

I hesitated about submitting this question, for fear of having people jump all over me. But, here goes…

The MCPS high school application preview notes that students should be completing their written responses (short answer and essay) ‘without assistance’. It’s obvious to me this means that my DC has to write and edit their own essay. But are parents supposed to be absolutely uninvolved, to the point where we can’t even have a conversation about what DC plans to say? Would appreciate your feedback. I don’t want to cross a line, but if DC and I can have a conversation about their writing plans, with some feedback from me (‘that’s a great idea, I think you should talk about that’ or ‘don’t forget about that passion project from two summers ago,’) then I’d like to be able to do this.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher.

Here's the thing....

It's in ParentVue so anyone applying has to have a parent access it and 99% of those parents will at least look at it. Most will spell check and make a suggestion or two or have them write it down first as a draft. Some will click submit without reading. Some will workshop/write/overstep. With those helicopter parents, they are generally so lacking in self-awareness and boundaries that it is clearly apparent they are writing the essay, even though they don't understand that and think it's preposterous that anyone could perceive it's not their child's "voice." So this problem largely takes care of itself.

[Anonymous]

I did not help with the application besides pulling it up and making sure it was submitted. We did discuss the programs after the open houses with me leading my student in some reflection on why they thought each program would be a good fit or not with their criteria and “gut feel”. But as for the application - no, they did it on their own - and yes - there were a few typos, but they still got into the program they wanted the most!

[Anonymous]

Definitely discuss beforehand, and then let your child write their own stuff. It's important their voice stands out.

Basically this is just a dry run for college essays later. Same approach. Admissions officers read so many of these it's really easy to tell when an essay has been edited to death by someone other than the student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher.

Here's the thing....

It's in ParentVue so anyone applying has to have a parent access it and 99% of those parents will at least look at it. Most will spell check and make a suggestion or two or have them write it down first as a draft. Some will click submit without reading. Some will workshop/write/overstep. With those helicopter parents, they are generally so lacking in self-awareness and boundaries that it is clearly apparent they are writing the essay, even though they don't understand that and think it's preposterous that anyone could perceive it's not their child's "voice." So this problem largely takes care of itself.

In what way does the problem take care of itself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher.

Here's the thing....

It's in ParentVue so anyone applying has to have a parent access it and 99% of those parents will at least look at it. Most will spell check and make a suggestion or two or have them write it down first as a draft. Some will click submit without reading. Some will workshop/write/overstep. With those helicopter parents, they are generally so lacking in self-awareness and boundaries that it is clearly apparent they are writing the essay, even though they don't understand that and think it's preposterous that anyone could perceive it's not their child's "voice." So this problem largely takes care of itself.

In what way does the problem take care of itself?

Because it is obvious when parents "help" excessively and I would assume that is not received well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher.

Here's the thing....

It's in ParentVue so anyone applying has to have a parent access it and 99% of those parents will at least look at it. Most will spell check and make a suggestion or two or have them write it down first as a draft. Some will click submit without reading. Some will workshop/write/overstep. With those helicopter parents, they are generally so lacking in self-awareness and boundaries that it is clearly apparent they are writing the essay, even though they don't understand that and think it's preposterous that anyone could perceive it's not their child's "voice." So this problem largely takes care of itself.

In what way does the problem take care of itself?

Because it is obvious when parents "help" excessively and I would assume that is not received well.

Hmm. I can’t imagine how I could do this any better than my kid even if I wrote it myself. Neither of us really know what they are looking for. I’m not from the US though. How are these things meant to be written? What type of things do kids include? Is it mostly a list of accomplishments? (If so I guess my kid is kicking himself for being introverted). It is it meant to show some great insight?

[Anonymous]

My kids wrote their essays for all the magnet admissions and college admissions on Word. They used the spell check and grammar to get that out of the way. They read it to us and we commented extensively. They fixed it and were happy with it. Then they submitted on whatever platform they wanted to submit. Both kids were in magnet track in MCPS, both are amazing writers, both are in college with significant merit $$.

The quality of writing for most magnet applicant is very high. These are not average B students.

[Anonymous]

Every time my kids write anything for school, I remind them to go back when they’re finished and reread both the assignment and their work to see if they actually followed the directions and answered the questions that were asked. Likewise, for the high school magnet admissions application, I reminded dd that if they’re asking why you’d be a good fit for a particular magnet, make sure your response answers that question. She told me that she was supposed to list awards and achievements on the application, but she couldn’t think of many. I reminded her of something she hadn’t considered adding. That was the extent of my input. She wrote the essay herself.

[Anonymous]

I would certainly discuss it in advance as she brainstorms and plans. I also think that reading and noting anything that doesn't seem clear, asking questions, and perhaps making some general suggestions is fine, as long as it's up to the kid to take your suggestions or not. At a minimum, I'd proofread for typos and spelling mistakes, but, again, it's then up to the kid. I would not myself revise it, because it's important that it be the kid's call and in her voice.

[Anonymous]

Many parents we know are discussing it with their kids and I'm sure they are also revising.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hesitated about submitting this question, for fear of having people jump all over me. But, here goes…

The MCPS high school application preview notes that students should be completing their written responses (short answer and essay) ‘without assistance’. It’s obvious to me this means that my DC has to write and edit their own essay. But are parents supposed to be absolutely uninvolved, to the point where we can’t even have a conversation about what DC plans to say? Would appreciate your feedback. I don’t want to cross a line, but if DC and I can have a conversation about their writing plans, with some feedback from me (‘that’s a great idea, I think you should talk about that’ or ‘don’t forget about that passion project from two summers ago,’) then I’d like to be able to do this.

When is the deadline?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids wrote their essays for all the magnet admissions and college admissions on Word. They used the spell check and grammar to get that out of the way. They read it to us and we commented extensively. They fixed it and were happy with it. Then they submitted on whatever platform they wanted to submit. Both kids were in magnet track in MCPS, both are amazing writers, both are in college with significant merit $$.

The quality of writing for most magnet applicant is very high. These are not average B students.

Not sure about when your kids applied but now the applications are only accessible through ParentVue. So parents have to have an active role in submitting because student's can't even see the app without their parents (unless your kid has your ParentVue password, which would be unusual).

[Anonymous]

You should do nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids wrote their essays for all the magnet admissions and college admissions on Word. They used the spell check and grammar to get that out of the way. They read it to us and we commented extensively. They fixed it and were happy with it. Then they submitted on whatever platform they wanted to submit. Both kids were in magnet track in MCPS, both are amazing writers, both are in college with significant merit $$.

The quality of writing for most magnet applicant is very high. These are not average B students.

Same for us pretty much across the board, except 1 kid in college and 2nd still in HS.