How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?

[Anonymous]

Is it the topic or her writing?

If the topic is something like "How volunteering changed my life" which has been said time and time again is NOT what these kids should be writing about, help her figure out what she wants the hook to be. You can help her to find a topic she is passionate about without just saying this sucks.

If it is her writing that is the issue, that is the teacher or mentors department.

If she is proud of it, as others have mentioned - pull out some of the good aspects and help her to expand on them. Less of a broad statement about how the essay sucks and more how to make the entire essay as good as the parts you pull out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell us the topic.

OP here. I won't get specific, but she mentions a popular childhood book series she enjoyed. And she relates it back to her own life in a cheesy way. I can't think of a way to make it less cheesy, and I also don't think it relates to her life in a in a helpful or interesting way.

The actual writing/grammar is fine. The college counselor and teacher had her add more personal details, but I think the topic is just really cringey.

[Anonymous]

Above poster here --- I know you said it was the topic not the writing. But is it bad because it's been done or is it bad bc its not well written. Even boring topics can be done well.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why you can't tell her the truth. She's your kid for crying out loud. Who else is going to tell her? "Larla, honey, this is just my honest opinion and I'm telling you because I want the best for you. I think you can come up with a much more compelling topic. I don't think this topic is highlighting who you are, your strengths, and what makes you, you. I think you should consider something like ___________________."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is going to be mad and cry.

But it's really really bad. Her grades/SATs/rigor are tippity top. Her essay is terrible and doesn't say that much about her.

Do we just rip the bandaid and tell her? Any tips on phrasing or what to say?

OMG just tell her it sucks! Do you really tread that lightly around your kid??

Not OP, but telling your kid their essay sucks at this point is not a good look. I would definitely tread that lightly around my own kid.

You clearly aren't Asian! I tell my fat lazy son that he is fat and lazy every day. Be strong and tell your child to rewrite her stupid essay.

I’m not, but thanks for making me laugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us the topic.

OP here. I won't get specific, but she mentions a popular childhood book series she enjoyed. And she relates it back to her own life in a cheesy way. I can't think of a way to make it less cheesy, and I also don't think it relates to her life in a in a helpful or interesting way.

The actual writing/grammar is fine. The college counselor and teacher had her add more personal details, but I think the topic is just really cringey.

Eh, let it go. If it’s well written and she wrote it from the heart, it’s fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us the topic.

OP here. I won't get specific, but she mentions a popular childhood book series she enjoyed. And she relates it back to her own life in a cheesy way. I can't think of a way to make it less cheesy, and I also don't think it relates to her life in a in a helpful or interesting way.

The actual writing/grammar is fine. The college counselor and teacher had her add more personal details, but I think the topic is just really cringey.

Hmmm. you can probably edit it with her. Add her personality, some sarcasm (if that's her), irreverence, self-deprecation about the choice of book, but voila, deeper meaning at the end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd have her show it to her counselor or English teacher or whoever she has to review her essay.

She has, to both of those people. They have made edits/suggestions but neither has said that the actual topic stinks.

Have you considered, then, that maybe you are wrong?

Maybe this?

I wasn't overly fond of our DC's "topic" but it was well-written and got across the point she wanted to make.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is going to be mad and cry.

But it's really really bad. Her grades/SATs/rigor are tippity top. Her essay is terrible and doesn't say that much about her.

Do we just rip the bandaid and tell her? Any tips on phrasing or what to say?

OMG just tell her it sucks! Do you really tread that lightly around your kid??

Not OP, but telling your kid their essay sucks at this point is not a good look. I would definitely tread that lightly around my own kid.

You clearly aren't Asian! I tell my fat lazy son that he is fat and lazy every day. Be strong and tell your child to rewrite her stupid essay.

I’m not, but thanks for making me laugh.

DP here. I'm Asian too but we're very Americanized. I don't know if this is a cultural thing but Asian parents don't play with this stuff. If it sucks, they'll tell you. This is her college application, OP. You should absolutely tell her what you think!

[Anonymous]

Depending on the series, that could be a good essay. If the series is Harry Potter, then that’s not as good as if the series is something a little more unique. If the series is the Wimpey Kid books or the Betsy-Tacy books, that might catch an admissions officer’s eye if the essay is done well.

I think you need to be careful because if you tell her to write something else and she doesn’t do a good job, she will blame you. She is going to have to write supplemental essays as well, no? So maybe you could start brainstorming with her about ideas for those essays, and see if any of them spark excitement enough in her that she may want to use that for her main essay. I think your best bet is to tell her she did a great job with the topic but that you wonder if there is a more compelling topic she could run with.

[Anonymous]

+1 and I am not asian. tell her!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is going to be mad and cry.

But it's really really bad. Her grades/SATs/rigor are tippity top. Her essay is terrible and doesn't say that much about her.

Do we just rip the bandaid and tell her? Any tips on phrasing or what to say?

OMG just tell her it sucks! Do you really tread that lightly around your kid??

Not OP, but telling your kid their essay sucks at this point is not a good look. I would definitely tread that lightly around my own kid.

You clearly aren't Asian! I tell my fat lazy son that he is fat and lazy every day. Be strong and tell your child to rewrite her stupid essay.

[Anonymous]

Better that you tell her, gently and kindly, than that she keeps working on something that doesn't have potential to really highlight her.
My DC found exercises like Brave and Interesting questions https://braveandinterestingquestions.com/
to be helpful to coming up with several essay topic ideas and from there outlined a few and then started drafting.

[Anonymous]

I thought my kid’s essay topic sucked and she got in everywhere she applied with merit, FWIW.

[Anonymous]

I told my kid her topic sucked. It did. Now she goes and finds “nicer” editors. The writing itself was very strong.

Basically she wrote about her mental state and enlightenment from when she was 10. As if all your growing up happens then. Has nothing else happened in the last 7 years?

I’ve read some other essays with bad topics, such as a traumatic event that was only tangentially related to author and led to no personal change or growth. That’s a sucky topic. I think author was recycling someone else’s essay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why you can't tell her the truth. She's your kid for crying out loud. Who else is going to tell her? "Larla, honey, this is just my honest opinion and I'm telling you because I want the best for you. I think you can come up with a much more compelling topic. I don't think this topic is highlighting who you are, your strengths, and what makes you, you. I think you should consider something like ___________________."

This! I kindly told my daughter early in her drafting of her first two essays that it was hard to see where they were going. The third essay she wrote was magic.

There are ways to give feedback that isn’t just criticism. You need to decide if it is meh or actively not good. If it is really not good I would consider it my job as a parent to let my kid know.

College is for four years. Crying is four minutes.