Your child’s essay.

[Anonymous]

Thankfully DD let us read her first draft, which she worked quite hard on, but it just wasn’t ok. It had all of the ‘don’t write about it’ topics, rolled into one essay- death of a family member, the big sports win after a roadblock and mental health struggles. We told her to scrap it and start over. Thankfully she agreed and did finally get a really nice essay written. Now she’s working her way through the supplemental essays. She’s our second kid, and for parents who will go through this process in the future: build in enough time for the first CA essay to be completely re-written if needed, realize that it takes a LONG time to edit anything, even those 50 word short answer questions, and don’t write your favorite/ED supp essays first- do a couple of other ones to warm up and then you’ll see your kid’s writing start to get better and more cohesive before they tackle the highest stakes essays. I’ve been surprised at the variation in my DD’s writing, sometimes it’s just beautiful and sometimes it’s what she calls “hot garbage”, depends on her mood while she’s writing (and if she’s hangry, tired, etc...lol)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of kids are using AI.
Be careful. Even if it is just for ideas because a lot of the ideas are all the same.

They are using it for school, even if they are not telling you and they are using it here.

What ideas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD did not offer to let me read hers. She wants the application process to be completely hers. No input from mom allowed.

Ugh! I don’t think this is smart. Independent doesn’t mean zero help. Even now, as a full grown adult, if I am working on a fellowship application or something very important, I ask my husband and other colleagues for feedback and editing help

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thankfully DD let us read her first draft, which she worked quite hard on, but it just wasn’t ok. It had all of the ‘don’t write about it’ topics, rolled into one essay- death of a family member, the big sports win after a roadblock and mental health struggles. We told her to scrap it and start over. Thankfully she agreed and did finally get a really nice essay written. Now she’s working her way through the supplemental essays. She’s our second kid, and for parents who will go through this process in the future: build in enough time for the first CA essay to be completely re-written if needed, realize that it takes a LONG time to edit anything, even those 50 word short answer questions, and don’t write your favorite/ED supp essays first- do a couple of other ones to warm up and then you’ll see your kid’s writing start to get better and more cohesive before they tackle the highest stakes essays. I’ve been surprised at the variation in my DD’s writing, sometimes it’s just beautiful and sometimes it’s what she calls “hot garbage”, depends on her mood while she’s writing (and if she’s hangry, tired, etc...lol)

This is good advice

[Anonymous]

Did anyone hire an essay coach? How did that work out? Was it worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD did not offer to let me read hers. She wants the application process to be completely hers. No input from mom allowed.

I have no problem with this but would recommend that they run the essay by their high school's college counselor or an English teacher (which is always recommended by the high school anyway). DS ignored outside advice but I was still satisfied that he ran essays by someone. And lo and behold his first choice college accepted a kid with essays that read like they were written by a 17 yr old boy.

I think AO’s are delighted to come across essays that are clearly written by 17 year olds. They can tell. All of these “how could you let them submit without reviewing?!!” posters are crazy.

[Anonymous]

I was very impressed by DC’s personal statement and UChicago essays. I hadn’t seen much of their writing before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone hire an essay coach? How did that work out? Was it worth it?

Yes. 💯
Made it not sound like a formal paper and gave it some life. Also made it sound like a conversation with my kid less like a speech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What did you think of their essays/prompts generally?
Were there surprises for you as to the contents?
Did you like their writing style?

I had been asking my ds how his essays were going for couple of weeks. He kept saying they are progressing.
Once finished, and I read them, I didn’t realize before he had a writing style.
I also got few insights about him(good way)
All in all was pleasantly surprised.

That’s nice!! A happy surprise. 😊💯 Good luck to all the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was very impressed by DC’s personal statement and UChicago essays. I hadn’t seen much of their writing before.

I loved my ds' Chicago essays too! They were by far the most interesting, because Chicago gives you the space to really go deep, plus the Uncommon essay prompts are so fun (he went through all the past ones on their website and picked what he liked best). They took a long time but the 'what major/why us" ended up being the basis for that supp for other schools, because it gave him the opportunity to think it through long form and really key in on what he wanted. Regardless of where he goes to school, the exercise of writing those essays really made him think about what he wants to study in college.

I loved his personal statement too - I was a little weepy by the end.

[Anonymous]

We did not hire an essay coach, writing tutor or private college counselor, so DS asked me and/or my husband to proofread his essays. I'm really proud of his essays and how much he's developed in his writing style since middle school!

[Anonymous]

It will be interesting to ask your kids -honestly - whether they used AI, and to come back in December or March to let everyone know the results and AI use.

According to my DC, everyone used AI for idea generation, like they do now for everything. I do think that's generally permitted.

I wonder how similar these essay ideas will be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our son didn’t share his essay with us but his college counselor read it and gave him feedback.

Same. We’ve had zero involvement in the college application process other than to go on tours with DS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did not hire an essay coach, writing tutor or private college counselor, so DS asked me and/or my husband to proofread his essays. I'm really proud of his essays and how much he's developed in his writing style since middle school!

It doesn't have to be the parents but I do think it's a mistake to have no one at all proofread or read over your kid's essays. especially the personal statement/common app that goes to nearly every school.

some parents who don't help or look at it at all do hire an essay coach/consultant/tutor or ask their kid to get help at school from an english teacher or counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son didn’t share his essay with us but his college counselor read it and gave him feedback.

Same. We’ve had zero involvement in the college application process other than to go on tours with DS.

Same here, with both of my kids (and at their high school they worked on their essays in English class).