When you say your child's essays were amazing - objectively, how do you know that?

[Anonymous]

Too many think that the standard for determining whether or not an essay is outstanding is "did it make grandma cry" ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an editor at a very well-known publication. You've probably read things I've worked on. My son's essay was objectively very good. It wasn't a function of grammar and spelling, though; the essay was good because of topic selection, focus and impact. A stranger could read that essay, find it compelling and want to meet the kid who wrote it. Which, I guess, it what happened because he got into his target school.

What do you think are important components to one's college application essays ?

[Anonymous]

I worked at a top-20 university as a speechwriter and one Fall, we asked admissions for copies of their best essays to find some inspiration and possible quotes.

They sent a handful, including one I'd read verbatim. This was a gazillion years ago in the time of email forwards, and there had been one about a winning college essay that was full of embellished superlatives ("I've scaled walls," and "I've delivered babies in a tent in the frozen tundra,") and the last line is "But, I haven't yet gone to college." I was shocked, only because I think anyone would have forwarded that email to an admissions counselor, so how did they not know it was blatantly plagiarized. (But, I suppose this one didn't have any friends.) I located it online in 2 minutes, and my boss and I had a meeting to determine if we should report it. We eventually did because we were bound by the honor code, and later found out that the student started the school on probation.

I was 25 at the time and honestly the essays made me exhausted and a bit sad. The kids had done more than I had at that age.

My DC wrote a heartfelt one that was more about DC's personality and growth, which I found refreshing. It was quiet and got them admitted to top choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an editor at a very well-known publication. You've probably read things I've worked on. My son's essay was objectively very good. It wasn't a function of grammar and spelling, though; the essay was good because of topic selection, focus and impact. A stranger could read that essay, find it compelling and want to meet the kid who wrote it. Which, I guess, it what happened because he got into his target school.

What do you think are important components to one's college application essays ?

I'm PP. Honesty, self-awareness and focus on a very specific event and what it taught them about themselves/life. It's not an "all about me..." or "I did this..." thing. It's a "let me give you some insight into who I am through my reflections on a very specific event that happened to me."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because I wrote them

This great response really made me laugh!

+1. Reminds me of the great geography project I did for my kid's 6th grade project. It was so good that the teacher kept it to decorate her classroom walls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because I wrote them

This great response really made me laugh!

+1. Reminds me of the great geography project I did for my kid's 6th grade project. It was so good that the teacher kept it to decorate her classroom walls.

Ah yes. My father loved doing my school projects, and my teachers loved to keep them. They had an understanding. I was hardly ever involved!
Good memories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Objectively for my DD. She wrote about being there for the Arab spring in Egypt and about barricades, shootings, crowds breaking in.
My friend's son, who was there too, choose to write about his love for video games.

this isn't what makes an amazing essay. your daughter may still have written a crap essay and the other kid an amazing one. it comes down to how they wrote and structured it, themes, etc. (and your daughter's essay might have been amazing - but not bc she happened to live through a terrible event)

[Anonymous]

Jumpin' Jeebus there's about 100 books on writing good essays and what makes one, they are often written by former AOs and are trade paperback under $20. It ain't rocket surgery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because I wrote them

This great response really made me laugh!

+1. Reminds me of the great geography project I did for my kid's 6th grade project. It was so good that the teacher kept it to decorate her classroom walls.

Ah yes. My father loved doing my school projects, and my teachers loved to keep them. They had an understanding. I was hardly ever involved!
Good memories.

oh I know, and it pisses me off when I work hard on a paper only to get a meh grade on it. I mean do teachers know how hard I worked on it and how time consuming it was? The paper was GREAT!

I mean, I have a full time job and another kid to "support" as well, you know.

Signed,

MOM

[Anonymous]

I know because I wrote them.

[Anonymous]

I used to be an essay editor that got paid to edit college and grad school essays, so I've seen it all.

[Anonymous]

"I'm an editor at a very well-known publication. You've probably read things I've worked on. My son's essay was objectively very good. It wasn't a function of grammar and spelling, though; the essay was good because of topic selection, focus and impact. A stranger could read that essay, find it compelling and want to meet the kid who wrote it. Which, I guess, it what happened because he got into his target school."

THIS!!!

Lots of people think the essays are supposed to be where students showcase their wonderful grammar and spelling. Wrong!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because I wrote them

This great response really made me laugh!

+1. Reminds me of the great geography project I did for my kid's 6th grade project. It was so good that the teacher kept it to decorate her classroom walls.

Ah yes. My father loved doing my school projects, and my teachers loved to keep them. They had an understanding. I was hardly ever involved!
Good memories.

oh I know, and it pisses me off when I work hard on a paper only to get a meh grade on it. I mean do teachers know how hard I worked on it and how time consuming it was? The paper was GREAT!

I mean, I have a full time job and another kid to "support" as well, you know.

Signed,

MOM

Ha ha! Reminds me of a funny story. My kid was surprised to get Bs in AP Literature, after getting As in AP Lang. So I scoffed at him and said: "let me show you how a great essay is written." He handed it in on a lark. I received a B.



Now I let him get his own Bs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Objectively for my DD. She wrote about being there for the Arab spring in Egypt and about barricades, shootings, crowds breaking in.
My friend's son, who was there too, choose to write about his love for video games.

this isn't what makes an amazing essay. your daughter may still have written a crap essay and the other kid an amazing one. it comes down to how they wrote and structured it, themes, etc. (and your daughter's essay might have been amazing - but not bc she happened to live through a terrible event)

Arab spring was 13 years ago. So she was a preschooler? Toddler?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did not think DDs was that great. She shunned all outside advice.

Are you me? Same situation. While the essay was written well (not great) the topic was very weak. I was not drawn in and I adore her. Can't see it impressing a stranger who reads tons of them. Since she submitted the essay I did not share my thoughts. Did not want to criticize her, but I feel it has impacted acceptance in some schools.