Making an essay sound like a teenager wrote it.

[Anonymous]

My kid didn’t get into Yale bc she was too smart. Honestly listen to yourself.

[Anonymous]

My college kid is autistic and has a formal style, and I was worried they'd think it was AI.

But there isn't much you can do about it, OP. Your teen must be allowed to write in her voice.

[Anonymous]

Read AdmissionsTom feedback at end on how the most stellar essay was “shaped out” of the Pomona class:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege/s/ALqCVor2m7

[Anonymous]

Give the OP a break. In the AI confusion when plenty of students in HS and college DO get accused unfairly of GAI (and, yes, plenty who did use it and get caught), it's a legit questions.

College professor here. If your teen is a good writer, then her work probably comes with a certain voice that will ring through. There's a *big* difference between an essay that might use well-chosen vocabulary with a human perspective and a piece with big words that doesn't actually say anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My college kid is autistic and has a formal style, and I was worried they'd think it was AI.

But there isn't much you can do about it, OP. Your teen must be allowed to write in her voice.

Wouldn’t s/he be more disadvantaged during interviews?

[Anonymous]

Seems like an awesome problem to have, but I would imagine that if your DC is such a great writer their English teacher would reflect that in their recommendation. There is nothing to change - best advice I've heard is to be authentic and admissions committees generally know who wrote their own essays versus a family member or certainly AI.

[Anonymous]

My friend's kid had a very formal tone in her essay.
She sent it to me (I am an English teacher) and I reminded her about a good story where she showed resilience in the face of adversity.
She rewrote it and it had a more youthful tone.

[Anonymous]

How to make it look like a teen wrote it? Put an exclamation mark after every sentence!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good lord do you really think your kids are the only good writers out there? Lots and lots and lots of kids are strong writers. Does kid have 5 on Eng Lang AP? In 700s for verbal SAT score? Good Rec from English teacher? Then they’ll know your DC, just like 1000s of others, is a strong writer. Be grateful and move along.

Blunt but yes, this.
The legacy of Pharaoh Ramses II is clear to all who live in Egypt. He has built great temples, statues, and monuments that show his power and devotion to the gods. His rule has brought strength and stability to the land. We are protected from enemies, and the kingdom is prosperous.I heard that he signed a peace treaty with the Hittites instead of waging war with them! Even though I will never meet him, I feel his presence in everything around me.
When I work on the temples during the flood season, I see the greatness of his vision. The massive stones, the carvings, and the statues are unlike anything I have ever seen. These structures will stand for generations, reminding all people of the power of Ramses II. I am proud to play a small part in his legacy, even if my name is never known.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a strong writer with a classical education. She’s planning to major in English or History. Her writing is very mature and has a formal tone, and she prides her self on her large vocabulary. How can she give her application essay more of a teenager feel, so she isn’t accused of being her mother? Are their tools that measure the “age” of writing?

My DS writes like an old soul. Seems to have worked out well, so I would not worry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is a strong writer with a classical education. She’s planning to major in English or History. Her writing is very mature and has a formal tone, and she prides her self on her large vocabulary. How can she give her application essay more of a teenager feel, so she isn’t accused of being her mother? Are their tools that measure the “age” of writing?

In the distant past, around 2005, life was much simpler and happier than it is today, in modern times…