I have definitely never seen an LOR. But I'm an avid reader. I know good writing when I see it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because I wrote them

If there was a like button on dcum, this would be the most liked comment.

Might also win for "most honest" comment.

Anonymous wrote:Because I wrote them

If there was a like button on dcum, this would be the most liked comment.

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.

12:58 again. I think the parents who say their kid had great LORs must have been allowed to read them. DS and I have no idea what was written about him. He got into UMD Honors, which we considered a safety, so the LORs must have been decent!

Anonymous wrote:You don't which is why it is complete nonsense when folks wonder why little johnny was rejected even though they had high stats and "amazing" essays.

Best advice is to get some neutral party to read your kid's essays and give blunt feedback...even if you have to shell out a couple of bucks (but a blunt relative/friend is valuable as well).

Also, the best essay in the world can't overcome a moribund or red flag topic. That is valuable feedback as well.

Only if the friend or relative is familiar with what schools are looking for in application essays.

It's true I do not have as large a pool of comparison as admissions officers. However I read multiple "best essays" examples online and in books, from the traditional to the whimsical. And then I read my child's multiple drafts. The first ones had the right ideas but were horribly written. Then he refined his writing gradually over the course of many weeks to make his original message stand out better and better until he had a really well-written interesting story arc that explained who he was and why he'd picked his major. I almost feared it was too polished and would make readers think he hadn't written it himself!

So yes, my opinion is mostly subjective, but I did find supposedly great essays that I compared his to.

You don't which is why it is complete nonsense when folks wonder why little johnny was rejected even though they had high stats and "amazing" essays.

Best advice is to get some neutral party to read your kid's essays and give blunt feedback...even if you have to shell out a couple of bucks (but a blunt relative/friend is valuable as well).

Also, the best essay in the world can't overcome a moribund or red flag topic. That is valuable feedback as well.

Anonymous wrote:Because I wrote them

This great response really made me laugh!

I always have this thought as well b/c there is a subjective nature to essays.

I’m also curious about the “excellent LORs”. I think my kid asked excellent teachers, but the LORs go straight to the college and we were advised to sign the form on the common app that agrees you won’t read them.

I always wonder the same!

Because I wrote them

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

Parents and grandparents react emotionally to the essays of their college applicant.

I see so many parents here (and on other forums) say that their kids' essays were amazing. On what basis? Just your opinion, or do you share them with someone who can objectively say so?

I myself have no idea what makes a personal statement amazing, so I won't be much help to my kid in this regard if they ask me for feedback on an essay.