Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:32     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
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.


That is actually a good topic. You have no idea what you are talking about.
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:32     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Okay, on this one I can help, my kid did a short answer essay that keyed off a favorite childhood book. His high school counselor said, "sweet, but trite," very common and they aren't looking to admit 4 year old you. She went on to list other topics/themes that have the same problems- 1) high school athletics interrupted by injury and 2) my grandma/grandpa is my hero (they also aren't looking to admit your grandpa). I wouldn't have thought of it that way but it made sense, they are trying to understand/compare 17 year old to see how they might grow and contribute in a field of other 17/18 YO's so topics highlight childhood or other people rather than current/future person are starting off at a big disadvantage. Sorry your school counselor didn't help you out on this one


My (non athleic) kid wrote about a fairly minor sports injury that changed their life. It was a great essay, funny, with a twist that tied into their future major.

They got into nearly every school they applied to, including several top 10 schools.


Interesting. Sports Injury is on the top of most lists about what NOT to write about, along with death of a loved one, making or not making a team, etc.
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:31     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
Anonymous wrote:It is safe to assume that with tens of thousands of applicants, most schools are only bot scanning the essays, not even reading any until possibly once they get to the final cut round.

Do the math.

Most of the essays are not getting read at all.


They often hire admissions readers.
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:31     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
How do you know it sucks?

I've coached students as a consultant am a college guide author. What some people think area great ideas, I think suck.
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:25     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
Anonymous wrote:My kid had a terrible topic but a friend who is editing his essay was able to salvage the topic and made suggestions to turn it into something decent. He is an athletic recruit with an offer and will apply ED, so I'm not sure exactly how much the essay matters.


Just a box to check, does not matter at all.
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:21     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
It is safe to assume that with tens of thousands of applicants, most schools are only bot scanning the essays, not even reading any until possibly once they get to the final cut round.

Do the math.

Most of the essays are not getting read at all.
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:18     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
there are very few bad topics
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:17     Subject: Re:How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
I asked a tutor if they could help use parts of the essay to turn it into something more compelling and get rid of the negativity in it. It wasn't perfect but in the end the essay didn't score points, but it didn't detract many points which is all I was going for. Adequate if not great. Check. Wasn't applying to a terribly selective school though.
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:12     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
My kid had a terrible topic but a friend who is editing his essay was able to salvage the topic and made suggestions to turn it into something decent. He is an athletic recruit with an offer and will apply ED, so I'm not sure exactly how much the essay matters.
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:12     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
Anonymous wrote:Did she ask? If not, hush.

If she did, how long since you read it? Are you leaving her to stew while you ask DCUM?

"The writing is really good, so I've been trying to figure out why it feels like it's missing something, and I think I'm worried that you're not giving a sense of you, specifically. Is that why X and Y told you to give more personal details?"



This is a good way to frame it.
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:12     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
Anonymous wrote:I'd stay out of it unless she asks you. Not your lane.

Yes, DCUM Snowplow Parents, this may mean she goes to a college 25 slots lower in UNWR rankings than she might have (gasp!!)

Your relationship with your daughter, her independence, and her own pride in earning her place in college with her efforts are all worth way more.


Them's fightin' words 'round these parts!
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:11     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
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.


This is not a terrible idea. It would depend on how she executed it.

If it is, say, Harry Potter, it's probably been written many times before, plus JK Rowling wound up very out of favor.
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:06     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Okay, on this one I can help, my kid did a short answer essay that keyed off a favorite childhood book. His high school counselor said, "sweet, but trite," very common and they aren't looking to admit 4 year old you. She went on to list other topics/themes that have the same problems- 1) high school athletics interrupted by injury and 2) my grandma/grandpa is my hero (they also aren't looking to admit your grandpa). I wouldn't have thought of it that way but it made sense, they are trying to understand/compare 17 year old to see how they might grow and contribute in a field of other 17/18 YO's so topics highlight childhood or other people rather than current/future person are starting off at a big disadvantage. Sorry your school counselor didn't help you out on this one


My (non athleic) kid wrote about a fairly minor sports injury that changed their life. It was a great essay, funny, with a twist that tied into their future major.

They got into nearly every school they applied to, including several top 10 schools.
Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:04     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
Anonymous wrote:No. You don’t tell her. It’s her journey.
plus a million. Butt out. My mom was very heavy handed and I got rejected from my first choice. Probably woukd have anyway, but I would have felt better about it if it felt like my own work.

Anonymous
Post 09/25/2025 14:03     Subject: How to tell teen her essay topic sucks?
Anonymous wrote:Step up and pay a professional for their opinion.

Don't be an a** to your kid about the topic. It is one thing to do it early on in the process but now it is too late.


Completely unnecessary and ridiculous. The point of the essay is to see how a kid can write, in their own voice. OP’s kid did that. If everything else in their package is “tippity top,” a cringey topic won’t make or break anything. And if it’s really that bad, then maybe the kid just isn’t that tippity top after all.