Is your child ready to start their college essay? (Part 2)

PARENTS!!!! READ THIS WITH YOUR RISING SENIOR!!!!

Use the rules below and you’re on your way!!!!

Be specific.  Keep your focus narrow and personal by figuring out how the question relates to your personal qualities and then taking a specific angle. Make sure everything you write supports that viewpoint. But don’t adopt a preachy tone. College admission officers don’t want to be lectured on rainforest destruction. Instead, tell them how you became interested in environmentalism.

Use the active voice. This is a challenge for all writers. As a matter of style, writing in an active voice energizes an essay. Avoid the passive voice. Word processing programs often provide assistance with converting passive sentences to the active tense.

Avoid clichés. Clichés usually sneak in when you are trying to be descriptive. Sadly, they dilute your distinctive voice.  Don’t rely on phrases or ideas that people have used many times before like, “There is so much suffering in the world that I feel I have to help people.” Avoid overly formal or business-like language, and don’t use unnecessary words.  Although humor is good, avoid one–liners, limericks and anything off–color.

Need more help? We are offering our How to Write an Awesome College Essay course and I will read your essay! Click this link and follow the steps to write the essay and I will read it and give you video feedback. Let’s do this together!