You’ve done all you need to in four years of high school – getting good grades, lining up extracurriculars, taking the requisite SAT and/or ACT – so you’re feeling pretty good as you start filling out your college application. But there’s one thing you weren’t anticipating: writing a personal essay is really hard. You feel you can’t do this alone and want some assistance. But wait! Is it OK to get help with your college application essay?
Maybe English was never your strongest subject, or maybe you’re just not that skilled in writing about yourself yet. For every other aspect of your college applications, there’s a clear path for preparation. But when it comes to writing a college application essay that stands out amongst hundreds of others—which is becoming increasingly important to admissions officers—you may find that daunting.
What should you do? We recommend that if at all possible, you should get some quality help for making sure you write your best possible essay. Here’s why.
Get Ethical Help
Many students get tutoring in various subjects at various points in their school year, and go through SAT and ACT prep classes so they can do better in them. They do this because schools may not have done a good enough job of preparing every student for these tasks. And schools often do not have the resources to help every student become proficient in writing a compelling personal statement. So why is it a problem to get help with your college application essay?
It is because some people resort to having someone else write their essay. That is patently dishonest, as would be having someone else take your SAT/ACT exams. Colleges want to hear what you have to say, and you are doing yourself a disservice by having someone else write it. Have the courage to tackle your personal essay yourself, but feel comfortable that it is ethical to get some guidance in doing it right.
A Coach Can Show You The Way
Even for adults, learning to write about yourself—and write well—may take years of practice. You have to write from a place of authenticity while still making your story accessible to the audience—why should they care about what you have to say? What makes your point of view unique?
An experienced writing coach can help. Not only will they have knowledge about writing personal narratives for public audiences, they will also be able to help target it to the college application. They’ll be able to help you write a good story that fits within the limits imposed by your specific applications, such as word count and subject matter.
Quality Feedback Improves All Of Your Writing
Parents, teachers and other trusted adults are often good people you can ask to read your personal essay. However, they won’t be able to give the objective, unbiased opinion you’d want for something as important as a college application. An outside review would help you understand how someone who doesn’t know you personally would react to your essay.
Depending on how you get your feedback and whom you get it from, getting help with your personal statement can also improve your writing in the long run. You’ll receive personalized feedback and can apply it to anything you write in the future. The techniques for good writing that you learn with a high-quality writing tutor are especially helpful for students who don’t write as frequently.
Reduces The Stress Of Perfecting Your Writing
There are many aspects to consider in writing an effective personal statement, from picking the right story to match your prompt, to using the right voice to provide the maximum impact to the reader. Making sure you hit every point correctly and make your essay compelling to read may leave you feeling overwhelmed.
Be kind to yourself. Submitting the college application is a nerve-wracking experience, so take every opportunity you can get to reduce your stress and anxiety. It is a big relief and confidence booster to have someone help you pull it all together.
Of course you have to find the right kind of help for you: based on where you are in the process and your own needs and preferences. Step 1 is making the decision to get help in writing your essay, Step 2 is finding the help you need. Look for our next post on this topic!
Meanwhile, follow us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook to get weekly tips and other useful information for your college admission essay!
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Trying to figure out if it is time to get serious about the college process? Check out our handy list of college applications with November due dates and see if your target schools are listed here!
(For transfers, early decision or other requirements, please check the college website for more details.)
Colleges With November 30 Deadline
Get Started Now!
If any of your favorite colleges are listed, first visit their website and confirm the deadline details and requirements.
November is a short month, plus it is the beginning of the holiday season kicked off by Thanksgiving. So, start making a plan, if you haven’t done so already, and get cracking on your application.
Your personal statement will take time, so make sure you set aside enough time for it. If you think you may need help with your college application essay, line up your resources early – everybody is going to be looking for essay coaches at the same time! In a time crunch? Meemli can help, with flexible offerings (including a free one) to suit your needs, check out what we can do.
Applying to college is hard work, but it can also be enjoyable. Take a moment to breathe and appreciate the fact you’re now preparing to leave high school and move on to the next big life adventure!
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You might have heard your teachers, counselors and parents pushing you to “Start writing your college essay early!”. But you’re busy with schoolwork and extracurriculars and used to routinely turning in assignments at midnight on the due date, so it’s understandable that you ask “It’s just another essay. Why start early? “.
Your college essay may be the most important part of your application. You want to showcase your best self and convince the college admissions officer to put your application in the “yes” pile. But a winning essay, like most worthwhile things in life, takes effort – and time!
Here are four reasons why you should start thinking about your college essay now.
Writing About Yourself Isn’t Easy
Until the first college application essay, most of us don’t have much experience writing about ourselves, leave alone writing a piece that will convince the reader that we’re exactly the kind of person they want.
So, you first have to start digging in and reflecting about yourself. And, as is common when you apply to multiple colleges, you may need to write many essays, all addressing a slightly different aspect of who you are.
You may think your life is boring and dull, but no life is ordinary. There’s a compelling story in you. To pull it out, you just need to think hard, think different, make notes, ask others’ opinions – all of which takes time. You have some serious “me research” to do!
One Draft Won’t Be Enough
There may be no magic number for the number of drafts you’d need for your college essay, but you can safely assume that “one and done” is not likely. Think of it as a preparation for college: the process of writing a quality college-level essay may take many more revisions than students are prepared for!
So every revision is going to take time, and if you’re trying to do this along with your regular schoolwork and other commitments, you can see why you have to give yourself more time.
Outside Opinions Are Useful
Perhaps English has always been your best subject, and you’re a downright grammar whiz—that’s great! But everyone needs a second (or third) pair of eyes when it comes to writing something important. When it comes to your own writing, you spend so much time with the piece that you’re not able to judge it objectively. Someone reading it with fresh eyes will be able to spot missteps.
But getting the opinions of your family may not be enough (after all, they’re close to you), and few teachers have the time to read the college essays of all their students. So you have to put in the time to find the right people you can trust read your essay and give you valuable feedback.
You May Need More Guidance
As we mentioned earlier, writing personal statements is not easy for most people, and you may need some professional help in writing your essay. You may have difficulty figuring out what to write about or how to write it well, and may not have access to the necessary resources at school or at home.
There are many helpful guides available on the Internet, but if you need access to an expert, you should look for qualified professionals who can give you what you need. You may also have some constraints on price or whether you want your help online or in person. Do the research to find what is available. (Meemli has online college essay offerings that may be right for you – learn more here!)
You Can Reduce The Stress!
At school, you may sometimes get away with submitting your assignments late, but college admissions deadlines are firm and you don’t want to miss them. Putting off starting your essay until the last few days greatly increases the risk of your submitting a lesser essay because you just don’t have the time to do it right.
On the other hand, having your college essay finished well in advance greatly increases your confidence that you’re submitting a quality piece of writing and allows you to focus on other aspects of submitting your application. Reducing the last-minute pressure is one of the best reasons to start writing your college essay early!
Writing a compelling college essay is critical, but starting early is one of the sure-fire ways to reduce the stress and improve the quality of your essay. Do you agree? Leave us a reply!
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(This is a common issue every college application season! Here are some tips for students who’re opting for an English major to help their parents feel good about their choice.)
Of all the dreaded teen student revelations – belly piercings, failed classes, regrettable Instagram posts – hearing that your child wants to be an English major in college is pretty high up there in terms of parental dread. After all, between an anemic hiring market (outside of tech) and record-high levels of student loan debt, liberal arts degrees have come under fire. So if your parents are freaking out about your planned choice of major, what should you do?
We have some pointers to help your parents understand the positive potential of an English major in college. Here’s what you do:
Read the Post.
Understand the points.
Do your prep (research).
Share the post with your parents.
Discuss!
Four steps to take the worry out and bring confidence in your choice of the major.
First Take a Deep Breath
Even if your parents are dead set against a liberal arts degree, and are worried you want to be an English major, help them understand that an immediate knee-jerk reaction won’t help anyone. Their reasons for wanting a more technical major may be based in logic, so they should be prepared to discuss your chosen field of study calmly and rationally. Be prepared to back up your choice with numbers and sources.
English Majors Have Value
Sure, STEM and pre-professional fields (education, healthcare, business) have better-than-average employment rates, but according to a 2014 Georgetown study, English majors have comparable employment rates with more “practical” majors like hospitality management, economics and political science. A senior thesis on James Joyce doesn’t necessarily send you straight to the unemployment line.
Moreover, studying the humanities doesn’t just hone your ability to compare Romantic literature and modern film. You are learning to quickly synthesize large amounts of information, think critically, recognize patterns, research and communicate effectively. And studying English is hard work – don’t assume that an English major is slacking off just because he isn’t pursuing a STEM degree.
The Path To Employability
If there is still concern about employability with a humanities degree, you and your parents can discuss how to make yourself as hirable as possible. No matter what you study, some quantitative experience can help – Code.org provides free introductory programming classes, for example, and you can brush up on his math skills with a summer course. Computer skills are in high demand, and they don’t necessarily preclude a humanities degree. And if you wants to get into a good liberal arts program, you still needs to successfully complete high school math requirements!
Focus On Happiness, Present And Future
In the long run, your parent’s goal is the same as yours – your happiness. And truth be told, financial security plays a big part in that, so their concern is justified. Work with your parents of translate the typical salary levels for your college and major to quality of life: if you’re making the median amount, will you be able to make a decent living in your dream city? Pay for an apartment while still saving for retirement? Get a master’s without drowning in debt? Money can be a pretty abstract concept for teenage students, so getting your parents’ assistance in laying it out in concrete terms will help you have a more realistic picture of what the future will be like.
Make an effort to talk to English majors who graduated recently (and maybe your parents can too). The college counselor may be able to connect you to some so you can learn about their career paths and get their advice on their choice of major and its rewards as well as challenges. A true story will resonate more deeply than any statistic.
Do your own research on opportunities for English majors – just for your own peace of mind. Many colleges have pages on career options for different majors, including English, and here’s an article that shows even tech companies need English majors!
Last but not least, remember that nothing is set in stone: your choice of major may change ten times before graduation, or it may not; you may find a job offer straight out of college, or struggle for a bit; you may even switch careers ten years later. Many English majors have achieved financial success as well as fulfillment in their careers. Your parents should be reassured that with your hard work and preparation (as you have shown in your efforts to convince them) and their unqualified support, you’re going to be better than OK!
Have something to share about English majors? Leave us a reply!
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If you’re a high school senior, right about now you’re freaking out about your college application essay. After all, everyone tells you it is SO IMPORTANT and will determine whether you get into the college you want – or NOT!! This is the stuff of nightmares and panic attacks.
But relax.. It’s really not that scary-impossible. Approximately 2.2 million students enroll in college every year! And that “personal statement”? It is only one of the ways colleges know how amazing you are – your test scores, grades and extra-curriculars matter too!
Meemli experts are happy to share a few simple steps that you can remember next time the anxiety strikes, then take a deep breath, and let it go – you got this!
Need more reassurance and active support in writing your essay? There are many places where you can get help:
– At school, from counselors and teachers, as available
– At home, from parents and experienced family members
– From private college admissions counseling services
– From Meemli!
Meemli also offers various options for helping you with your essay, from guiding you through the steps to helping you polish the finished product. And you can take the course from the comfort of home – you can’t beat that for easy access! (You can get more info here.)
Here’s the takeaway: college essays can be stressful until you have a handle on what is needed, why it is needed and how you can deliver it. We hope this infographic gives you a start.
Need more? Let us know how we can help!
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Transitioning to high school can be can be rather overwhelming for new students. Sitting through long classes with new teachers is challenging enough, but getting used to the social aspects of school can be even tougher. If you are new to the area and school, you probably don’t have any friends there. And even if you are lucky and know some friends from middle school, now is the time for “high school networking” – just another word for getting to know new people and making new friends – and embrace the fact that your world is getting bigger.
You may already be connected to friends on social media, but your high school network is going to be the start of your personal network for life – so don’t take it for granted! While you may end with having everyone in school as a “friend” or a follower somewhere, you know it is not meaningful unless they know you as an individual, so make an effort to connect and get to know them in person first.
Your network is both fun and useful to you and here are some easy ways to get started.
Friend Your Teachers
Students benefit dramatically from getting to know their teachers, but most don’t take the time to do this. Since most high school teachers in public schools can have around 150 or more students during a semester, you need to help your teacher remember you. When you make an effort to connect with the teacher, it will help you stand out amidst all the others who sit silently in class.
There are several things that you can do to get to know your teachers. First, pick a couple of them who seem more approachable, which would make it easier for you. Then pick a teacher for a subject you actually care about and may consider as a major (planning ahead for teacher recommendations!). Send your teacher an email, or hang back after class, or meet during “office hours” or other pre-set collaboration times. You can ask for help or something general, like asking an English teacher to suggest a favorite book or a science teacher to comment on an exciting news item.
Getting to know at least a few teachers makes you more confident at school, and the best teachers are the ones you are going to be happy staying in touch with all your life!
Grab Lunch And Make Friends
Another difficult part of school is getting through the lunchroom. When students enter high school, they are often surprised that their schools have more than one lunch session. Large schools can have three or four different lunch times. So, while you may not always have lunch with your existing friends, you take advantage of the opportunity to make new ones. Get to know students that are in your pre-lunch class so you have someone to walk to the cafeteria with and most likely sit together for lunch. Keep in mind that you’re not the only one feeling nervous about not knowing anyone at lunch – most other students are in same position.
On other thing, try to get outside of your comfort zone and meet people who are not just like you. You learn so much more from talking to people with different perspectives, so make it a point to seek out students who may zig while you zag!
High Schools Have Playgroups Too
Extracurriculars. That’s how you can “play” with a group of students who share the same interest, and get to make new friends. Most schools have something for everyone. If you are athletic, join the sport of your choice. If you love the arts, visual or performing, you’ll have band, theater and arts groups to check out. If you are into social causes, there will be groups that will welcome another passionate volunteer. There are even academically oriented groups, from Shakespeare to Robotics, for those who feel they don’t get enough of a subject in class.
If all else fails, start your own group – it shows leadership! If you have questions about a group, asking other students or the teacher sponsor will be another way for you to get to know more people who are involved in something that you are care about. The friends you make over shared interests are very likely to be the friends you stay in touch with for decades to come.
Here’s the takeaway: school is all about your education. But, education is not just from books or computer screens. Your time getting an education will be so much more enjoyable and productive if you have people to share it with you. Taking the time to make connections with teachers and friends with other students, will make a huge difference to you for the next four years and beyond. So go ahead, seize the day/month/year and start building your own quality network of awesome people now!
Have a question or comment on teens networking? Leave us a reply!