Essay Tips for Your Child

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Conquering the Blank Page

The personal essay is a source of anxiety for most prospective college students. It is the least structured part of the college application process and can carry a lot of weight with admissions officials.

Many parents want to help make sure their child's essay is successful, but there are dangers to being too involved. Too much influence from parents can mute the unique voice of the writer that schools want to see, and most students will be rejected out of hand if the school suspects the essay is not their own work.

Yet parents can play a big role in helping a child overcome essay anxiety and start writing. Preparing in advance and adhering to a few simple tips can get the job done without too much suffering. First, you can help your child remember that writing is difficult, even for writers, and that he can expect to go through many drafts. With this in mind, he should schedule himself lots of time for revisions, and he shouldn't feel too defeated by the first, often awkward attempts.

You're the One That I Want

College admissions officers look to the essay for evidence that a student can write well and support ideas with logical arguments. They also want to know something about the personality of the student. Andrew Flagel, dean of admissions at George Mason University, says there is no magic formula for writing a perfect college essay. "An essay that is well-written, free of grammatical errors, and spells out why the school is a good match can help a student get in," says Flagel. He cautions that parents and students should do the research before applying to ensure the school is right for the student and offers an environment where he can flourish.

Before embarking, your child might want to write down in one place all the essay questions included in the applications. Often these are open-ended questions that allow the student to choose a direction, such as "What was your worst moment and why?" or, "If you could live during any time in history, which time would you choose?" This exercise should give a sense of what is being asked and help get the creative juices flowing.

Just Be Yourself

Rather than writing about high-minded topics or exotic locales, your child should pick an essay topic that he knows about. A college essay doesn't have to be about trekking through China to reveal something profound. In fact, admission officials say that high-minded essays often fail to reveal the unique character of the writer because they are so focused on impressing the reader. "An essay that is well-written, free of grammatical errors, and spells out why the school is a good match can help a student get in," says Flagel

Once he starts thinking about a topic, your child might want to jot down notes that will help bring his experience to life. He should include concrete details such as how the wind felt on his face as he attempted skiing for the first time, or how his stomach felt as he waited to find out if he'd been accepted to the debate team. These notes will be a lifesaver when the student sits down and faces the blank page waiting to be filled.

The common rules for writing apply to the college essay. It should use words your child is comfortable using and employ conversational language. Encourage your child to avoid the thesaurus. It should be concise, certainly no longer than the limit given, and it should make a tired, overworked admissions official want to read it to the very end.

Once that first draft is finally wrenched from inside, your child will want to show it to one or two trusted reviewers. Parents are not always the right choice. They are often too close to the process to be of much objective help. A grammar whiz and a sympathetic but eagle-eyed friend are good reviewers.

At the end, although at times it may seem inconceivable, the personal essay will at last be conquered. Many writers find the essay to be a valuable learning experience in its own right: It may provide new insight into growing up or leaving home. You, too, may find yourself surprised by the reflections of this child on the threshold of adulthood.