Essays: Editing Guidance
The college application process is a marathon - not a sprint. And if your student is working on early deadline applications, they are probably wondering when they will see the light at the end of the tunnel and maybe even hitting the proverbial “wall.” The first big round of deadlines hits on November 1 (a few come earlier) and most students start submitting applications at some point in October. Here are some practical tips for you, the parent and cheerleader-in-chief, as your student pushes through this marathon.
Your student is likely spending a good amount of time drafting, editing, and perhaps grumbling right about now. Some students happily share their Personal Statement and essay drafts with parents. Others don't. Respect their choice. If they share it with you, are they inviting you to simply read it? Or are they asking you for feedback or for editing? (You can review our posts on Personal Statement Writing and on Supplemental Essays for an overview of what your student is working on.)
If you, the parent, are acting as an editor, remember that this is not an academic essay. Creativity is encouraged. The purpose is to show a college "this is who I am, and this is what I will bring to your campus community." The purpose is not to repeat resume entries or write a biography, nor to emphasize accomplishments (those will be evident in your student’s Activities entries, transcript, and letters of recommendation). It is not to write about someone else, regardless of the impact or valor of that person. The goal is authenticity - if a high school were to post 100 Personal Statements with identifying information redacted, you should be able to walk through and identify your student's Personal Statement without hesitation. Encourage authenticity and let them tell their story.
If they don't share it with you, encourage them to have two editors - one who knows the student well and can review for authenticity and true voice, and another who has editing skills.
It is absolutely fine to provide editing assistance - colleges expect that students have gone through an editing process. (Of course, it is not fine to write them for your student, but who would do that?)
Tip of the Week: There is no magic formula for a Personal Statement or other essay. Students shouldn’t worry about what they think a college wants to hear – they should instead focus on what they want to tell the college. If your student starts second-guessing themselves or their work, remind them that authenticity is everything and that the best essays tell the admissions committees who the student truly is.