College Essay Tips
How is your summer going? My busiest time of the year has begun, working closely with rising seniors to ensure we get ahead of the game before school starts.
While we continue pushing through the heat, here are some insights to help you stay cool for college applications!
Many are familiar with the “College Essay”, but it’s actually a lot more than just one essay. You're likely applying to 10-12 colleges, which means an additional 20+ essays might be on your horizon!
Additional, or ‘Supplemental Essays’ within the admission process, are open-ended questions tailored to reflect each institution's mission and values in hopes to find prospective students who fit.
Think of them as a special exhibit in a museum, illuminating what matters most to you and how you can contribute uniquely to a college community. It’s your chance to show off and shine!
Supplemental Essays are almost always referenced as a deciding factor for admission by my colleagues, so I’ve carved out the perfect plan for my clients to write them successfully.
CORE 4 RESPONSES
The “Core 4 Responses” found within the Magnolia Method are prompts meant to provoke reflection on the themes you will likely explore in Supplemental Essays prior to doing so, yielding clearer thoughts, better writing, and a higher chance of acceptance:
What is your most meaningful extracurricular activity?
What are the impacts you’ve made in your community or school?
How has your background or perspective been an influence on others?
Why are you passionate about your intended major?
Great care and attention should be given to the supplements, and ALWAYS respond to optional supplemental essays! This is incredible real estate on the application. Take every chance you can to explain why you are a good fit for a college!
I advise that applicants keep articulate notes throughout their high school journey about their experiences in and outside of the classroom. This material can offer incredible anecdotal support in supplemental responses. These responses are like a special exhibit in a museum! They really illuminate what an applicant cares about and can be used to elevate their strengths and unique contributions to a college community.
Wake Forest just released their supplemental topics for the Class of 2025 this past week you can check out here. Or, even more crazy and certainly more famous, check out U Chicago’s most updated supplements for the class of 2025.
LAGNIAPPE ESSAY TIPS
Get to Know the University: Dive deep into each college's mission and values, and artfully articulate why you're a perfect fit using stories from your own experiences.
Go Beyond the Obvious: Avoid talking about the beautiful campus or location; instead, show your passion for environmental causes or align your interests with a specific professor's research.Colleges are looking for experiences that shape who you are and what you care about. Volunteering to plant trees for 2 hours is a fabulous way to be a good person, but not the best way to demonstrate a larger or passion-fueled impact. Spreading yourself thin and casting too wide of a net doesn’t help you stand out, either. So I recommend choosing something you are personally invested in and devoting your time to that project, program, or initiative.
Be Descriptive: Skip cliché descriptors and use clear and intentional vocabulary to define yourself. Support your claims with real-life examples from your high school experiences.
Elevator Pitch Rule: Imagine meeting the dean of admissions in an elevator. What's the most important thing you want them to know about you to secure admission? Make sure it's reflected in your responses.
Lastly, don't fret over the writing process. If you're working with me, know that guiding students with their supplements is one of my superpowers and a cornerstone of the Magnolia Method!
The recent Supreme Court decision regarding affirmative action in college admissions has brought significant changes to how colleges approach Supplemental Essays. Historically, it has been one of the only places where students can showcase their diverse perspectives during the application process.
Some colleges, like The University of Virginia, are rewriting their prompts to better understand applicants' potential to continue to offer a diverse outlook on their campuses.
What does this mean for you or your student? Check out this article from Inside Higher Ed to learn more about how the Supreme Court decision will affect college applications.
Whether you’re a student, parent, teacher, or advisor—you recognize the tremendous benefit of higher education and its impact on shaping one’s future. And no matter your role within this incredibly defining decision-making process, it can be a stressful time for you.
I’m here to be your advisor, organizer, tutor, cheerleader, friend, and compass through this journey. I’ve helped over 2,000 students locate and gain acceptance to the college of their dreams, and I’m so excited to help you, too.
Let’s get to work!
-Allie Pierson, Founder