A Guide to Writing College Admissions Essays

As admission officers give less weight to ACT and SAT scores, they give more attention to crisp, clear, authentic essays. This pragmatic guide from four proven pros teaches applicants and their parents how to craft essays that capitalize on each student’s strengths. -- John P. McCormick, former editorial page editor, Chicago Tribune Even though I am a college professor, I was unsure how to advise my children when they asked for feedback on their college admission essays. Of course, I told them to check grammar rules and avoid typo's at all costs, but that was not much help. This book would have been the perfect guide, providing a clear road map of what to avoid (hackneyed themes) and how to use the essay writing process as a way to learn more about themselves. What a great blessing to families navigating the college admissions process! -- Cynthia Conlon, JD, PhD, adjunct faculty Northwestern University The Franklins and their coauthors are knowledgeable and caring parents whose practical suggestions for writing college application essays are effective and to the point (which you will learn from this book is an improvement over “impactful and focused""). -- Eugene Sunshine, former chief administrative, business, financial and personnel officer of Northwestern University The spectre of the college essay looms large over students. In this concise book, the authors, two of whom are college counselors and two of whom are writers, guide students through the process of writing several drafts of an essay that is authentic and compelling. From the outset, they are frank about the book's purpose: it is a place to start, and further resources are thoughtfully organized in the final pages. They also caution that a good essay is no guarantee of acceptance. Nonetheless, this volume is full of useful general advice and practical and specific directives, from the importance (or not) of choosing a prompt from the options on the Common App to rules for capitalization and how to avoid clichés. They encourage students to write a first draft without worrying about the word count, followed by a chapter devoted to editing and how to accept critiques from others. Here, too, is an interview with a college counselor, and uplifting words for those who face rejection. This slim guide will be a welcome addition to public- and high-school-library collections. YA/S: College-bound students will find this guide approachable, practical, and helpful. * Booklist * The essay has long been an important piece of the college application, and it will likely become more so as schools begin to put less weight on test scores. This title, like others published recently, focuses on crafting essays that address the prompts and fit within the word limits of the Common Application. It also offers strategies for tackling the supplemental essays required by some schools. The volume guides readers from getting the first word on the page, to hitting the submit button (with an added section on dealing with rejection letters). The book is distinguished by its succinct advice (even the shortest attention spans will be able to stay the course) and its four authors’ varied perspectives—Suzanne Franklin and Linda Black are college counselors, Paul Weingarten is a journalist and editor, and Cory M. Franklin is a physician who has published widely in academic and popular outlets. The inclusion of sample essays from successful applications is a plus. A concise primer on concise writing. Will appeal to college applicants and some parents. * Library Journal *