Category Archives: essays

essays, Guest Posts

The Unspoken Word Among Students: Plagiarism

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plagiarism

We always use the word “ethical” if we want to describe something what is right, made or done according to rules and involves some moral values. Why then should we refer plagiarism to ethical issues too? Let us specify what plagiarism is. There are several activities that are referred to the notion: substantial copy-paste, intentional paraphrasing, use of one’s ideas representing them as your own ones, avoidance of crediting the source etc. All these actions are immoral and can be considered to be a violation of widely accepted ethical rules, consequently, plagiarism is one of the main ethical issues nowadays. At the same time, there are such cases that can’t be called unethical. Think only about self-plagiarism or accidental one: these issues can be hardly called intentional, so plagiarism remains a rather controversial term.

Gray areas or inability to give a definite answer

Is it always possible to answer the question: is it plagiarized? Despite the number of various software like Noplag.com Plagiarism Checker, for example, it is always difficult to give the only right answer to this question. The standards of plagiarism depend on many different points: this might be a genre of writing, the field of writing (lawyers are allowed to copy some pieces into their speeches, while politicians are not), a person, who has written the text (a school graduate or an experienced philologist) etc. Many people will admit that some of these cases can’t be called unethical, but in reality, everything must be decided only in the court. And if the situation is recognized to be a fraud or even a crime, the punishment will be rather severe. On the other side, plagiarism does not belong to the list of crimes and copyright does not cover all the misdeeds that are regarded to be this illegal activity. That is why it is extremely important to draw a line between what plagiarism is and where its ethical boundaries are located. Let us look at the gray areas of this notion that despite being extremely controversial are not considered to be plagiarized:

 

  • Self-plagiarism: a situation, when a writer uses his thought or statement, which has already been published in the different source, in his next text. It is impossible to convict the writer as it is his own idea, but it is always advisable to recycle the content.
  • Patchwriting: composing a text of passages from various sources. It can be called a unique style of writing, though it can’t be called an original piece of writing.
  • Paraphrasing: rewriting some piece using your own words. Though this point has some connection with stealing ideas or viewpoints, all of us are taught to paraphrase at schools, so consequently, it might be called a criminal activity.
  • Allusion: offering another source as an example is a very tricky thing, but it is also a good way to clear off the accusations of plagiarism.
  • Ghostwriting: the process of creating some content under the another author’s name can’t be called plagiarism too as you still create something new even calling yourself a different person.
  • Collaborative writing: if a book or article has several authors, it does not mean that all of them are credited the same and each of these representatives can pull a suitable part from other works.

 

All these issues can’t be evaluated only as completely right or completely wrong ones, so our relation to them is the only right answer for us personally.

How to spot plagiarizing

There are several indicators to help you to recognize a plagiarist:

 

  • Intentional omission of citations and references;
  • Figures of a completely different style than previous ones;
  • Very old researches and information according to which there have been no other ones conducted recently;
  • Sentences are not connected by content;

 

At the same time, the best thing that may help you to spot plagiarizing is a free online checker such as Noplag.com, for example. It will show you all the parts that were copied from other writers or intentionally paraphrased. By checking each your text your moral state will be always perfect and you will never suffer from self-reproach.

Plagiarism: ethics of stealing

In any case, if you make intentional efforts to use one’s work, idea or statement and avoid citing it, this action can be considered a literary theft. You commit an immoral illegal crime, which is known to everyone as a theft. Each original work is protected by copyright laws and violating intellectual property you commit a crime. As a result, if to speak about ethics, you must realize that plagiarism is the ethics of stealing and it may result in not very good consequences both for a plagiarist and the author of the original text.

______________________

Today’s guest post is from Lesia Kovtun. Lesia is an ex English teacher who helps parents/students and organizations with educational planning. I am a tech savvy, who loves education and technology, that makes studying process more convenient and collaborative. Currently working with Noplag.com team as a consultant.

essays, Guest Posts

10 Tips for Writing College Admissions Worthy Essays

 

essays

The average American student attends school 180 days each year. Multiply that by 12 years and, by the time you graduate, you get 2,160 compulsory school days. You would think after all that reading, writing, studying, test-taking, and amassing of extracurricular and civic engagements that writing a college admissions essay would be a breeze. For many, however, that could not be further from the truth.

Somewhere around seventh grade, American schools tend to shift from an emphasis on narrative and descriptive writing to expository and persuasive writing.   As the vast majority of college/university admissions departments favor narrative and descriptive essays, this creates an unfortunate situation for many college applicants.  Even advanced high school writers may find the college admissions essay difficult to write.

Here are the 10 most important writing tips I’ve gained from my years of experience helping students write admission-worthy essay. Follow them and you will be well on your way to writing the kind of essays that transport admissions officers to a time and place showered in such detail it is as if they have been personally invited into the past to experience your life first hand.

1. Write in the Right Style

The first writing tip I want to share is to select the right writing style for your admissions essay. The vast majority of college admissions essays are personal narrative and memoir. Both draw upon real-life experiences to tell true stories in a fictionalized style that includes characters, plot, conflict, setting, and theme.

Personal narrative relays the storyteller’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences on a certain event. Memoir focuses on one particular moment or series of moments, centered around a theme and usually drawing certain conclusions. In personal narrative and memoir, you are both the storyteller and the main character.

2. Know Your Voice, Use Your Voice

When we talk about voice as it relates to writing, we are talking about a combination of word choice, syntax, diction, character development, dialogue, etc. Given the importance of the college admissions essay, students tend to look for a different, more desirable voice. Don’t do this. Admissions essays are not about how smart, funny, or distinguished you sound. They are an invitation for you to authentically bear witness to who you used to be and to how you got to be who you are now.

Whatever voice you have been using up to this point is your authentic voice. Use it. Also be mindful that, unlike the spoken word, the written word is unable to convey inflection, body language, facial expressions, etc. This awareness is critical; for most of us, the college admissions essay is our first experience writing for someone completely unknown to us.

3. First Write How You Speak, Then Edit

Often our speaking, texting, and social media “voice” differs from our academic or traditional writing style. We use this voice more than we write, so this voice tends to be our dominate, authentic, more honest, and less censored representation of ourselves. The first step of personal narrative and memoir style writing is to get your thoughts –in your authentic voice– on paper without edits from your internal academic writer. In other words, let your speaking, texting, and social media voice share your story.

This is just the first step since, for most of us, this voice in written form often presents as scattered, repetitive, fragmentary, and long-winded, qualities which can easily tank an admissions essay, even one with a highly compelling subject. The best way to showcase your authentic voice while avoiding these pitfalls is to begin by writing at least two drafts long-hand with little emphasis on punctuation and grammar.

4. Make Every Word Count

Not all words have to make a reader’s hair stand on end. Each word should contribute, not distract. Words and phrases that rarely contribute include:  like, really, just, you know, and, actually, I guess, also, that, I mean, a lot, kind of. Not sure whether a word or phrase contributes or distracts?  Read the sentence aloud without the word. Avoid five-dollar words when a fifty cent one will do.

If admissions officers are reading your essays, you have already passed the smart enough test. Personal narrative and memoir style writing uses words to create images in the reader’s mind and to engage them. To achieve this, use descriptive words and sensory imagery when describing your characters and setting. Try replacing emotional qualifiers, such as angry, overjoyed, fearless, tender, devastated, etc., with brief action-reaction event descriptions that create the context for that emotion.

Remember, your goal here is to transport the admissions officers to a time and place showered in such vivid detail that it is as if you have personally invited them into your past to experience, to experience your life first hand.

5. Don’t Forget the Middle

Everyone knows strong openings and closings are critical when constructing admission-worthy essays. Far too many people forget the middle is just as important. Unlike your high school English teacher, admissions officers are under no obligation to finish reading your essay.

Considering admissions officers’ hectic travel schedules and the sheer volume of essays to be read, there is a good chance that, if read, your essay will be read piecemeal over multiple sittings. If you are writing a 650-word essay, something compelling enough to keep the reader’s attention –or to make them want to return– needs to happen between 250 and 320 words.

6. Backstory

To effectively craft a personal narrative admissions essay you will need to provide a back story. In addition to offering setting and context, the backstory plays a critical role in determining the degree to which the reader feels invested in you and your narrative.

The problem arises when the back story becomes the story. If you find yourself unable to tell the story you want to tell absent a significant and overtaking back story, then tell a different story. While not the easiest method, a seamless way to introduce a backstory is to weave it into the story you are trying to tell. It is worth noting some of the most informative and compelling backstories have been told in one sentence.

7. Stay On Topic, Be Specific   

Admissions essays are not autobiographies, streams of consciousness, resumes, or opportunities to further address and/or explain that which can be contained in your application. They are also not invitations to reimagine what is being asked of you.

Most admissions essays ask you to describe, recount, explain, identify, or discuss an event, experience, time, or life lesson. Whichever you choose, begin by focusing on the specific details surrounding your story. Look for the stories within the story. If you find one, consider telling that story. Be specific, not only in the story you tell but how you tell it. Readers expect you to be as specific as you can usefully be. Watch out for generalities.

8. Don’t Oversell, Don’t Undersell

While admissions essays are the perfect place to brag about your accomplishments, don’t oversell. Only brag if it’s worth bragging about. Nobody cares if you served Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless. They care if you started a take home food pantry at your school, so kids didn’t have to go hungry over the weekend.

Admissions essays are also not the place to undersell. If it took two years and a sit-in to start a Gay/Straight Alliance at your school, make sure that you include that detail, not simply that you started a GSA.

9. Tell on Yourself

One of the biggest mistakes students make is to try and craft essays which show only their best qualities. Colleges and universities are not looking for perfect people. They are looking for authentic people. Authentic people are flawed people. Some of our most compelling stories are the ones that open with showing us in less than favorable light.

Throw in your lessons learned or what you have done to repair past wrongs and redeem yourself, and you have the makings of a compelling redemption story. Admissions officers have read hundreds of stories from kids who were bullied. They are dying to read the reformed bully’s story.

10. Writing About Difficult Experiences

This last writing tip is a tough one. We’ve all had painful of experiences. Many of these experiences are difficult to talk about, let alone write about. However, sometimes, if there is time, distance, and healing between you and the experience, you can not only revisit the experience but also articulate it as an example of how even the most painful of experiences can be reclaimed, transformed, and accepted for what they are, the building blocks of our unique identities.

If you can do this, go for it. When done well, these types of narratives are the most impactful. Do remember you are seeking admission into a community for which the admissions officer is the gatekeeper. They need to know that, if admitted, not only will you be okay but your fellow students will be okay as well.

________________________

Today’s guest post is from Chad Goller-Sojourner. Chad is a Seattle-based memoir and personal narrative essayist, solo-performer and founder of Bearing Witness: College Admissions Essay Writing Coaching he can be reached at www.bearingwitnessadmissions.com

essays

Typical Essay Mistakes to Avoid

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essay mistakes

Whether you actually enjoy it or not, writing essays must be done! It’s almost a rite of passage no matter what level of schooling you are currently at. Writing a good essay is hard work, so it’s worth it to get it right the first time around.

To stand out from the rest and make your work the best, you’ll want to avoid these typical essay mistakes when writing an essay.  Efficient writing is no more a dream!

Not Proofreading

The biggest mistake people make after writing an essay it doing nothing! You write it and you’re done right? No!

To make your essay be good, it shouldn’t have any grammatical or spelling errors. No awkward or run-on sentences either. The absolute best ways to take care of these things is

  1. Make sure your spell check tool is on
  2. Read it out loud to yourself and you’ll hear the edits you need to make
  3. Have someone look it over if possible

Whatever you turn in or keep for yourself should be error free.

Not knowing your audience

Who are you writing for? A typical mistake made is the writer not setting the correct tone or using the right language according to who will be reading the essay. Make sure you get this accept right or the whole piece will be off.

Not answering the prompt

This may seem obvious, but many essays tend to get off topic. It’s important to always refer back to what question you are answering or what statement you are discussing. Don’t go off on a tangent.

The easiest way of making sure you stay on track is by tactfully connecting the point you’ve made in your paragraph back to your thesis.

Formatting

  • Are there specific requirements for the essay?
  • Are you meeting them?
  • Are the citations correct in text and on the citation page according to the style?
  • Is it in the right font?

These are all considerations that must be taken into account. These very simple mistakes will affect you in a negative way, and all it takes is some extra time and care to fix them.

This list should give you the start you need in avoiding some typical mistakes. The things that are overlooked are often what need to be reassessed! Pro tip: Create a checklist of these items to use with each essay you write and it’ll ensure that there aren’t any more mistakes!

Well, if you still feel weak, check the best custom writing and get your essay done in a wink!

_____________________

Our guest blogger, Lucy Adams, is an outsourcer from edublogawards.org. She’s a diligent author who never refuses fruitful collaborations with websites that adore guest blogs. Lucy provides deep research on most burning and exciting topics. Feel free to share your ideas with the blogger and get a high-quality paper in return in no time!

admissions, essays

Step-by-step Guide for a Killer Essay

This post originally appeared on WorthPointe, a Dallas based financial group, and was written by a former Brown University football player, graduate and commencement speaker. His advice should be helpful when writing the college essay and scholarship essays.

________________________________________________

scholarship essay

All selective schools and and nearly all scholarships have more qualified candidates than they have admissions slots and available funds. Whatever school you apply to and scholarship you apply for, there will be a list of basic “qualifier” stats. Even if you are far exceeding the minimum qualifications, expect that other candidates are as well. To beat the odds, you need to stand out. For example, all 4.0 GPAs look the same on paper, so there really is no value in dwelling on raw stats like that. What you need is a story that makes you come to life and be memorable!

Here is my step-by-step guide to crafting and telling your story. It can be used to draft your story for a formal application essay, or for an interview.

Brainstorm.

Write your name in the center of a piece of paper. Now, list out some words that you or others might use to categorize you and put each word in its own bubble extending from the center. Try to cover as many aspects of your life as possible. Here are some examples: nerd; jock; musician; rich, poor or middle-class; trendy, race, sex and/or gender; city-boy; country-girl; religious; non-religious; single-parent home; suburban kid; inner city kid; writer; artsy; nationality or place of origin; etc. Be sure to think about these categories from the perspective of many different types of people.  For example, your parents might categorize you differently than your friends or people from different parts of the country or world.

Understand Why.

Now think about the things that would make different people categorize you in those ways. Under each category bubble, list the reasons you fit the category. For example, for “jock” you might list “softball team defensive MVP.” Remember most people won’t know all the different categories to which you can fit.

Find Your Peculiarity.

Look at all your categories and why you fit into them. Do any categories seem to not fit neatly with others? Would anyone be surprised you fit into one category if you were already in another? Focus on the categories you fit that seem most at odds with each other. For example, maybe you are a middle-class suburban kid who is an offensive lineman on the football team and sings in glee club. In this scenario, being white, middle-class and suburban isn’t that interesting. However, an offensive lineman who sings, or a singer who decided to go out for the football team? That’s pretty interesting. Any category you fit is potentially interesting or potentially uninteresting depending on the other categories you fit, so list as many as possible to start out!

Develop Your Peculiarity. 

Optimally, your story should challenge expectations about you. So, think about how people would expect you to act based on each of your categories. Pay special attention to the categories that stood out before and jot down some quick examples. Can you think of any ways you only partially fulfill expectations in that category? Can you think of ways you have behaved totally different than someone would expect? Can you think of reasons why people would not expect you to fit into a certain category? For example, imagine your family grew up enjoying cricket and soccer before immigrating from India to a middle-class suburban area. If your family was shocked that you played football, that’s interesting!      

Find Examples of Your Peculiarity.

Think of specific times or turning points in time when you have behaved in a way that was contrary to what someone would expect from someone in said category. Jot down those examples.

Rough Draft.

Don’t wait; immediately start drafting a narrative. In your backstory, describe all the reasons someone would expect you to be a certain way (in a certain category) and ways in which you are that way. Explain how you fit a second category that wouldn’t be expected from someone in the first category, or how you don’t fit a second category that would be expected from someone in the first category. Write out some examples in a narrative format.

The Lesson.

Now ask yourself what you learned from this. How did it impact you?  How did it make you who you are? Did it influence your goals for the future? What was the culminating event and what accomplishment came with it? Did it bring you to a totally different path than expected, or did your journey come “full-circle” in a way that led you back to something? Add the answers to these questions to your draft.

What You Want.

Jot down what you want at the end of the draft. You want to attend a certain school, pursue a certain degree or profession, work with a certain group of people, etc.

Tie it Together.

By now, your story should be apparent; it has an interesting twist and leads you to a certain lesson. Explain how that lesson has led you to your goal. 

The Elevator Pitch.

Once you’ve written out and edited your story, see if you can condense it to a short paragraph. Think of movie or book summaries you’ve read. This is very important, as you may need to tell your story several times throughout the process. You can even incorporate this summary into the beginning or end of your essay. Summaries like this help your story stick in the mind of the reader.

Nobody will remember your “qualifier” stats, but they will remember your story! Your essay readers and interviewers are going to be humans. Humans love stories — especially stories with surprises!

essays

Using Professional Proofreading Services for your College Essay

proofreading

Writing your college essay is simply the beginning of the road to college admission. The next phase of bringing your article to life involves editing. Most writers, especially ESL writers, are seeking experts to help them at this stage in the process. Professional proofreading services can help you to carefully check the accuracy and consistency of your writing and formatting, correct errors and suggest possible improvements. After using a professional editing service students often feel more confident in the work that they submit.

By using a professional proofreading service your essay will be presented in a more professional manner. As you embark on the editing phase of your essay, there are a number of key elements that you must keep in mind before contacting a professional proofreading service.

What kind of timeline are you working with?

Are you in a rush to get your essay done or do you have time to work on the revisions?  These questions will help you determine what kind of service you need, as most proofreading services offer different turn around times depending on how much you pay.

How long is your essay?

The cost of your editing service depends on the length of your essay. It is important to make sure that the length of your essay complies with the college guidelines and that after your edit is complete you double check your final word count.

What level of editing do you need at this stage in your writing?

Some essays require extensive editing and formatting help, while others only require a simple proofreading correction. By determining this beforehand you will know what to ask for when you contact a professional proofreading service. In addition, it is important to make sure that you have edited it as far as you can edit it before turning it over to the professionals.

Are there any special requirements?

These can include style issues, such as college guidelines, whether you are using British or U.S. English and even reference formatting. All of these factors should be considered when you submit your essay to a proofreading service.

You do not have to worry about having all the specifics solidified in advance, but if you start to think about some of these elements before you contact a professional editing service you will be ahead of the game.

essays, Guest Posts

How to Write a Personal Statement

personal statement

If a private university or college is in your future, the Common App is your one-way ticket. You’ve got one shot at a winning application, and Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, is here to help!

How to Write a Personal Statement: A 3-Day Live Online Course is the ultimate course for students and counselors to help you knock out your Common App in one weekend.

Throughout the weekend, you’ll have access to:

  • Over 10 hours of LIVE sessions with Ethan, the College Essay Guy
  • Everything you need to write (or help a student write) a beautiful personal statement
  • Daily Q&A sessions to ask ANY questions you like
  • A chance to get feedback on your essay during Ethan’s live workshops
  • Links to recordings of the lessons so you can go back and watch them for a full year
  • The feeling of having completed your Common App essay. #nice
  • So much more goodness.

Click here for more info.

Can’t make a particular session? No worries: You’ll have video recordings of EVERYTHING.

Can’t afford it? Don’t worry, there’s a pay-what-you-can option.

Are you a counselor? You’re invited too!

Click here to reserve your spot.

essays

How to Write a Good Essay for College

 

essay

If you need to write an essay for college, you have to be aware of the basic rules of its writing. It is important to  follow a standard pattern. You have to reveal your personality and showcase your writing skills.  If you have never written an essay before, the following tips will help you craft a good piece of writing.

1. Do research. 

You have to know what has been written on your topic before. Check out both printed and online resources. Make sure that you have access to them. Go to the library and order some books. Take notes if needed. Look for relevant literature on the Internet. Download the necessary files and documents.

2. Come up with your own ideas.

Now you are armed with numerous researches and articles. But the thing is to express your personal view on the subject at hand. Your own voice needs to be heard clearly. The essay is not a compilation of works by other authors.

3. Write a solid thesis statement.

Among all of your ideas, choose the strongest one. Ensure that you have enough supporting materials. The thesis statement must be specific and concise. Your task is to expand it through the body of your essay and prove its correctness.

4. Craft an outline.

Writing a well-structured essay without an outline is virtually impossible. It helps you organize your thoughts and follow the intended line. You need to highlight the core сategories and consider each of them point by point. Do not forget to use specific facts and provide examples. An outline usually includes 3 levels.

5. Write an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.

Like any other college paper, an essay should consist of three logical parts: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The beginning should be engaging and introduce readers to the topic. Each body paragraph has to start with a topic sentence that is followed by 2-3 supporting statements. You must include no new information in the conclusion. Simply paraphrase what was being said earlier.

6. Create a captivating title.

The title of the essay has to induce the reader to read your writing. Avoid general and boring titles. They have nothing to tell about your paper. Use specific headings instead. There are many essays consisting numbers in their titles at writing2me.com. Such type of the headings is considered one of the most interesting. The readers also find attractive those headlines that debunk stereotypes or appeal to their emotions.

7. Double check the essay.

Once your essay is over, put it aside for a while. No matter how hard you will try, you still won’t be able to see a mistake. You need to let your eyes and mind relax. Better yet, let your friends read the essay. It will be much more easier for them to detect an error with a fresh eye. Your essay must be grammatically flawless. It is out of the question.

Although at first glance crafting an essay for college may seem as an extremely complicated task to perform, this is not quite accurate. Use the recommendations given in this article and you will easily cope with it. All things are difficult before they are easy.

essays

How to Write the Personal Statement

 

Hands down, Ethan Sawyer is THE essay expert to turn to when writing any aspect of the college essay. This is an excellent summer activity for your college-bound student AND it’s affordable! This small investment could secure your student’s admission to their dream college. 

personal statement

If a private university or college is in your future, the Common App is your one-way ticket. You’ve got one shot at a winning application, and Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, is here to help!

How to Write the Personal Statement 2016: A Live Online Course is his eight-day webinar series for students and counselors that runs July 10th-17th.

In just eight days, you’ll have access to:

  • 12 hours of LIVE sessions with Ethan, the College Essay Guy
  • Everything you need to write (or help a student write) a beautiful personal statement
  • Daily Q&A sessions to ask ANY questions you like
  • A chance to get feedback on your essay during the practicum sessions
  • Links to recordings of the lessons so you can go back and watch them anytime
  • The feeling of having completed your Common App essay. #nice
  • So much more goodness.

Click here for more info.

 

Can’t make a particular session? No worries: He’ll email what you missed.

Can’t afford it? Don’t worry, there’s a pay-what-you-can option.

Are you a counselor? You’re invited too!

Click here to reserve your spot.

essays

College Essay Tips for Students (and Parents)

 

essay tips

Summer has arrived and for those students who will be a senior next year, the dreaded college essay looms in the distance. Most students spend hours staring at a blank piece of paper or a computer screen. What will you write about? How will you even begin? What topic is best? What are admissions officers looking for in the essay? The list of questions goes on and on.

If you are looking for advice or help or just need some tips about how to begin, these guys know what they are talking about: College Essay Guy, Essay Hell and Essay Edge. Ethan Sawyer, the College Essay Guy, gives parents and students tons of “free stuff” to help with the essay, personal statement, and supplemental essay. Essay Hell offers tips on the Common App essays, University of California Essays, Coalition for Access Essays, and Apply Texas essays with a great blog filled with additional tips as well. Essay Edge provides tons of sample essays on their site (just for ideas–not for copying!) along with a great blog with tips on the Common App essay prompts.

Most students just need a starting place–a jumping off point. These sites will provide excellent ideas and help. They are perfect for summer reading and research. And if you’re so inclined, consider hiring one of them as an essay coach. The cost is affordable and the benefits (along with handing your student over to another person to avoid the stress) will be well worth the price you pay.

I wrote a great post for TeenLife Media: How to Write the Best College Essay. It is a step-by-step guide on how to write the essay, along with resources to help students avoid plagiarism and help with editing.

My best advice: use the essay as a tool to give the college an inside look into who you are. It should give them an idea of what type of student you will be and who you are (much more than words on a sheet of paper).

essays

How to Write a College Essay from 5 of the Best Experts

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how to write a college essayThe college essay is perhaps the most frustrating part of the college application. Since the essay provides the opportunity for you to give the colleges a “window into your soul” so to speak, the essay is essentially a key component of the application. If you’re struggling with essay or just need some expert advice, where can you go for help?

These five experts provide some of the best essay advice on how to write a college essay. For each, I have focused on a specific topic, but if you want (or need) more specific help, visit their websites. You will be amazed at their willingness to offer their expert advice free of charge. They all, however, offer specialized coaching and you and your student would be wise to take advantage of it if you find their advice helpful.

How do I begin the essay process?

This advice comes from my go-to essay source, The College Essay Guy. According to him, students should prepare before writing the essay. He starts the process by answering these questions:

  1. What should my essay be about?
  2. What are college admissions officers looking for?
  3. How do college admissions officers evaluate my essay?
  4. Which is more important: your story or your writing skill?
  5. When should I start writing my essay?
  6. How do I structure my essay?
  7. How much do essays matter?
  8. If my grades are bad, can I get into Harvard with a great essay?
  9. Can a bad college essay negatively affect my application?

Read more . . .

How do you avoid writing an essay that bombs?

This tip is from Essay Hell, a good resource for essay information, along with examples and tips for specific colleges like USC and UT. According to Essay Hell, there are 5 traps you can fall into when writing your college essay:

  1. Your essay is dull.
  2. Your college application isn’t personal.
  3. Your essay is mainly about someone else.
  4. Your essay only repeats everything else in your admissions application.
  5. You come across as not having your act together.

Read more . . .

What are possible brainstorming questions?

The Essay Expert, Brenda Bernstein, provides some possible essay brainstorming topics:

  1. What’s my favorite school subject and why?
  2. What’s my favorite extracurricular activity and why?
  3. What character in a book inspires me and why?
  4. What’s a story of how I went from a simplistic understanding of how the world works to a more complex, nuanced understanding?
  5. What’s an object that’s important to me and why?
  6. What’s a place/location that’s important to me and why?
  7. Who are the most important people in my life and what have I learned from them?

Read more . . .

Once you have a topic, how do you keep focus and stay on task?

According to the experts at All College Application Essays, “the drafting process is critical and can help make your stories and messages clearer. These essays are hard to write and get better with each new layer. To help, they provide 10 questions to guide you through the process:

  1. Does your essay start with a story that hooks us in from the first paragraph?
  2. If you start in the past, do you get to the present very quickly?
  3. Do you write only in the first person and not spend too much time describing anyone or anything else?
  4. If you are writing about your community or family, do you get to the present and your life and life works quickly?
  5. Do you only tell one story and not try and tell your entire life story?
  6. If you are writing about an obstacle or challenge overcome, do you get to how you have responded and made a difference in the life of your community by the second impactor third paragraph of the essay?
  7. Do you have a metaphor that goes through the entire piece…does this metaphor reveal who you are and what you offer to potential colleges?
  8. Does your story make you sound unique and not like anyone else applying?
  9. Do you tell new stories and qualities in each separate essay your write?
  10. Do you end with a bang?

Read more . . .

What do admissions officers look for in an essay?

According to David at EssaysCoach.com, writing a good application essay is hard. Many students write essays that are too cliché or too shallow; others write essays that are impersonal and uninformative; some are even unfortunate enough to write essays that cause their own rejection. Here are five things an admissions officer looks for:

  1. Can the applicant write?
  2. What does the essay say about the applicant?
  3. Are there deep, personal reflections?
  4. What will the applicant bring to the community?
  5. Do the qualities represented in the essay resonate with the rest of the application?

For a clear description of each, read more . . .

Now that you’ve read tips from these five experts, check out 35+ more gathered by The College Essay Guy.