Is Getting Help With Your College Essays Worth It?
Breaking down your network of support and how a college essay advisor might be for you.
The process of applying to college can be an exercise in mystery. Often, applicants are entirely unfamiliar with each step of the process, and they don’t know where to access resources and get their questions answered. Whether they prepare heavily in response or get by with last-minute searching, leaving one’s future to an admissions officer’s subjective choice will always bring anxiety.
Out of the foundational aspects of an application, the most ambiguous part is definitely the personal statement. As with other requirements, the number and word length of writing depends on the individual university. Depending on your college shortlist, the number of statements you might be required to submit could be in the 20s, with 250 words at minimum.
At Nimble College Consulting, we strongly believe in the power of creating a strong, holistic profile. While managing your GPA, standardized test scores, and extracurricular hours can be a hassle to change, perfecting your supplemental essay answers can drastically improve your chances in a short amount of time.
The written prompts, when approached carefully, can help round out other aspects of your applicant profile, explaining potential weak points and demonstrating your passion for your field of study. What often limits students from putting their best foot forward is the amount of time dedicated to their college essays.
Why Starting to Draft Your College Essays Earlier is Beneficial
Establishing a College Application Essay Workflow
Starting early, like with other large projects, can make a massive difference in the quality of your final application. As aforementioned, the number of essays applicants need to submit can add up rather quickly. While they are often between 200 to 600 words, the extra care needed for a college application can make writing take longer.
Often, rising high school seniors are recommended to get started on writing the summer before school begins and their schedules fill up. We recommend the same, especially for students that don’t feel as confident in their writing. Taking the time to get into a rhythm of writing can ensure that all of your essays are completed with enough spare time to make changes into the fall semester.
Having the Time to Research
Another advantage to getting an early start is having the time to research thoroughly. A key to presenting a strong applicant profile is not just knowing who you are very well, but also knowing where you want to be. Building confidence in your knowledge of the application process and universities themselves will make things go much more smoothly.
Good writing comes from good reading; there are many accessible essay examples online available for you to study and really understand what makes an impactful essay. On top of sample essays, many universities themselves provide undergraduate applicant resources on their websites. If you have your college shortlist ready, spend some time taking notes on unique aspects of different schools’ supplementals and try to highlight where sample essays accomplish those requirements.
Many colleges feature a specific type of essay, which we’ve dubbed the “Why Us?” essay. These prompts often ask students to explain why they chose to apply to a specific major, program, or college within the university. Starting early on your essays enables you to really dig into the details of your choices, from club leaders to professorial research. The more specific details you can talk about with confidence, the more you can demonstrate your interest to admissions officers.
Getting Feedback on Your College Essay Drafts
One of the biggest advantages to getting started on your essays early is having the opportunity to get feedback from others. It’s important to remember that these open-ended prompts are an avenue for you to demonstrate who you are: your values, your ambitions, and your personality.
On top of conducting multiple rounds of edits yourself, having people who know you and your character read through your essays can help determine whether you are effectively communicating to potential admissions officers.
Friends/Peers
Asking your peers to read a draft is a great way to improve your personal statements, especially peers who are going through or have gone through the application process. Not only do your peers know you, they can also recognize who you are in an academic context. However, relying solely on peer feedback can only give you a limited amount of information, as they haven’t been on the other side of the application process. They also might not pick up on smaller narrative and technical details.
Teachers/Academic Mentors
Another avenue for writing a strong application essay is asking for feedback from teachers and other mentors you may have. These resources can really help you identify your strengths that you may not have realized.
The largest con when it comes to relying on educators is a matter of numbers. You may be required to write a large number of college application essays, which is too much of a workload to request. Additionally, your mentors might have many students requesting feedback that they have to manage.
Realistically, the best time to ask a teacher or mentor to look at an essay is for longer drafts that are directly related to that specific mentor. On the other hand, you might benefit from asking a trusted teacher or mentor for a letter of recommendation.
Guardians/Trusted Adults
Finally, parents and other trusted adults are a great resource for feedback on your essays. Just like your peers, having someone who knows you well read through your work can help you gauge whether or not you’re accurately representing yourself. Another benefit here is the amount of help that you can get.
Like friends and peers, relying solely on guardians for essay feedback is inefficient. While they are a great place to judge your storytelling, they might not know exactly what a current-day admissions officer looks for. Depending on their expertise, you might not be able to rely on them for technical writing feedback either.
Ultimately, applying for college is a great time to remember that you have a network of people that are more than willing to help you through this process. Don’t hesitate to reach out when you are feeling overwhelmed or unsure. To give yourself the best shot possible, it’s best to start sooner rather than later.
What a College Counselor Can Provide?
So, with enough time and people to rely on, college applicants don’t really need a counselor do they? Well, hiring a college counselor is a great way to get specialized advice on your specific situation. Counselors have seasons of experience under their belt, and can walk applicants through each step efficiently.
They can also dedicate more time to working with you directly, even making sure that you don’t make common mistakes of first-time college applicants. Depending on the counselor, you can get help with course planning, essay editing, and even organizing/scheduling your time to make sure you meet your deadlines.
While not every student may need a college counselor, they can make a massive difference in your acceptance chances.
What Can I Do to Get Ahead on My College Applications?
If you’re considering getting some support in your academic journey from elementary school to undergraduate application season, please reach out for a consultation with us today!
