On essays: stop trying so hard to be unique

I am sharing an important email I received from the Wow Writing Workshop this past week. I have completed their essay program along with several others and agree with this message wholeheartedly. Yes–it contradicts what many people believe, even some other essay specialists. However, in my experience, my students who write normal essays and stress less seem to do very well.

I advise students to forego overdone topics (how social media makes them feels inadequate, sports injuries, and how they realize their privilege while doing community service in underserved areas). However, when a student is denied by an unlikely college, the common app essay is not the reason unless it is inappropriate (too boastful or expressing prejudice). And even the above topics can be made more personal if handled in an authentic way!

Shawn Felton, Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Deputy Chief Admissions and Enrollment Officer at Cornell University, said this:

I've been working in college admissions for a few decades. In this time, I've noticed that students spend too much time searching for stories they believe will make them sound different or unique.

Please don't do that. It's a waste of your time. I don't want different. I don't want unique. I just want to know what makes you the person you are. I want to know what matters to you. I want to know what you care about. I want to know what you dream about.

If you want me or any admissions decision maker to notice you, try to worry less about standing out, and focus instead on standing up. There is a preoccupation with being different and unique among college applicants. I get it. The stakes are high, and there are so many applicants to so many schools these days.

But the reality is, most college applicants are much more alike than they are different. The search for something unique to share is a long, windy road going nowhere quickly. Instead, worry less about being unique and just be you and show admissions readers who you are.

This year, I have a few students who will not let their common app essays, and any others, go. My deadline for the main Common App essay is August 1st, which means that students have had roughly 6 weeks to perfect it. The more I can help lower the stakes at this high-stakes time, the calmer my students will be. And calm students write stronger college essays.

Grad Outcomes, Rebecca Volkov, Emory University

I advise students that there are many ways to do important work in healthcare that require fewer than 8+ years of education. The years Rebecca spent doing scientific research made her a highly-qualified candidate for her job at a consulting company with a division solely devoted to healthcare.

"This past May, I graduated from Emory University with a bachelors of sciences in Human Health and a minor in Health Innovation. Since graduating, I launched my career with FTI Consulting in their New York City office. Employing my major from Emory, I work under the Healthcare segment at FTI with a focus on regulatory compliance and litigation.

Emory has opened doors for me both academically and professionally and I look forward to being a part of its impressive alumni association."

New England College Trip Reflections

Learned much more but here are some quick facts:

University of New Hampshire: Excellent choice that we often forget in favor of UMass or UConn. Mid-sized (app 12,000) flagship with top sciences, engineering and business school. Great personal support to help students adjust to college.

Dartmouth College: Founded 1740, quarter system with J-term (January). 63% Greek life inclusive to all. Fun town, top profs (take professor to lunch), fabulous alumni network. Diverse, non-traditional student body.

Champlain College: Ranked in top ten by Princeton Review for gaming majors. Small but powerful; every student completes a capstone project. Beautiful campus on Lake Champlain with upside down curriculum (hands-on work freshman year).

University of Vermont: Popularity sparked ED option. Strong environmental/science majors highly-rated (hospital on campus); engineering + two CompSci programs. Burlington, VT best college town! Private ski mountain.

St. Michael’s College: Purpose-driven curriculum: “Ask Why?” Ethics-based courses. Service is prioritized; students staff the local ambulance and fire truck. Solid business, bio, psych, and media studies. Top D2 athletics.

Middlebury College: Huge, pastoral campus, small student body. Famous for its foreign language programs. 4 1 4 schedule with J Term. Long running “Feb” program. Beautiful campus with its own ski mountain.

Bennington College: Only 700 students. Unique arts programs. Students choose a project freshman year and see it to fruition with advisor. Health fellowships at hospital, museum fellowships at several NYC museums, and theatre fellowships at off-B’way theatres

Williams College: Only 8% admit rate. Tutorial system modeled on Oxford. Students bond with professors. All research/internships are paid. Great outcomes: Ivies for professional school. Employed by Apple, ESPN, Goldman, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Pfizer, Nature Conservancy.