College Application Essays: The New Era
Undoubtedly, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the academic world. While students weren’t able to physically attend school, others were unable to attend online classes because of lack of technical resources or finances. Many students also felt overwhelmed with anxiety and stress. The COVID-19 pandemic presented so many challenges to students. Yet, a particular obstacle has remained evermore challenging: the college application essay.
The New Era
College admissions officers look for originality among applicants. Application essays must demonstrate transparency and depth. They must reveal honesty and may even show vulnerability. Unfortunately, there are too many students that take shortcuts with their college essays. Either they exaggerate or they offer something predictable. Although the pandemic isn’t over for many, high school seniors must deeply reflect upon their personal experiences. At first, high school seniors may think that they underwent the most traumatic experiences of anyone during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. But without intending to marginalize any student, all students must consider how college admissions officers will interpret these stories.
Many high school students may be tempted to write about their difficult times during COVID-19. Yes, many students underwent hardships. But there are also many in developing countries that struggled, and continue to struggle, even harder. Students in distant countries struggle with extreme poverty or violence. Many in developing countries neither have running water nor families to care for them. This is why when high school seniors write their college essays, they must do so with compassion. Writing about the traumas from COVID-19 may be important to particular individuals. But students must keep in mind that there are many others that have far more severe problems than not being able to use smartphones or iPads for online classes.
Harvard University Baker Library at Harvard Business School (HBS). Photograph by Ryan Young, Presidio Education® Founder & CEO, 2018.
Demonstrating Transparency
Focusing too much on what students are good at can actually take away from college admissions understanding who students truly are at heart. Boasting on college essays is a huge academic no-no. Colleges neither appreciate arrogant nor condescending students. Instead, colleges truly value essays that reveal transparency. For example, when students explain a meaningful story when they learned from a really bad mistake, this will show much more than just a mistake. This shows honesty, integrity and the courage to admit fault or weakness. Who are you really? What makes you vulnerable? What profoundly moves you? What challenges have you struggled to overcome? These are all questions students must consider when developing their essays.
However, students must avoid submitting rehearsed or exaggerated essays merely to garner empathy. College admissions officers read a plethora of essays and are quite sharp at identifying dishonesty. Their one job is to sit and read essays all day. College admissions officers can tell when students are not being genuine, so remain true!
Submitting Early
The reality is that colleges are receiving more and more applications every year. Reviewing all applications would be unlikely considering staff shortages and smaller college admissions teams. Even if bigger universities have more admissions officers, they would most likely stop reviewing applications once they hit their quotas. For example, if University X wants to accept 15,000 applicants, but receives 125,000 applicants, this sample university would most likely stop reviewing applications once they accept approximately 15,000-20,000. Colleges know that not every student will accept their offer, which is why they accept more than they actually want. But once University X reaches their quota, there would be less incentive to continue reading all the tens of thousands of applications. This is why submitting applications earlier is productive.
The table below shows four (4) sample undergraduate schools with the number of applicants and accepted students for the class of 2027. Sources: Harvard University, 2023; New York University, 2023; UC Berkeley, 2023; and UCLA, 2023.
| College Acceptance Rates for Class of 2027 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate School | Applicants | Accepted | Acceptance Rate | |
| Harvard University | 56,937 | 1,942 | 3.4% | |
| New York University | 120,000 | 5,700 | 4.75% | |
| University of California, Berkeley | 125,910 | 14,566 | 11.56% | |
| University of California, Los Angeles | 169,800 | 12,779 | 7.52% | |
Revise, Revise and Revise
The value of revision is immense. If students start early and continuously revise, they will see wonderful growth with their college essays. Revision fosters self-reflection. Every grammatical and analytical detail is crucial because each detail may be the one difference that gives these essays that much needed edge. In an increasingly competitive admissions process, colleges have a very large pool of outstanding applicants. The writing quality must be exceptional in every aspect. This is why we urgently recommend students find qualified individuals to review essay drafts to provide intense critical feedback. Students need their drafts reviewed for content, style, flow, emotion, articulation and creativity. Undoubtedly, college essays are the most important essays that high school students will write.
Be Creative and Inspiring
What are your biggest dreams? What are you passionate about? What inspires you to take bold chances that no one else dares? Regardless if you are undecided with college majors, or have no idea about careers, do not be afraid to share your biggest dreams! Colleges do not want to train robots. On the contrary, higher education is about opening a wonderful range of possibilities. Colleges want motivated and creative students who continuously try to think outside the box. What will you contribute to their school and communities? Are you going to isolate yourself or get involved with school clubs? How can you reduce campus food waste? What can you do about local homelessness? How can you help impoverished children gain academic opportunities? How can you create sustainable solutions for your communities? How can you be that innovative student to change the game for us all?
Beach Cleanup at Lung Kwu Tan, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong with Wayne Man, Presidio Education® Math & Social Science Teacher, and Advanced Placement (AP) students Bobby Li and Daniel Shi. Source: Presidio Education, 2021.
Remaining Realistic
Students often make the mistake of writing generic college essays without considering specificity or creativity. Other times, students write essays addressing who they are and what they want to study in college. However, very few students actually write about why they specifically want to attend specific colleges. How can you demonstrate legitimate reasons why you’re applying to a specific college and not because of the college’s name or perceived ranking? Before drafting college essays, we strongly recommend students complete thorough homework on potential colleges to accurately evaluate college departments, faculties, campus resources and even published work from undergraduate students. This will immensely help high school students know which colleges may be the best fit. You must prove why you’re the right fit for these colleges.
Grades and Scores aren’t Everything
Many high school students focus really hard on earning top grades and test scores. But are numbers really how you want colleges to define you? Are you only made of grades and scores? Undeniably, academic grades and test scores are important for college admissions, but for application essays, you are given an opportunity to show that you are much more than just numbers. College essays reveal who you are as a human being. What extracurricular activities do you consistently participate in? Did you join clubs or teams merely to bulk up your academic portfolio? Or did you join because you genuinely enjoy them and want to make positive impacts within your communities? What volunteer service programs do you participate in or create? On paper, high grades and test scores show you studied hard. But college essays allow you to show the depths of your character.
Mary Liu, Sustainability Team Gender Equality Leader, carrying supplies in Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA. Photograph by Isaac Ng, Sustainability Team, 2022.
Need Help with College Essays?
Our faculty provides rigorous critical feedback on college application essay drafts. We push students to develop original essays that stand out. For information on Education Consultation or the Common Application, simply complete our online Private Class Registration Form to get started. Good luck high school seniors!
