Before guidance counselor Jen Landy arrived at Wayzata High School 10 years ago, she had worked in admissions at two Minnesota colleges and read scores of submitted essays. That has helped her to break down the process for anxious high schoolers — and their parents.
It's different from most of the essays the students have been writing in school.
"Students say, 'I can knock out an essay about a book, no problem, but how do I do it about myself?' " she said.
Identifying a topic is the stumbling block that can turn into writer's block. Landy encourages students to get going by thinking about the topic questions for the Common Application.
"I advise them to pick two of the essay prompts that speak to them and create a notebook page for each," she said. "Mull it over and jot down ideas as they bubble up. By the end of a week, most students have identified a topic and will know where to start."
Landy has found that students often overlook allies who are under their own roof.
"It can be good to brainstorm with parents about what to showcase," she said. "When I read an essay that's slim in details, I say, 'How would your mom tell this story?' Parents remember every detail. It feels weird and uncomfortable for students to brag, but for parents it's second nature."
Finally, it sounds like a no-brainer but Landy reminds students to carefully proofread their essays. Spelling, grammar or construction errors can limit the effectiveness of even the most compelling final product.
