Damn Essays: Major Cause of Application Woe

Never has so much been written about roughly one page of single-spaced sentences. Never has such a relatively short writing assignment -- maybe 250 words or so for some questions on a supplemental app to 500 for the Common App essay -- inspired so much fear and dread. In the entire college application process, there's little else that brings out the worst in parent and child.

It's late September, and the hope of having a solid first draft, or even a completed essay, remains on the to-do list of many seniors.

But don't be too censorious. Do you think you could easily write something that enables a college to know who you are -- and also what you will bring to the college? Something that's authentic, truthful, helps the applicant stand out (in a good way) and could conceivably tip the scale in getting you into dream college? The thought makes me feel queasy.

So how can we encourage our kids to get going, or get polishing, or get the essay to a respected reviewer (an English teacher, maybe, or a family friend who gets what the essay is about.)

First, they've got to get stuff on paper. Here's a useful and funny essay on first drafts by writer Anne Lamott. Take a look at it if only to read the title.

And they need to think like a storyteller, as Hollywood producer Peter Guber suggests. I think his points are valid for essay writers, even if he wasn't thinking of high school seniors when he wrote this.

Finally, here are comments from an admissions officer at a major university. I featured her thoughts two years ago, but the information is timeless - and worth repeating.

Good luck and godspeed, kiddos and their parents!

College Essays

Maybe I should have gone into essay coaching.

It seems that writing the college essay has morphed from a sometimes painfully difficult, personal challenge into big business. There's money to be made in providing tips, templates, tutoring.

Parke Muth, an admissions officer at University of Virgina, is often quoted on the topic of essays, with good reason. Read his advice on the essay -- and what is wrong with so many of them.

Our teen doesn't enjoy writing. This year, though, the freshman English teacher has focused on memoirs: finding a voice, using original and descriptive phrases. Once the writing began, the assignment became fun, the writing colorful, funny and appealing. It was a useful exercise.

Try encouraging your teen to write this summer, about vacations or a job or tribulations of the past year. Who knows, it might even be the start of one of those dreaded but darn important essays.