As mentioned in the article, colleges are looking for “who” your child is. What makes them tick. How do they think. With regard to overcoming a challenge, one of my kids wrote about losing a national martial arts tournament and the decision he had to make going forward. The essay showed his thought process, the internal struggle, and how he came out of it. The essay showed his character and willingness to push through when difficulties and failures arise, and finding ways to succeed beyond the failure. (One thing) Colleges are looking for kids that won’t drop out. Won’t change their major just because they failed one class and got scared. The essay is not their life’s story. It’s one moment in time.

In helping your teen edit their essays use caution in over editing. Try not to change the “voice” of how it reads. Edit for basic grammar and punctuation, and consistency in the tense. With any additional edits you make, be sure to relay to your teen that if this is not how he/she would have said that or phrased that sentence, it’s perfectly fine to not use your suggestion. The final essay must be in your teen’s voice.

You’ve got this!