College Essay Trends (In the Age of the Pandemic)
Essay Trend #1: Look at silver linings! While it is certainly fine to write about the pandemic in your college essay, we stress to our students to not make it the core of the work. The trend is to instead leverage the virus to lead into something else that a student has learned, tried, experienced, or attempted during this time. Being authentic, being real, and being uncommon will stand out — we have all dealt with the pandemic in our own ways, what is your story? What impacted you? Are you closer to family? Did you learn to cook? There are positives, lessons learned, and silver linings built into the fabrics of our lives here in 2020 — elaborate on those!
Essay Trend #2: Focus on storytelling more than ever. With limited resume-boosters — like community service, clubs, or even athletics — admissions counselors are left with less in getting a sense of a student’s character. The essay becomes one of the few vehicles which enable the candidate to connect on a more personal level. Students should aim to focus on a story or personal anecdote that is not only meaningful to them, but can be meaningful — and pull at the heart-strings — to the reader. Students who really pull back the curtain on who they are, showing personality and character, will allow the admissions team great insight into their core, and how they’d fit in the school community.
Essay Trend #3: Focus forward. Students should not just repeat and recycle what is already showcases on their transcripts and in the other parts of the application (like the activities list). Inform the school of not just what you’re looking for in a school but let them know of your goals and dreams and how college will be the vehicle to get them to where they want to be. In addition, you’ll certainly be adding to the campus, community, and atmosphere, so depict how you’ll do that! How will you be as a roommate, classmate, teammate, friend, and citizen? Be authentic, real, and explain how you will leave your mark on the college in the years to come.
Questions on your essay? On your college applications? Do not hesitate to contact us!
Originally published at https://www.leonardandrew.com.
