College Application Essays Shouldn’t be a Hail Mary Pass

Fans of all ages.

Even people without a kid on the team, in the band, or on the cheering or dance squads, will head out to the game. It’s the place to be! We watch the students root for each other and strut their stuff, whether it’s from the playing field, from the half-time show, or from the bench. The spirit is contagious!

But do you know what other season it is? It’s College Application Season. And like football season, those who will find the most success are those who will have invested their time. The good news is that there is no need for the seniors to sweat it out everyday after school or be put to the test each weekend. Other than for meeting their deadlines, students can gear up on their own schedule.

College Season officially opened on Aug. 1, when the College Board posted the Common Application, which students use to apply online to about 500 schools around the country. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not suggesting that everyone should jump fully into the game from the very onset. However, there is no doubt that students benefit from at least taking an early look at the application. For instance, scouting out the writing prompts early definitely allows more time for the student to choose the story he or she thinks will best illustrate personal character.

Students who begin their first drafts in good time gain an even greater edge. The earlier students start writing, in general, the more time they will have for revisions and for better organizing their thoughts. Of course there will always be some students who finish a rough draft or two before school starts. But most students (and adults!) procrastinate. Some high school seniors, even now, haven’t taken even their first peek at the new writing prompts or anything else on the Common App. But just as in football, the game clock is ticking and time-outs are limited. Those who haven’t jumped in the game yet, had better start now!

The last football game for QO will be against Wootton on November 8th. That's a full week past the early admission and early acceptance deadlines. It's also a full week past the College Park deadline for students who want the best shot at acceptance and the only shot for consideration for its honors or scholars programs. And just as in football–or any other sport–the further one gets behind, the more difficult it becomes to compete.

Practice, routine, and review make for champions. College application essays rarely make it to the desired end zone if they’re approached like a Hail Mary pass.

Hmmm, now where did I stash my Spirit Wear? The football game will be starting soon!

About Nancy Frieder

Nancy Frieder hopes her passion for assisting students with their college and post graduate application essays shines through in her blogs. She created The Write Stuff Help to reduce the stress for the applicants and their parents by helping the student pinpoint an essay topic and write it in a way to attract admissions officers. Those who work with Nancy not only improve their writing, but also learn to target an audience with a unique reflection of themselves in a way that their test scores and GPA cannot. Nancy has lived in Montgomery County for more than 27 years. She has held reporting and editing positions for both local and national publications, and enjoys substitute teaching in Montgomery County Public Schools. Nancy and her husband just became empty-nesters, as both of their children now attend college. Their dog, Fez, is getting more attention than ever! Catch up with Nancy on Facebook and at her website The Write Stuff Help.

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