Well Chosen Words
Well Chosen
Words
The essay portion of the college application is the one area where the individual personality of the student can shine. For many admissions deans, its the first thing they read. It can make an impression that transcripts, test scores and varsity letters simply cannot touch. |
| How long will it take? The personal statement frequently takes about three or four hour-long sessions to compete. Brainstorming the topic, finding the best structure for it, and honing in on the right tone can take time. Often the first topic we talk about is not the optimal one for sharing with the admissions department. With a little bit of prodding, other thoughts float to the top, and we evaluate the merits of each one until something clearly feels right. Sometimes the best strategy is to just say everything chronologically, and sometimes, it is best to develop the story from a more reflective stance, keeping the central point a secret until the end. Because each person is different, each story will be structured differently. Revising and editing are the last element that perfects the essay. And finally, experienced writers will tell you that most of the brilliance in writing shows up while revising something you once thought was perfect. Determining the ideal word to clarify your meaning, attitude and overall tone can be a perplexing but satisfying experience. Some of my clients say that this segment, where we play around with words a little is, quite surprisingly, a lot of fun! What do you charge? I charge $90 per hour. How can I reach you? stoekej@verizon.net Do we have to live near Fairfax, Virginia? No, but I have to meet the student and work with him or her for at least a few hours, so it helps. |
| What made you decide to be an essay coach? As my twin sons approached their senior year in high school, we all went into panic mode. The many unsolvable decisions and tasks overwhelmed us. We hoped desperately for acceptance letters and even scholarship money, but wondered how to begin to make their applications stand out. I did some research: I read everything I could find that colleges offered up as advice about essays. A running theme in almost every article and book was, “Don’t have your parents write it.” Hmm, I thought. But I’m pretty good at writing, maybe I could just, you know, “help” them. Turns out, deans can spot Mommy’s “help” a mile away. The essays that really impress them are written by genuine 18 year olds. And they sound like it. What I do best is to give them some hope that their own thoughts, experiences and reflections can create something wonderful. And then I get out of the way. Once the writing is reduced down from a gigantic, monstrous task to a doable (and maybe even enjoyable) project, they go right ahead and write. And then we edit. Carefully. It’s important not to edit the person right out of the essay. So during this phase, I keep coming back to focusing in on the student’s voice, asking, “is that how you would really say that?” and "What does that word mean to you?" After all, they want to get to know the applicant, not the coach. I just help them say what they want to say. |