Parents of high school juniors and seniors often ask me about the college essay writing process, which is at first shrouded in institutional mystery. The only part they really know about is the end goal: a stellar personal essay that needs to be submitted and secure the coveted admissions spots.
There can be a lot of pressure on this one precious piece of writing. However, if you understand that there is a process, and the college essay writing process actually produces reliably good results you might exhale. In fact, I hope parents exhale a lot!
Have questions about the optimal college essay writing timeline? See this post
Later posts will be devoted to the ANATOMY of a college essay.
STAGES of the college essay writing process
One: Brainstorm like it’s your job
I don’t actually like the term “brainstorm.” Instead, I prefer “idea flurry” or “thought flow.” Writing is rarely like a storm. Storms make us want to seek shelter. But the generative process should feel good and permissive. It should make us want to run out into an open field and ask for more.
Point is, don’t gatekeep your ideas. We suggest signing up to receive our free PDF, “The Memory Game,” as a writing kickstarter!
Once you’ve produced your topic tag-line or “idea”- please don’t stop brainstorming, or cork the idea flow! Keep going. Pour yourself into your content creation. Follow the flow of your thoughts, or the scent of a story, or the sequencing of memories. This. Takes. Time.
Don’t worry- you won’t just write randomly or associatively until the admissions deadline and hope for the best. You’ll start to see patterns and special connections. Or you’ll freewrite on something of personal value and significance.
In other words, you’ll find what you’re trying to say, and then the structure and support (a teacher, a coach, some craft lessons) to say it.
Two: Draft like it’s your job
Once you’ve zeroed in on your topic, or even a few possible topics, you have to uncover it fully. In the process, you’ll really learn your own deeper terrain. Be like a hawk circling a wide territory before it plummets with startling acuity upon its mousy prey.
Good writing is never a one-off event. Being too attached to certain parts of your essay or story should make you suspect. Expect that the writer will and should produce multiple drafts. ESPECIALLY assume the first and last lines, the entry and exit of the essay, will experience major renovations. This. takes. Time.
The final essay may be almost unrecognizable from its initial form, and that’s OK. Drafting is an art and a crucial one; revision is a transformative and educational process.
Sometimes we only realize what we actually wanted to say through the writing and revising process, and not prior!
Note: over the years, I rarely see a strong essay emerge in fewer than THREE very thorough draft revisions. Often a lot more. Don’t be disheartened by drafting. The oysters take many passes to turn a painful sand into a coveted pearl.
Three: Seek Feedback like it’s your job
If you want to get better at something, or create your best something, then relying on your own judgment alone will not always get you there.
You already know what you’re trying to do and say. Your brain supplies the background details that a stranger’s brain can’t. You need to ask someone else- a good reader, who understands the genre and purpose- how your essay reads.
However, if you get feedback from too many people, you risk exploding your work into a headache of varied, contradictory guidance. It doesn’t feel good; more is not always merrier.
Writing is subjective and people do have radically different opinions and guidance. Even two different writing coaches might make opposing suggestions!
Pick one or no more than two to three guiding voices you trust. Ask for TARGETED feedback- on specific things. Not “Do you like it?” (“Yes!” or even “No!” are not useful enough responses). Ask what’s clear or not. Ask what they get from the essay. Ask if they can understand the storyline and how you (as a character) changed. Ask if they get bored or find it tedious, or can identify the turning point.
Humbly accept and evaluate the feedback and try out new revisions.
Four: Proofread like it’s your (and someone else’s) job!
WAAAAAIT. Don’t hit submit until you’ve proofread aloud at least ONCE and asked someone else–who is not very familiar with the essay– to proofread aloud as well.
While you won’t be denied admissions for a typo, you risk sending a message that after all you put into your applications, you couldn’t QUITE muster the energy to put its best face on.
And while even this post likely has a typo, you STILL want to do what you can to catch and correct them.
Five: Finalize and Let it Go…like it’s your job
The gigantic climax and gigantic let down of any piece of writing is being done with it.
You reached the end goal! When a student has written an amazing essay, I can read it 20+ times, and it gives me a big YES feeling every time. In other words, I don’t get tired of the reading process. Their writing creates a predictable positive response–or what we call “being moved.” Yours should and will have this effect if you really go for it.
After putting a lot of yourself into the essay, when it’s done, there can be residual anxiety that it could have been better. Sure- maybe? Could a tree have been better? Maybe. But the truth is, time is up and letting it be good enough is also an advanced spiritual practice. 😉
Six: Submit your college essays
Make sure you’ve completed ALL aspects of the application for that particular school (spoiler alert- MANY schools have multiple supplemental essays as well!). Then, give yourself some sugar. Like maybe some literal or metaphorical, if you’re not tired of metaphors by then.
Overwhelmed, stuck or craving personal guidance?
I offer full service support at every step of the process, to help students figure out how to find their writing gold, create a plan, and stay on track and accountable to produce incredible, meaningful college essays.
I’ll tell you EXACTLY what I think of your essay along the way, having read and advised on thousands of them, and help you get all your admissions writing in amazing shape by deadline.
If you’ve worried this college essay writing process is beyond you, I’m here to tell you that you DEFINITELY have the capacity. You might even learn something invaluable about yourself along the way.
Sign up for complimentary consult HERE, or purchase and book your intake session to get started HERE.
Leave a Reply