Helping Students With College Applications

Monday, March 1, 2004

Helping Students with College Applications (NAPSA)—Whocan best help students with their application essays? Their English teacher? Their college counselor? Their best friend? None of the above, says Sarah Myers McGinty in her book The College Application Essay, published by the College Board ($15.95, softcover). All of the above people can (and often do) help in little ways, but the best helpers are a student’s parents. More colleges than ever require students to submit an essay with their application. McGinty’s book teaches students how to write vivid, distinctive essays to support their applications. The latest edition of the book includes a chapter for parents, which explains how they can aid the writing process—withoutinterfering in it. Today’s parents often think they will only add pressureif they bring up the essay at the dinner table. But research that McGinty recently conducted for the National Association for College Admission Counseling showed that students get the most useful help on the essay from their parents. “The crux of any application question is ‘tell us about yourself,” says McGinty. “Colleges want to meet the person who’s Soe Revised Edition Sarah Myers McGinty The College Application “An invaluable resource for students, parents, and counselors —a down-to-earth guide to this anxiety-producing part of the admissions process.” behindall the grades, test scores, and achievement awards. Parents, regardless of their own educational experiences, can help their children think about who they really are, about what colleges should know about them.” The College Application Essay, which is available in bookstores everywhere, also includes dozensof current essay questions andtopics, sample essays, and insight from admission directors and guidance professionals on how applicants’ essays are evaluated.

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