Find Your Narrative: Guiding Students to a Powerful Common App Essay

The Common App essay isn't just another writing assignment; it's arguably one of the most important pieces of a college application. In a sea of identical SAT scores and GPAs, this is a student’s opportunity to reveal their authentic self and stand out. It’s the admissions officer’s chance to glimpse into an applicant’s personality and envision how they will thrive within the campus culture.

More Than Just an Application

Think of this essay as a conversation, not a job interview. It's a narrative–more informal and story-based–designed to showcase maturation and growth. We encourage our students to delve into experiences that have shaped their thinking, demonstrate how they've learned and reflected, and show how they will continue to learn and impact others in college. 

Crafting a Personal & Polished Narrative

A truly great essay is personal, but it doesn’t require deeply private or life-altering events. In fact, the power in the essay is its ability to use small moments that reveal unique insights to a student’s lived experience. While it’s not a formal academic paper, attention to grammar, spelling, style, and mechanics is essential to the 650-word limit. Ultimately, it's about telling a good story, exceptionally well. 

Our 5-Step Journey to Your Best Essay

We guide our students through a comprehensive process to unlock their most compelling stories:

1. Discovery & Exploration: We start by brainstorming a wide array of ideas—from relationships and experiences to hobbies and interests. These insights spark "Timed Free Writes" where themes and passions begin to emerge, aligning with your personal intentions.

   
   

2. Intentional Narrative: We explore key questions: What do you truly care about? How do others perceive you? What are your strengths, and how do they manifest? Where do you see yourself heading? This helps us match your reflections with your writing to craft a cohesive narrative.

   
   

3. Structure & Focus: This step is about defining your essay's core goal, theme, and message. We work on outlining and highlighting the most impactful components, focusing on smooth transitions that best reveal your unique identity.

   
   

4. Refinement & Voice: Our final meetings are dedicated to edits. We continuously refine the essay to ensure it clearly conveys your purpose and showcases who you are as a unique individual. The goal is for your authentic voice to leap off the page.

   
   

5. Final Polish: Students utilize individual tools and resources for a final review, fine-tuning for style, clarity, and mechanics.

   
   

While prompts can guide the essay, we encourage students to explore their ideas first, then see which prompt best fits their narrative. This essay writing process is a unique journey in self-expression—an encouraging and fun way for us to connect with our clients, helping them present their best selves without sounding like a mere resume. 

Schedule a meeting with us to meet with a consultant and see how they can support you.