How to Write a Strong Common App Personal Essay
Join R2C Founder Debbie Schwartz and Counselor-in-Residence Ellen Whalen as they share tips to help your student get started on their Common App Personal Essay. ***Join our free Facebook group, Paying for College 101, and connect with other families and experts in our community about the college admissions and paying for college process. / payingforcollege101 0:00 Welcome & Introductions 2:05 About Ellen Whalen — 10 Seasons, 2,000+ Essays 4:04 What Is the Common App Personal Statement? 6:04 How Important Is the Essay? (It Depends on the School) 7:03 Who Reads Your Essay — and How Fast? 8:08 What Colleges Are Looking For 9:00 Essay Structures: Chronological vs. Montage 13:30 Show Don’t Tell — Writing with Vivid Detail 16:45 Strong Openings: How to Hook the Reader 20:00 Strong Endings & the Power of Reflection 22:00 Common Mistakes to Avoid 26:00 Topics to Approach Carefully (Mental Health, Sports, Romance) 32:30 Tone, Style & Finding the Student’s Authentic Voice 37:00 The Writing & Brainstorming Process 44:00 Revision: How Many Drafts Does It Take? 46:00 Final Checks Before Submitting 48:00 How Parents Can Help (Without Taking Over) 50:30 A Note on AI — What’s Okay and What’s Not 54:00 Supplemental Essays: Don’t Leave Them for Last 1:00:00 Live Q&A Begins 1:02:00 First Draft Essay Read-Along 1:13:00 Final Revised Essay Read-Along 1:09:00 Q&A: Tone, Fiction References & Titles 1:11:16 Early Bird Coaching Packages — Q&A 1:12:49 Essay vs. Resume: Where’s the Line? 1:14:22 Wrap-Up & Closing
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