I don’t know why this Vox article (read it here) is even necessary, given that colleges are scrambling to recruit students amid enrollment declines, a situation that will only worsen in coming years (see article here).
But for what it’s worth, it explains what college admissions officers look for, and how to play the game on their terms.
- Rule #1: Don’t use ChatGPT; they’ll know you did. (And, it goes without saying, don’t plagiarize.)
- Rule #2: Don’t write a generic-sounding essay. Describe yourself, and tailor it to the college you’re applying to, linking your interests to their academic offerings.
- Rule #3: “Avoid regurgitating your resume; instead, lead the reader through a narrative arc showing your growth,” one essay coach advises.
- Rule #4: Showcase your writing ability. Spend time polishing it. Check grammar, spelling, proper word usage, and avoid slang terms.
- Rule #5: As with all writing, revise, revise, revise.
What, you can’t write? Then say you’re going to college to improve your writing skills. After all, that’s what college is for. (This paragraph is my idea, not the essay coach’s.)
When I started college 60 years ago, English composition was a mandatory class for new freshmen. The professor was a stern taskmaster, and unforgiving of even slight errors. A comma where a semicolon was called for was points off. What’s more, if a paper was due at 8:00 a.m. Friday, it would be rejected and given a failing grade if you turned it in at 8:01 a.m.
I got the feeling this instructor was teaching more than grammar, spelling, and writing techniques; she was teaching discipline, and training students to show up for work on time. By the way, she was never late to a class. These are things you don’t find in a course catalog, but are part of your education. This is what a good education looks like. Looking back, I now consider myself lucky to have gotten that instructor for that class.