5 Reasons Why You Should Start Writing Your College Essay Early

You might have heard your teachers, counselors and parents pushing you to “Start writing your college essay early!”.  But you’re busy with schoolwork and extracurriculars and  used to routinely turning in assignments at midnight on the due date, so it’s understandable that you ask “It’s just another essay. Why start early? “.

Your college essay may be the most important part of your application. You want to showcase your best self and convince the college admissions officer to put your application in the “yes” pile. But a winning essay, like most worthwhile things in life, takes effort – and time!

Here are four reasons why you should start thinking about your college essay now.

Writing About Yourself Isn’t Easy

Until the first college application essay, most of us don’t have much experience writing about ourselves, leave alone writing a piece that will convince the reader that we’re exactly the kind of person they want.

So, you first have to start digging in and reflecting about yourself. And, as is common when you apply to multiple colleges, you may need to write many essays, all addressing a slightly different aspect of who you are.

You may think your life is boring and dull, but no life is ordinary. There’s a compelling story in you. To pull it out, you just need to think hard, think different, make notes, ask others’ opinions – all of which takes time. You have some serious “me research” to do!

One Draft Won’t Be Enough

There may be no magic number for the number of drafts you’d need for your college essay, but you can safely assume that “one and done” is not likely.  Think of it as a preparation for college: the process of writing a quality college-level essay may take many more revisions than students are prepared for!

So every revision is going to take time, and if you’re trying to do this along with your regular schoolwork and other commitments, you can see why you have to give yourself more time.

Outside Opinions Are Useful

Perhaps English has always been your best subject, and you’re a downright grammar whiz—that’s great! But everyone needs a second (or third) pair of eyes when it comes to writing something important. When it comes to your own writing, you spend so much time with the piece that you’re not able to judge it objectively. Someone reading it with fresh eyes will be able to spot missteps.

But getting the opinions of your family may not be enough (after all, they’re close to you), and few teachers have the time to read the college essays of all their students. So you have to put in the time to find the right people you can trust read your essay and give you valuable feedback.

You May Need More Guidance

As we mentioned earlier, writing personal statements is not easy for most people, and you may need some professional help in writing your essay. You may have difficulty figuring out what to write about or how to write it well, and may not have access to the necessary resources at school or at home.

There are many helpful guides available on the Internet, but if you need access to an expert, you should look for qualified professionals who can give you what you need. You may also have some constraints on price or whether you want your help online or in person. Do the research to find what is available. (Meemli has online college essay offerings that may be right for you – learn more here!)

You Can Reduce The Stress!

At school, you may sometimes get away with submitting your assignments late, but college admissions deadlines are firm and you don’t want to miss them. Putting off starting your essay until the last few days greatly increases the risk of your submitting a lesser essay because you just don’t have the time to do it right.

On the other hand, having your college essay finished well in advance greatly increases your confidence that you’re submitting a quality piece of writing and allows you to focus on other aspects of submitting your application. Reducing the last-minute pressure is one of the best reasons to start writing your college essay early!

 

Writing a compelling college essay is critical, but starting early is one of the sure-fire ways to reduce the stress and improve the quality of your essay. Do you agree? Leave us a reply!

23 Oct, 2016

Show Your Parents Why Choosing An English Major Is OK
(This is a common issue every college application season! Here are some tips for students who’re opting for an English major to help their parents feel good about their choice.)

Of all the dreaded teen student revelations – belly piercings, failed classes, regrettable Instagram posts – hearing that your child wants to be an English major in college is pretty high up there in terms of parental dread. After all, between an anemic hiring market (outside of tech) and record-high levels of student loan debt, liberal arts degrees have come under fire. So if your parents are freaking out about your planned choice of major, what should you do?

We have some pointers to help your parents understand the positive potential of an English major in college. Here’s what you do:

Read the Post.

Understand the points.

Do your prep (research).

Share the post with your parents.

Discuss!

high-school-networking

Four steps to take the worry out and bring confidence in your choice of the major.

First Take a Deep Breath

Even if your parents are dead set against a liberal arts degree, and are worried you want to be an English major, help them understand that an immediate knee-jerk reaction won’t help anyone. Their reasons for wanting a more technical major may be based in logic, so they should be prepared to discuss your chosen field of study calmly and rationally. Be prepared to back up your choice with numbers and sources.

English Majors Have Value

Sure, STEM and pre-professional fields (education, healthcare, business) have better-than-average employment rates, but according to a 2014 Georgetown study, English majors have comparable employment rates with more “practical” majors like hospitality management, economics and political science. A senior thesis on James Joyce doesn’t necessarily send you straight to the unemployment line.

Moreover, studying the humanities doesn’t just hone your ability to compare Romantic literature and modern film. You are learning to quickly synthesize large amounts of information, think critically, recognize patterns, research and communicate effectively. And studying English is hard work – don’t assume that an English major is slacking off just because he isn’t pursuing a STEM degree.

The Path To Employability

 If there is still concern about employability with a humanities degree, you and your parents can discuss how to make yourself as hirable as possible. No matter what you study, some quantitative experience can help – Code.org provides free introductory programming classes, for example, and you can brush up on his math skills with a summer course. Computer skills are in high demand, and they don’t necessarily preclude a humanities degree. And if you wants to get into a good liberal arts program, you still needs to successfully complete high school math requirements!

Focus On Happiness, Present And Future

 In the long run, your parent’s goal is the same as yours – your happiness. And truth be told, financial security plays a big part in that, so their concern is justified. Work with your parents of translate the typical salary levels for your college and major to quality of life: if you’re making the median amount, will you be able to make a decent living in your dream city? Pay for an apartment while still saving for retirement? Get a master’s without drowning in debt? Money can be a pretty abstract concept for teenage students, so getting your parents’ assistance in laying it out in concrete terms will help you have a more realistic picture of what the future will be like.

Make an effort to talk to English majors who graduated recently (and maybe your parents can too). The college counselor may be able to connect you to some so you can learn about their career paths and get their advice on their choice of major and its rewards as well as challenges. A true story will resonate more deeply than any statistic.

Do your own research on opportunities for English majors – just for your own peace of mind. Many colleges have pages on career options for different majors, including English, and here’s an article that shows even tech companies need English majors!

Last but not least, remember that nothing is set in stone: your choice of major may change ten times before graduation, or it may not; you may find a job offer straight out of college, or struggle for a bit; you may even switch careers ten years later. Many English majors have achieved financial success as well as fulfillment in their careers. Your parents should be reassured that with your hard work and preparation (as you have shown in your efforts to convince them) and their unqualified support, you’re going to be better than OK!

Have something to share about English majors? Leave us a reply!

9 Oct, 2016

4 Key Tips For A Stress-Free College Application Essay

If you’re a high school senior, right about now you’re freaking out about your college application essay. After all, everyone tells you it is SO IMPORTANT and will determine whether you get into the college you want – or NOT!! This is the stuff of nightmares and panic attacks.

But relax.. It’s really not that scary-impossible. Approximately 2.2 million students enroll in college every year! And that “personal statement”? It is only one of the ways colleges know how amazing you are – your test scores, grades and extra-curriculars matter too!

Meemli experts are happy to share a few simple steps that you can remember next time the anxiety strikes, then take a deep breath, and let it go – you got this!

 

Need more reassurance and active support in writing your essay? There are many places where you can get help:

– At school, from counselors and teachers, as available

– At home, from parents and experienced family members

– From private college admissions counseling services

– From Meemli!

Meemli also offers various options for helping you with your essay, from guiding you through the steps to helping you polish the finished product. And you can take the course from the comfort of home – you can’t beat that for easy access! (You can get more info here.)

Here’s the takeaway: college essays can be stressful until you have a handle on what is needed, why it is needed and how you can deliver it. We hope this infographic gives you a start.

Need more? Let us know how we can help!

1 Oct, 2016

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