Let's talk a little bit today about the Common Application Essay... One of the myths out there about the college admission process is that admission counselors don't read the essays. Well, I can only speak for us here at PC, but I can promise you that we read every word of every essay... multiple times by multiple people. (So I hope you spent some time on it!)...

There are six essay questions on the Common Application, and we don't have a preference as to which one you choose. Question #6 is "Topic of Your Choice," so you have the freedom to write about whatever you want (and we encourage you to do so!). Our example applicant, Sarah Student, went this direction and wrote her essay about how her older brother was very well-known (read: popular, well-liked) at her high school and she had to work to establish her own identity during her four years. She has done a pretty good job with this essay- it's interesting to read, it has some humor in it, and it's well-written. Remember, we received 3,200 applications at our Early Action deadline, so we are reading A LOT of essays... and well-written ones certainly leave a positive and lasting impression on us!

We use the application essay as a way to get to know you better on the personal level. Since personal interviews are not offered here at PC, the essay becomes the best way for us to find out what you are passionate about, what issues are important to you, and it helps us to get a sense of your personality (if you allow that personality of yours to shine through in your writing!). The essay is a way for us to move beyond the "numbers" -- your GPA, class rank, SAT/ACT scores -- and really get a sense of who you are.

If you are a junior or a senior who hasn't applied yet, and you choose to answer one of the first 5 essay questions (in other words, you don't choose the "Topic of your Choice" prompt), please remember to answer the whole question: specifically, the part that reads, "and its impact on you" ... or "and its importance to you." I can't tell you how many essays we receive each year that are very nice and tell us a whole lot about a student's grandfather... but never get around to explaining how all of the great things the grandfather did impacted the student. Remember, YOU are applying to college, not your grandfather... The essay is one place where we really want you to talk about yourself, and give us the opportunity to get to know you better.

We'll continue through the application process as the week goes on... Talk to you soon!