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Beyond the Application: Crafting an Authentic College Essay

82 games in the season and 82 days you will see me and my dad watching the New York Knicks play basketball. The Knicks most notable player is, Jalen Brunson. I got his jersey when I went to my first Knicks playoff game on April 23, 2023. My dad was a Knicks fan his whole life even when he didn’t live in America, so it was only right for me to carry on this fanhood. I’ve always been a fan of all the players on the team, I have been supporting them for all my life so that would make sense, but what Brunson has done for the organization is amazing. He recently joined the team and has made an immediate impact, winning games, and facilitating the offense. As a basketball junkie and someone who plays for fun, it’s a whimsical experience watching him play and look forward to it every other night.

     Turning on the TV to watch them play isn’t just something to cure boredom, it's also a bonding time with my family. Spending evenings sitting side by side are moments that I will never forget. Whenever I am having a bad day I look forward to the night because it seems as if all my problems go away. (Unless the knicks lose)

     This jersey in specific is very memorable because of the playoff game I got it at. The Knicks won that day and advanced further into the playoffs. Ever since that day I considered this jersey a “good luck” symbol. 

The dreaded college essay, every applicant is struck with fear by the thought of trying to make their essay the most appealing to an admissions officer. The high stakes and fear of getting rejected adds to the chaotic college application experience. “This essay will dictate the next 4 years of my life” is a thought that close to all applicants have. As a senior currently applying for colleges these are some tips that have resonated with me and will help you along the way.

     Be authentic: The most important thing in your college essay is to choose a topic that is consistent with who you truly are. The admissions committee can sense when writers are authentic. Colleges want you to use your own voice, sense of humor, and way of speaking. Select a topic that holds genuine significance to you, rather than opting for something merely to make an impression. Whether it's a personal experience, hobby, or unique trait that showcases your strengths, don't hesitate to explore your weaknesses as well. Your weaknesses are a testament to your capacity for growth. The admission committee is looking for real people with genuine stories, not perfect individuals without challenges. In June Jordan’s Nobody Mean More to Me Than You she speaks on the importance of speaking in one’s own voice.  Jordan says “...either we hide our original word habits, or we completely surrender our own voice, hoping to please those who will never respect anyone different from themselves.” (Jordan 363) Your own language is your own identity. Colleges want to see this side of you. Embracing your own language is not a recommendation, it is a necessity.

     Ask for Help: In my personal experience with the college admissions process, I have had a lot of success speaking to my guidance counselors and teachers. My guidance counselors provide me amazing feedback and advice on how to maximize my application. This isn’t always the case though. Data shows that needier families have access to guidance offices that tend to provide more advice to a large group of students rather than one on one sessions. This is a flawed method because now they have to focus on college options that are most common. It creates a paradox where students that want to apply to top colleges are now at a disadvantage. In Fain’s article, Social class influences where even valedictorians go to college, research finds, he provides data that supports this claim, “Among those surveyed, only 32 percent of valedictorians from lower socioeconomic backgrounds enrolled in private colleges described as being the most selective, compared to 51 percent of their wealthier peers. And 11 percent of the lower-income students enrolled in the most selective public institutions, compared to 21 percent of the wealthier group.” (Fain 2)  This leaves college guidance to applicants' families instead of the school providing it for them. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds, despite their academic achievements, now have to face barriers that prevent them from accessing the same opportunities as their wealthier peers. 

     Focus on deeper themes: Some applicants think they will impress the admissions committee by loading their essay with facts, and a random assortment of activities and volunteer work. Sure, admissions officers may be impressed, but that's not the point. The issue with overly descriptive essays is that the topic of the essay tends to shift towards the person who is influencing the writer rather than the actual student applying. Peter, a member of a control group who was applying to college, wrote about his mother. The admissions counselor enjoyed the essay but, “The admissions counselor remarked that Peter’s mother “sounds like an amazing woman, but the writer doesn’t say enough about himself.” (Warren 50)  Despite the inspiring qualities of Peter’s mother that were shown, Peter’s essay failed to provide enough insight into his own personality, passions, and qualities. The admissions officer reading this essay would immediately deny this person because they are accepting him, not his mother.

As I currently navigate through the college application journey, these tips have illuminated the path for me. I first viewed the college application experience as a daunting maze, but now I find it manageable with enough planning. I hope these tips help you out on your journey too!