Want to know when your high school junior should get a jump on preparing for college? The answer is now! You can skip to the College Essay Timeline at the bottom or delve into the reasoning behind my Write Coach step-by-step process.
With Spring around the corner, it’s time to start the college application process. The high school guidance counselors have already met with your student to discuss possible college majors and input a potential list of schools in the platforms, Scoir or Niche. It’s most likely that your child also took their PSAT so you have a range of college acceptance rates based on scores. The good news is that most colleges are not requiring standardized test scores due to Covid-19. You’ll have to rely on GPA, extra-curricular activities, and a well written college essay.
Enter Write Coach. I’m an English teacher with a Masters degree in Education who became a writing coach to help writers shine. The majority of my students are high school juniors and seniors needing help to formalize and organize their thoughts for their main college essay, as well as supplemental essays. Keep in mind, I have experience working with students with ADHD and learning disabilities.
One of the first things we suggest is for parents to help their child discover what makes them tick. It’s really easy to find out with a personality test. There are four free online tests we suggest that will help your student learn a bit more about their strengths and priorities. The Myers Brigg Type Indicator test reveals 4 personalities within 4 types: Analysts, Diplomats, Sentinels, Explorers; the DISC Personality models how someone interacts with others; the Enneagram test
Next, we ask students to put together an activity log of all the things they do from school activities and honors to outside extracurriculars and achievements to make it easier to fill in the Common Application.
Over the Summer, if your student has the potential but not the discipline to meet the timeline, Write Coach not only brings contextual tips to the college essay writing process, I’m personally available to work directly with families on the essay part of the college admissions process to help your student:
- Find their Authentic voice
- Tell a Unique story
- Use real Anecdotes
- Avoid Grammatical errors
Come Fall, I continue to work with your student on the college-specific essays as your student finalizes their college list, finishes their Common App and secures letters of recommendation. At the same time, we encourage all parents to apply for financial aid, even if your family can readily afford college. There are thousands of financial advisors that recommend this step so that your student puts some skin in the game and gives them a chance to establish credit. You should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that your student can receive a low interest government loan from the Federal Direct Loan Program in a ballpark range of $20,000 over four years.
At Thanksgiving, it’s time to relax. Don’t let your student wait until the last minute to show their favorite colleges how they would be the right fit. The student who waits until the deadline to submit an application is missing an opportunity to show their motivation. This can also make admissions officers wonder if this is the student’s first choice or backup plan.
Write Coach has the primary goal of building writing confidence while taking pressure off parents. If you’d like to learn more about my coaching style, please schedule a free 15 minute consult at: www.mywritecoach.com
College Essay Timeline
March
- Student: Take a free online personality test
- Parent: Help facilitate your student’s summer experience (research, internship, travel)
April
- Student: Create a log of school activities, extracurriculars, honors and achievements
- Parent: Hire a College Essay Coach (Write Coach is available!)
May
- Student: Start your Common Application and Finalize your college list
- Parent: Brainstorm Essay themes with your student
June
- Student: Write your Common App personal statement
- Parent: Encourage Summer Reading to expand your student’s vocabulary
July
- Student: Write and edit, edit, edit your College Essay
- Parent: Help coordinate College Interviews and Visits
August
- Student: Apply for Scholarships
- Parent: Meet with your Financial Advisor re: How to pay for college 🙂
September
- Student: Write college-specific Supplemental essays
- Parent: Apply for Financial Aid via FAFSA
October
- Student: Send Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) applications no later than Oct 31st
- Parent: Proofread your student’s Common Application
November
- Student: Send out Regular decision applications no later than December 10th
- Parent: Confirm with Guidance that transcripts and recommendation letters have been sent to each college your student applied
December
- Student, Parent & Family: Enjoy the Holidays!
