Reflecting on their extensive work guiding college applicants, Hillside Coaches share more of their essential insights. Recommended reading for any student beginning — or revising — the project!
Every fall, we hear from parents who tell us that — despite everyone’s best intentions — their senior didn't write a college-application essay during summer vacation. Or maybe they have a draft, but ... it could use some work! Our coaches can help students with essays at any stage.
My work has taught me the power of staying put. There isn’t a single student I have supported who didn’t benefit greatly from slowing down—who didn’t need to slow down in order to go forward authentically.
As a comedy writer, I’ve learned to expect ideas when I least expect them. The material for my ideas—the details and small interactions—to a comedian, these are gold. But learning to collect and consider these nuggets is also a key part of the essay-writing process.
“How in the world do I end this?” It's a common question from college-essay writers, and it emerges right when they reach for reflection. But not knowing your ending isn’t a liability. In fact, this state of not knowing can be exactly where you want to be.
At our Q&As for parents about the college essay, one question tends to emerge as the favorite: How does a student choose a strong, unique topic? Is there a way to avoid sounding like thousands of other applicants?
Our Uncommon Essay Course, designed for college applicants, begins with our Ten Sentences Exercise, which teaches students how to collect experiences in sentences of specific detail — just one sentence per experience.
Our process is based in conversation and instructive companionship. Our coaches begin the conversation by sharing what inspired them to write their blog posts. It's a great way to meet them!
Reflecting on their extensive work guiding college applicants, Hillside Coaches share essential insights. Recommended reading for any student beginning the project!
When it comes to personal essays, even a good outline isn't a turn-by-turn map. Instead, offshoots and byways, unseen at the start, always crop up. Working with my Creative Mentoring student reminded me just how much wayfinding happens along the way.
We emphasize student ownership of the writing process, and choosing a coach is a great place to start! Our best advice is to have the student visit our coach profiles to learn more about us.
Her email arrived thirty minutes before we were to meet. She wrote: "Attached is the same draft I sent you, but my parents had someone else look at it. The second version on the document was primarily written by my dad."
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