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&A for parents about the college essay, one question emerged as the clear 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.
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."
Julie sits in my office, fidgeting with her notebook. She sighs, and it’s so exaggerated we both laugh. She seems ready to talk, so I lean forward at my desk. I’m listening. “I know the story I should write,” she says, almost conspiratorially. “It’s just not the story I want to write.”
My husband and two sons recently convinced me that we should watch The Last of Us, a hit HBO show about a zombie apocalypse caused by, of all things, fungus. And even better, it’s based on a video game. Seriously, guys?
Writing supplement essays can feel daunting, but these questions really are a great opportunity to share more of your story with admissions officers. In the spirit of sharing, here are some of our favorite resources.
In eighth grade, I took an elective to prep for a yearly STEM competition. I was eager to build rubber-band-powered airplanes and roller coasters, but as we filed in on Day One, there were no materials or tools to be found. Instead, the teacher divided us into pairs. One of us had to describe an object, the other had to draw it.
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