Before moving to Los Angeles several years ago I had a long career working with law students, and before that, with undergraduates. In my current work as a college counselor, I use the same approach with high school students to help them brainstorm and prepare applications that worked with students of all ages.
Q: What do third-year law students and high school seniors have in common? Check all that apply:
A. Graduation caps look flattering on them.
B. They are able to maintain motivation in the spring semester.
C. They liked attending on-line classes in pajamas.
D. They are in a transition phase and need to convince others that they would be a good fit for their next endeavor.
A: Partial credit for A – truly, only a very few can really rock a graduation cap.
Partial credit for B – hats off to those who can maintain their motivation. I know I almost failed a class spring semester of my senior year in high school (and again senior year of college) because my mind was elsewhere.
Partial credit for C – the pajama part may have been great, but most students I’ve spoken with missed in-person classes.
*Full credit for D – much time is spent during these last years of school making plans for the future.
Transitions of any kind, whether between levels of schooling, from school to a job, or between jobs require self-reflection and deliberate presentation. In my 30 years working with law students as an Assistant Dean for Student Engagement, I saw how important it was for them to create a strategic plan to successfully navigate to the next step. For law students that usually meant either a job or additional professional training. I also worked with law students preparing materials for summer internships or scholarships. All of these applications required the student to present a case as to why he or she would be the ideal candidate. My conversations about these presentations always started with the same questions: What is your story and why would it matter to the person reviewing your application?
These are the same questions I ask high school students as a college counselor when I help them think about what comes next. These can be hard questions for them to answer. 17- and 18-year-olds are not used to thinking about what makes them unique. Answering those questions requires some digging and it helps to have someone help you dig. Thirty-plus years of asking clarifying questions to students of all levels helps me help them identify and articulate their stories.
As part of my work at the law school, during the summers I read the admissions application essays for entering students to get to know a bit about our incoming class in advance. Most essays were just fine – thoughtful, but pretty standard. A few essays stood out; in admissions lingo, they “popped.” Having read hundreds of essays, I know pretty early in the drafting process whether an essay topic will help the essay stand out. They are the ones that provide compelling answers to those essential questions: What is your story and why would it matter to the person reviewing your application?
You can learn more about how we approach the essay writing process with students by clicking here.
Additionally, you can learn more about Helena’s experience as a college counselor and how she can help guide your student through their college application process by contacting us today!
