Writing the Essay
You’ve been writing essays since middle school, so how hard could the college application essay be?
You have spent your educational life diligently writing five-paragraph essays that center around a thesis. You have been instructed to write formally, not inserting yourself or your opinions, and – most importantly—to not use the “I” pronoun.
So now, colleges ask you to forget everything you’ve learned about writing and compose something that exists in the space between personal narrative and critical analysis that showcases something unique and authentic. Oh, and it has to be fewer than 650 words. What could go wrong?
Why do colleges ask for an essay?
Believe it or not, colleges ask for essays not because admissions officers want to torture you. They don’t ask for them as a way of weeding you out, or because they love reading pieces between 200 and 700 words. Application essays serve the highly important function of taking a bunch of numbers and course titles and letters and assigning them to a living, breathing person. Let’s face it: No one piece of writing can take the place of getting to know you like your best friend, teacher or parents know you. Still, in the absence of having the time and ability to hang out with you, the essay can showcase a piece of who you are – what you enjoy, what you think about, your values, and what you notice about your place in the world.
Can I do this?
You can! The topic is about you. Who better than you to write it? And it’s a fitting assignment, if you can get beyond the stress of the blank page. You are asked to take stock of your life to date, what’s important to you and what you want next. What a perfect transitional assignment as you go from high school to college! Even the format is ideal for where you are right now. It is a forum for independent thought, opinions and (without drifting into arrogance) self-importance, all of which should be innate to any American teenager.
How can we help?
We are not here to tell you who you are, or to “package” who you “should” be. When we work with students on essays, we adopt a relationship much like editor to writer. We speak with you first, asking lots of questions and getting to know you. We help you identify for yourself what might be the right topic by posing questions and listening. We want you to feel excited about what you are about to write. (We’re fans of this writing process; we want you to be too!) Then, we dialogue with you about how you might want to tell your story, teaching you how the format differs from the writing structure you have been taught in your English classes. We encourage you to use your voice, while sharing the pieces that WE would most want to know if we were reviewing your application for admission. We give you the tools to help you bring yourself into the writing and teach you how to avoid pitfalls. We are there every step of the way to help you see what’s working, what we’re learning about you through the statement, and what could be even stronger.
-
CONSERVATORY & SPECIALiZED PROGRAMS
If you are considering applying to a dance or music conservatory, film school, theater school, or other visual/performing arts program, Mosaic College Prep can help you navigate the additional components, such as portfolios and auditions. -
Essays, Personal Statements & Supplements
If you are looking for assistance beginning, structuring or polishing a personal statement, look no further than our convenient online essay-editing service. We can help stir those creative juices so that you can write a personal statement that will stand out. -
Transfer Applicants
Transfer students have different needs than first-year applicants. They have experience with college life, academic expectations and a clearer vision of their futures. We collaborate with transfer students to help them find the right place based on their academic needs and professional aspirations.
