Many high schools and some middle schools will ask your child to write an essay, complete a short-answer questionnaire, or submit a writing sample with the application. Here are some tips to help your child approach this task with confidence.
Read the instructions. If the school requests a page, don’t submit five lines or five pages. If answers are to be written by hand, don’t type.
Start early. Writing under the pressure of a deadline only increases the tension.
Brainstorm. Ask a teacher, tutor, or neighbor to help the student generate and clarify ideas.
Tell stories. Vivid anecdotes that illustrate something about the child’s initiative, work ethic, and compassion make the strongest submissions.
Be creative. If your child has special talents, ask if the school will accept fiction, poetry, or lyrics in place of an essay.
Repurpose ideas. If you’re applying to several schools, look for common threads among the essay questions. A strong answer for one school could be adapted for another application.
Proofread carefully. In particular, make sure the essay doesn’t say, “I have always wanted to attend School X,” if the application is for School Y.
Be honest. Submit the student’s work, not a parent’s. You can make suggestions, and you can certainly proofread the final product, but let your child do the work.