A school essay is a great opportunity for your child to showcase their unique interests and personal pursuits. They can use this essay to explain how they’re passionate about a specific cause, hobby, or skill that sets them apart from other applicants. They can also share their point-of-view on an important issue and demonstrate critical thinking and leadership capabilities.

To write a strong school essay, your child should begin by researching the essay prompts for each of the schools to which they’re applying. Often, this information can be found on the application itself or on the school’s website. In addition, they should look at the word count and application deadlines.

Ideally, they should start writing their essays months in advance of the submission date to give themselves ample time to work through multiple drafts. The best time to do this is during the summer before senior year, when schoolwork and extracurricular activities are less demanding. This can help them avoid rushing through the essay and ensure that it’s well-written.

The most common type of school essay is the “why this school” essay, which asks students to describe what makes the university a good fit for them. Depending on the prompt, this may include explaining why the university’s programs or culture are a good fit for their interests and goals, or it may ask them to describe how attending the school would help them achieve their dreams.

To write a successful “why this school” essay, your child should make sure that their response is original and reflects their own perspective on the university. They should avoid using cliches and overused phrases, which can be easy to spot by admissions officers. It’s also a good idea to encourage them to seek out feedback from teachers and peers who know them well.

It’s also helpful to have your child set aside their essay for a few days before they review it again. This gives them a fresh perspective and can help them identify any areas that might need revision. They can then use that feedback to revise the essay and make it stronger.

Finally, your child should be careful not to try to “cheat” by rewriting their essay or by having someone else do it for them. This is important so that the essay sounds genuine and authentic, and that the schools can see that it’s the applicant’s own work. It’s also a good idea for them to read their essay out loud to check for awkward phrasing and to ensure that it flows smoothly. Having a second pair of eyes can make a big difference.