The school essay is a unique opportunity for your child to highlight their personal pursuits and interests in an academic context. However, students should be mindful of overusing well-worn themes in their essays, such as sports success or overcoming obstacles.

Ultimately, the goal of writing an effective school essay is to weave together different threads from your life into a vibrant fabric of who you are as a person. Students should aim to avoid cliches and gimmicks in their essays, but they can still use the prompt as a framework for crafting an original story.

For example, if you are applying to a school that offers unparalleled academic opportunities in your field of interest, you can explain how the school will enable you to immerse yourself in that area of study. This will give admissions officers a sense of what it would be like to be in that community and can help them envision your fit on campus.

If you are applying to a college with a diverse student body, your child can talk about how the university will expose them to a wide range of viewpoints and opinions. This will show that you have the ability to discuss different ideas without losing your own perspective in the process.

When discussing extracurricular activities in a school essay, it is important to keep in mind that admissions officers are not looking for an ego boost. Your child should try to focus on how their experiences connect to the mission and values of the school they are applying to, as opposed to talking about how awesome they are.

The school essay is also a great place for your child to express their opinion about an issue or cause that is important to them. Having a strong point of view can demonstrate your child’s maturity and leadership abilities.

When your child is done with their essay, they should let it sit for a few days before they reread it. They will be more apt to catch typos and awkward grammar when they read it again with fresh eyes. They can also ask a teacher or college student for feedback to get another perspective on their essay. This can be a great way to help them make sure their essay is polished before they send it off to their top schools.