STUDENTS: Write a personal essay that sounds like YOU.
Essays for applications and admissions can be some of the most difficult writing you’ll ever do. That’s because they expect you—sometimes as early as 17!!—to:
A) know who you are, and
B) write all about yourself
Are they KIDDING?? Don’t they know how hard that is for anyone to pull off?? And did I mention the strict word count? And deadline? And the supplemental materials? And the feeling that YOUR WHOLE FUTURE IS AT STAKE?!
What if the personal essay writing process were different? What if it were a time of proactive development of your sense of self and self-expression?
What if you learned, maybe as early as 17, how to navigate writing from a point of confidence, creativity, and joy?
What if you learned before you began college, or graduate school, or that fellowship, the value of the journey to the deadline can be as great as the outcome of that deadline?
-
Writing is fundamentally about knowing yourself, organizing your thoughts, and conveying them with authenticity and generosity to your audience. But MAN that is so hard to do, ESPECIALLY when you are just heading out into the world.
But the college essay process doesn’t have to break you. Instead, it can be a holistically clarifying experience.
WrEn Co isn’t here to help you choose a college to apply to, but we are here to help guide you reflect, draft, refine, and submit a piece that is true to you, and that you’re proud of.
-
Some of us haven’t written anything beyond a zillion emails since our college essay back in the day. And plenty of us don’t remember much about that college essay other than all the stress it called.
If you are considering embarking upon further education, consider limbering up your writing skills. Along the way, clarify for yourself what you are looking for from this further education, what you offer to your program, and what you hope to do when you’re done.
Don’t just write to answer their prompts; write to answer what is driving you.
-
Applications need to be persuasive, especially if you’re vying for funding. But when you’re applying for a scholarship or grant, this kind of application often activates two of the greatest blocks to writing: talking about yourself and asking for money.
WrEn Co’s collaborative writing support will allow you to articulate—first for yourself and then for others—clarity in what you are offering, asking for, and its greater value in the world. Your final product will be more succinct, well-organized, and confident for having gone through a process of conversation-based writing prep and refinement.
-
I talk about this more in our For English Learners section.
-
I talk about this more in our For Professionals page.
From past students:
-
"I can say with absolute confidence that the finished product was so much better than it started. It takes an incredible tact to help young people through the myriad steps and writing mud to a potentially life-changing opportunity—Kate helped me and countless other students shape our writing into the right mold while still finding a way to stand out, and struck the perfect balance between firm and encouraging in her critiques."
Phoebe
-
“Kate has an exceptional knack for getting people to fully articulate their inner thoughts - helping to bring feeling and experience to paper. Kate’s guidance and care helped me express myself better than I ever could have imagined. She is truly an expert in the art of crafting personal statements!”
Sina
-
“If you’re anything like me, drafts of personal essays are daunting. And to share them is a vulnerable experience. But from the moment I met Kate, I knew I would always be willing to show her anything I produced. I credit her not only for the success of my candidacy but also for the long-term effect her guidance has had on my writing and editing skills. Kate is a wizard when it comes to writing, editing, and story-telling. But more importantly, she’s a brilliant human with whom every writer deserves a chance to work.”
Julia
Let’s talk.
Contact me to set up a free 30-min conversation about your writing needs.
NOTE: If this is for undergraduate college admissions support, our first conversation should include both the student and at least one parent.
