Episode 61: Writing the College Essay

College Process

Sep 18

Written By HTC

In this episode, Cody sits down with two first gens to talk about college essays and how to make the most of those writing opportunities in the college application process.

Many colleges require an essay to be written within their college application process. The essay is not just used to assess the student academically or from a writing standpoint, but it’s also used to help get to know the applicant better outside of the standard questions in an application. It’s a time for the student to share a glimpse into their life and to provide a snapshot of who they are, on their own terms. Admissions decisions can sometimes come down to the strength of a well-written essay, so it’s important to understand the importance of this component and put your best foot forward.

In this episode you will hear from:

Thien, a current HS Senior, who is a son of Vietnamese immigrants and who plans to pursue a college degree in the area of medicine. He is also a part of the EMERGE Fellowship program, which provided great mentorship and support to him as he planned for his future. Thien was also able to use support at his school and even review previous student essays to get inspiration and a better understanding of what colleges want in the essay process.
Allison, a college sophomore, who is studying Business at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) and is heavily involved on her college campus as a member of several student organizations. Allison was able to reflect on her essay writing experience and some of the planning and stress that went into it. She also speaks to various strategies or topics she focused on that helped her create an authentic essay that displayed what she is interested in and who she is as a person.

Thanks again to today’s guests - Thien and Allison, for sharing their stories and experiences with our audience. And thank you for tuning in to How to College for first-gens! As you may have learned from today’s episode, college essays matter a lot when it comes to the college admissions process and even in terms of scholarships. And there are many things you can do to put your best foot forward. Our guests offered so much good advice, from planning early and planning ahead to being creative and making it your own; Speaking authentically and at the end of the day, always making sure you’re answering the question being asked. The college essay is used in the college application process to help get to know the applicant better. Stay tuned for next week’s episode where we interview a post College Graduate who works as an Admissions Counselor. She will speak to what colleges look for from applicants in those college essays.

Below are some resources as well: