WHO ARE YOU? COLLEGES WANT TO KNOW.
A student’s college application checklist contains all of the obvious pieces: grades, scores, activities, coursework. However, the overall picture, including essays, personal statements, and supplemental questions, can be challenging to pin down. Who is the student? What are their strengths and interests? What will they bring to the campus community? How will they contribute to the culture and mission of the school?
Representing these more subtle aspects of a person — along with meeting the many, many college deadlines and checking all of the boxes — makes the college application process challenging for strong students as well as those who struggle with executive functioning skills or a less than “perfect” story to tell. Showing the true nature of oneself in a way that is compelling can be an incredible hurdle for many. Families or friends may offer to help, but being impartial and evaluating what comes through the entire picture can prove to be a daunting task.
College Essays are a Different Beast
LTLS college application tutors have been trained to draw out the best elements that represent the student. Many people know how to write a good essay, but the expectations for college applications are unique. Having a qualified outside person step back and look at the entire application helps focus the writing and elevate the application toward a multi-dimensional view of the student. A trained eye can direct students toward distinctive topics and divert them from those that are overused. In an effort to tell a more complete story, college application tutors coach students to use their precious word count carefully and effectively.
Tackling the To-Do List
And, finally, because the various deadlines for schools, scholarships, testing, and honors programs are spread across many months, tracking each piece is hard for many students, especially those with executive functioning challenges. Our philosophy is that students benefit most from managing these deadlines to the best of their ability. However, having an outside person assist with tracking during a time when school responsibilities additionally increase can provide a sense of assurance for students and their parents.