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Can an essay alone get you into a top college?
How to think about the college application to ensure success.
A few days ago I saw the following question in a forum:
Could you get into a good college relying greatly on your essays?
I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my future until recently, so while the academic portion of my stats is well off, my ECs are for sure lacking. Could you get into a more competitive school with low ECs but really good essays?
Let’s answer the question:
It’s not uncommon for students to face this challenge.
This is especially true if they didn’t understand the importance of extracurricular activities until it was too late in the process.
The student could write an amazing essay but, unless they are an excellent writer applying for an English major, I doubt the essay will be good enough to get into competitive colleges.
You see, while the essay is the student’s chance to tell their unique story and make a lasting impression, it doesn't exist in a vacuum.
It needs to be supported by evidence from the rest of the application to prove that the student is not just telling a nice story.
In essence, the accomplishments must match the story.
This is what it means to build a holistic application.
Every element—academics, extracurriculars, recommendations, and yes, essays—must work together to make an undeniable case for why a student deserves a spot at their dream school.
Think of it as a symphony:
If ONE instrument is out of tune, the whole performance fails.
But when all instruments are in tune, and there’s harmony in the performance, you get a standing ovation.
This is why I offer a 360 Application Review service where I manually review every element of the application as a whole (just as an admissions officer would).
And if you sign up before midnight tonight (Pacific Timezone)…
You and your kid will be invited to my exclusive Essay Writing Workshop to help you quick-start the essay and have it ready before the end of the summer.
But there are less than 8 hours to sign up to get both an Application Review + Essay Writing Workshop for the price of one.
You can learn more and sign up by clicking the link below:
To your child’s success,
Dr. Agnia Grigas
Founder - College Admissions Secrets
Author - ‘‘How to Win the Million Dollar College Admissions Game’’
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