How to Write a Standout College Essay (Without Sounding Like Everyone Else)
Tuesday, June 9 · 7:00 PM ET · Live on Zoom
Your student has a story worth telling. Most essays don't tell it.
By June of junior year, the academic work is largely done. The GPA is set. The test scores are in or almost there. What's left is the part many families underestimate until it's right in front of them: the college essay.
That's where a lot of strong students lose ground. Not because they aren't capable writers, but because they underestimate two things at once. The first is how much the angle matters. Admissions officers read thousands of essays. A topic that feels personal and meaningful to a student can read as generic on the page if the approach isn't specific enough.
The second is how much time the whole process actually takes. The Common App personal statement is just the starting point. More and more colleges now require supplemental essays, and depending on a student's list, that can mean anywhere from one to seven additional essays per school.
This webinar is on June 9 for a reason. Students who start thinking about essays in June give themselves the summer to write well. Students who wait until August end up rushing through the most personal part of their application.
This webinar provides a clear picture of how essays are evaluated, a practical timeline for getting them done, and a starting point your student can actually use.
What You'll Learn
In this free 60-minute session, Mike, the founder of Wagner Prep, will walk rising senior families through:
How essays are actually read. Admissions officers review thousands of applications. Understanding their process changes how your student approaches the page.
The most common pitfalls and overdone topics. There are patterns that show up in thousands of essays every cycle. We'll name them clearly so your student can avoid them.
Real examples of essays that get shared and ones that get skimmed. We'll look at excerpts that work and walk through why, alongside examples that miss and what would have made them stronger.
How to build a content bank. We'll share a practical framework for all their college essays, so they're drawing from a rich pool of their own experiences rather than starting from scratch with every new school.
You'll leave with a clear picture of what strong essays have in common and a concrete starting point for your student.