Some of the most powerful experiences don’t come from organized activities at all. They come from real life. Here are some examples:

• Holding a part-time job
• Helping care for siblings or family members
• Volunteering consistently in the community
• Pursuing a creative or intellectual interest independently
• Facing and navigating challenges

These experiences build maturity, perspective, and self-awareness. They also lead to more authentic essays and can be showcased in college applications.

Passion Is Not Always Flashy

Not every student has a “spike” or a standout national award. That’s okay.

Colleges value students who:

• Show up consistently
• Take initiative in small but meaningful ways
• Care deeply about something, even if on a local level

A student who tutors weekly for three years or works their way up at a job often demonstrates more character than one who collects short-term leadership titles.

The Resume Is a Reflection, Not the Goal

A strong resume should reflect a student’s life. It should not dictate it.

When students chase activities solely for optics, they often end up:

• Less authentic in essays
• Unsure how to explain why they did what they did
• Overcommitted and stressed out

When they choose experiences that matter to them, the resume naturally follows.

A Better Question to Ask

Instead of asking, “Will this look good for college?”
Encourage students to ask, “Will this help me grow?” and “Is this something I care about?”

Growth leads to confidence. Confidence leads to clarity. And clarity leads to stronger college applications.

Bottom line: Colleges want real students with real stories. Meaningful life experiences will always matter more than a perfectly packed resume. If you have any questions, please reach out to me for a free consultation.

The post Students Should Have Meaningful Life Experiences, Not Just Load Their Resume appeared first on Matrix College Consulting.

I love Trader Joe’s. It’s in a great location, has good produce, and offers great value on many unique foods. But why do I really shop at Trader Joe’s? The friendly employees.

When I was there yesterday, I pulled my items from the shelves and got in the shortest line. I had never seen this cashier before. He struck up a conversation, and asked me how my summer was going. I told him I was about to take a trip to Montreal. He shared that he was also going to try to go to Canada, and it was all a last minute scenario to visit family in Hamilton, Ontario. He seems to enjoy mapping out, planning and budgeting for travel and hotel costs. As he was having this conversation with me, he was also doing a wonderful job as a cashier, even talking to me about the availability of a product that I couldn’t locate. 

He then asked me if my dog was going to Canada with me. How did he know about my dog?  I didn’t tell him I had a dog, he just took notice of the dog treats in my cart! I said, “No, we’re flying and she’s too big to take.”  I asked if he had a dog and said, “No, but I have a giant lizard. She’s really good but would not be able to handle going on a road trip.” I asked what her name was and he said Hoptag, named for a real estate agency in the UK where his mom worked.

Why am I sharing this with you? Because this guy could write a killer personal statement essay! Why? Here are my observations:

1. He’s interesting. In the span of three minutes, I learned some fascinating, fun, and memorable things about him. And I wanted to learn more!
2. Through his stories and actions, I noticed some of his strengths. He pays attention to others. He likes to plan and was able to multitask.
3. He’s a strong communicator. It was easy to interact with him and he had a knack for telling stories.

If you are a rising senior and don’t know what to write your personal statement about, start by brainstorming your quirks. What makes you you? How are you unique? Ordinary things make you who you are. You don’t need to have a history of solving a huge world problem, and it’s not essential that you participated in several international research opportunities. Just talk about what makes you special. And tell your stories.

I help families navigate each of these pieces of the process (and more). Feel free to sign up for a chat to see if we might be able to work together!

The post A Fresh New Take on Writing a College Essay appeared first on Matrix College Consulting.

Formulas. a² + b² = c².  We all love formulas at different times in our life because they can make math, chemistry, and other areas of our life easier. When it comes to writing your personal statement essay, otherwise known as the common app essay, there is no formula. Each person has a unique voice and a meaningful story. Sometimes it can be challenging to excavate that message. At times we’ve all been there- staring with a blank look at the expanse of white, panicked with thoughts racing about how to answer the prompt for an essay. Here are a few steps to help students start the process.

First, it’s important to remember the purpose of the common app essay. Universities are using a student’s essay as a “written interview” where they hope to learn about a student’s personality and values. It’s essential for students to think through what they, the student, want the college to know about them. This information needs to be something the college could not glean from the applicant’s activity list or transcript. I love conducting brainstorming activities with my students to help them discover possible topics for their personal statement essay and supplemental essays. Every student has a distinct voice and experiences worthy of sharing. 

Second, students need to understand what the prompt is really asking. After examining closely, I help students see that behind each prompt is the same question: what happened and why does it matter. Most students can easily answer the “what happened” (the obstacle, event, achievement, etc). The “why it matters” usually takes time and some heart-probing questions.

Third, write a content draft. Once a student understands the purpose and prompt, I guide them through a 10-step process.

Here are a few tips to help you start writing the first line of the first draft (After all, we all know starting is a big hurdle to overcome). 

• Use verisimilitude. It is one of my favorite words to explain to students. Ask any of my former clients and they will tell you, that Mrs. Hancock loves for us to practice verisimilitude. When a writer uses many if not all of their five senses and vivid descriptions then they can write in a manner that appears true and real. It gives the reader a sense of being there like they were dropped into a scene. So, students can begin by giving the reader a description of the moment but not explaining much. The actions, details, and dialogue will speak for themself. 

“Clickity clackity, clickity clackity.” The sound of my fingers dancing across

the keyboard penetrated the silence. 

Brandon C.

• Begin by admitting to something. This technique can draw the reader in.

“I didn’t have a goal in mind the day I walked into the dojo, but I now see that it was the first step I took on my path towards finding one.”

Josh M.

“Tarannum. Melody. An Islamic name. My middle name.”

Anika A.

• Try starting with one word, phrase, or dialogue. 

1980. (we’re all wondering what about 1980— some of us might even remember 1980). 

Anonymous

“The sauce is the boss.”

  Asher H. 

Finally, remember, the most important thing is to begin. The first draft is a content draft. So, try to paint images for the reader and focus on writing the content. It’s OK at this stage to write in fragments and run-on sentences. After all, “You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.” (Les Brown) and from The Doctor (Matt Smith from Doctor Who) — ‘We are all stories, in the end, just make it a good one eh?’

The post Tips to Begin Your College Essay appeared first on Matrix College Consulting.