I’m not a teenager trying to write a college essay nor am I a parent of one, but I am trying to write my own essays and this has given me needed guidance. I also don’t know nuthin’ ‘bout lipstick of any color—but I do know you are an insanely kick ass person and writer. And I thank you.
Yes, this a million times! I fear that the college consulting industry unnecessarily complicates the essay writing process for, well, profit, and this makes the writing the essays even harder for kids. I'm always saying that it's not that complicated to families and they are dubious at best. Now I have this post to show them that I'm not making it up! Also, love to see that you are on a panel with Lewis Newman. I interviewed him for the podcast and he's such a wise, kind, and helpful person!
What a small world—so glad you interviewed Louis. He has so much wisdom to share!
My friend Laurie (who also does extensive essay coaching) and I joke that we need t-shirts made that say Just. Tell. Your. Damn. Story. It kills me that people are like, "If it's simple and straightforward and doesn't cost a lot of money it's not right."
I might turn this into a Substack later, but off the top of my head: Ann Patchett's This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, Patricia Lockwood's Priestdaddy, Daisy Hernandez's A Cup of Water Under My Bed, Jeanette Winterson's Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal, Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes, Helen Macdonald's H is for Hawk, Sabrina Orah Mark's Happily, Sonya Huber's Supremely Tiny Acts, Ta-Nehisi Coates Between the World and Me
This is all such great advice (especially the section for parents of students writing college essays, of which I currently am one). I didn't have a book called College Essays that Worked when I was applying many ages ago, but if I had, it would surely have made me "disoriented, dispirited, and bitterly envious" (perfectly said!) -- and really, who needs that? Have fun at the Library Speakers Consortium! I know you'll be fabulous.
Thank you so much, Ginny! Honestly, I feel like 95 percent of the advice is common sense, but with all the noise out there (THREE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR ESSAY GREAT! THIS ONE EASY HACK GOT THIS STUDENT INTO HARVARD *AND* YALE *AND* STANFORD!), it can be incredibly difficult for students to get their bearings, especially with no meaningful guidance about what to do and so much at stake. Hopefully your rising senior is managing to navigate these turbulent waters!
I’m not a teenager trying to write a college essay nor am I a parent of one, but I am trying to write my own essays and this has given me needed guidance. I also don’t know nuthin’ ‘bout lipstick of any color—but I do know you are an insanely kick ass person and writer. And I thank you.
No, THANK YOU! You are incredibly kind and I love reading your writing so if anything I wrote helped I am more than happy to reap the benefits.
Yes, this a million times! I fear that the college consulting industry unnecessarily complicates the essay writing process for, well, profit, and this makes the writing the essays even harder for kids. I'm always saying that it's not that complicated to families and they are dubious at best. Now I have this post to show them that I'm not making it up! Also, love to see that you are on a panel with Lewis Newman. I interviewed him for the podcast and he's such a wise, kind, and helpful person!
What a small world—so glad you interviewed Louis. He has so much wisdom to share!
My friend Laurie (who also does extensive essay coaching) and I joke that we need t-shirts made that say Just. Tell. Your. Damn. Story. It kills me that people are like, "If it's simple and straightforward and doesn't cost a lot of money it's not right."
You are my sanity check. I will be sharing this with my students—because I totally need backup on ALL of this!
Send it to their parents, too! No one can get mad at you if you didn't write it. :-)
Louder for the people in back, please!
I have already been chastised by my husband for using too many all caps, but for the people in the back: IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THAT COMPLICATED!!!
Yes, please 🙏🏻 to the really, really long list!
I might turn this into a Substack later, but off the top of my head: Ann Patchett's This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, Patricia Lockwood's Priestdaddy, Daisy Hernandez's A Cup of Water Under My Bed, Jeanette Winterson's Why Be Happy When You Can Be Normal, Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes, Helen Macdonald's H is for Hawk, Sabrina Orah Mark's Happily, Sonya Huber's Supremely Tiny Acts, Ta-Nehisi Coates Between the World and Me
Hermes Rouge Casaque is the lipstick you need
The name alone is SO good. Thank you!
This is all such great advice (especially the section for parents of students writing college essays, of which I currently am one). I didn't have a book called College Essays that Worked when I was applying many ages ago, but if I had, it would surely have made me "disoriented, dispirited, and bitterly envious" (perfectly said!) -- and really, who needs that? Have fun at the Library Speakers Consortium! I know you'll be fabulous.
Thank you so much, Ginny! Honestly, I feel like 95 percent of the advice is common sense, but with all the noise out there (THREE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR ESSAY GREAT! THIS ONE EASY HACK GOT THIS STUDENT INTO HARVARD *AND* YALE *AND* STANFORD!), it can be incredibly difficult for students to get their bearings, especially with no meaningful guidance about what to do and so much at stake. Hopefully your rising senior is managing to navigate these turbulent waters!