Episode 62: From the Other Side: What Colleges Look for in Essays!

College Process

Sep 21

Written By HTC

In this episode, Cody sits down with a first gen professional who works as an Admissions Counselor. She speaks to both her experiences with essays and what colleges are looking for in essays.

College Admissions counselors not only recruit students to come to their institution but they also sometimes make admissions decisions and review application components, including college essays. Through this interview, you’ll learn more about how essays are reviewed from the college side and what colleges are hoping to see in college essays from their applicants. We hope you find that perspective to be valuable as you plan to write your very own college essay.

In this episode you will hear from:

Jeanette, a college graduate, who now works as an Admissions Counselor at Marquette University. Jeanette reflects on her own experience with essays and some mistakes or misconceptions she had. As someone who recruits and reviews applications, she also shares essay tips, info on how essays are used in the admissions process, and what colleges look for in essays.

Thanks again to today’s guest - Jeanette, for sharing their stories and experiences with our audience. And thank you for tuning in to How to College for first-gens! As you may have learned from Jeanette’s interview, the college essay is a unique piece of writing, unlike anything else a student has written before. The college essay requires self-awareness, reflection and a greater understanding of various identities one may have. Jeanette hit on so many topics that reinforce the idea of the college essay being solely about the student who they are. As she mentioned “It is not about the story that you tell, but more about who you are as a person.” She also offered so much other advice including making sure to answer the questions, exploring all essay prompts (not just the one that looks easiest), and that you don’t have to write about the challenges or traumas you’ve experienced if you aren’t comfortable doing so. The college essay can take so many forms - including prompted essays, personal statements and fun/unique prompts. She also discusses how colleges can use the essay to determine “community fit” for the student and the institution.

Below are some resources as well: