When students move through high school, it's important for them to develop strong writing skills. Though it may seem like English courses take care of this, not all courses will help your tenth grader to develop the skillset that helps their college application essay stand out. Many colleges have moved to a more holistic admissions process. This means that essays play a crucial role in your child's eventual application. Most students will spend the summer between eleventh and twelfth grade preparing for early admissions and regular decision applications. Your tenth grader still has plenty of time to develop strong writing skills that will set them up for success during their application process.
Reading Enhances Writing
So many high school students have packed schedule that don't allow them free or leisure time. While it's important to maintain involvement, encourage your tenth grader to build a reading routine. Reading is one of the best ways to improve writing skills. It exposes students to different writing styles, vocabulary, and storytelling techniques. Encourage your child to read a variety of genres, from fiction to non-fiction, to poetry and essays. Build in time to take them to the library or bookstore. Discuss the books they are reading and ask questions about the characters, plot, and themes. These conversations can help your child develop critical thinking skills that are essential to writing effectively. Not only will reading prepare your child to write better, but a reading routine will also help them to become a life-long learner while preparing them for the rigors of college coursework.
Prewriting
In addition to reading, regular writing practice is essential for developing strong writing skills. Regardless of what assignments or papers your child has coming up, encourage them to write every day, whether it's in a journal, a blog, or through creative writing exercises. Regular practice can help your child build their confidence as writers while improving their ability to express themselves clearly and impactfully in writing. One easy change that many students overlook is the importance of prewriting for their classes. Prewriting can help your child write with organization and clarity, determining structure and supporting points of a paper before they sit down to write the actual thing. Instilling this practice will prepare them for the necessary prewriting and drafting they will need to do for their college essays. You can also encourage your child to participate in writing contests or workshops. These spaces further develop their skills and allow them to receive feedback from more experienced writers.
Start Early (Seriously)
When it comes to college application essays, you can never be too early. As a tenth grader, it's important for your child to start to articulate how their interests and passions align with their extracurriculars and inform their college and career choice. Starting this process early gives your child plenty of time to put together a thoughtful and well-written essay. Encourage them to brainstorm ideas, outline their essay, and revise multiple (many, many, many) drafts before submitting their final piece. For more on the importance of drafts, we recommend having your child read the article, "How to Ace Your First College Essay, Part 1." There, contributor Ceanna Hayes walks students through the drafting process and the role it plays in writing an outstanding essay. Now is the time to gently remind your child that the college application essay is their chance to show admissions officers who they are beyond their grades and test scores. Encourage them to be authentic and showcase their unique personality and experiences throughout their drafting process.
Get Clear
One key aspect of writing a strong college application essay is to focus on a specific and meaningful topic. A good starting point is to help your child clarify the intentions behind their extracurriculars. Understanding what motivates and drives them can become an excellent starting point for their essay. For more information on the importance of aligning your child's extracurriculars with their passions, interest, and hobbies read, "What Extracurriculars Are Right for Your Ninth Grader."
Once you have a clear understanding of what your child might like to talk about in their essay, help your child brainstorm ideas. If your child is stuck on what to write about, encourage them to reflect on personal experiences, challenges they have overcome, or moments that have shaped their identity. Remind them that the essay should give admissions officers insight into who they are as a person. It's important to choose a topic that is personal and meaningful to them and one that they'll be able to stick with for the next couple months as they write their essay. Encourage them to use prewriting to be honest and authentic in their writing, but not long winded. Finding this balance can help them to maintain clarity and memorability for reader to make a lasting impression.
Peer Feedback
Another important aspect of helping your child develop strong writing skills for college application essays is to encourage them to seek feedback from others. Remind them to share their essay with teachers, counselors, or peers for feedback and suggestions. If your child wants more insight into forming peer review groups. We recommend reading our Newsroom article, "Peer Review Groups" for the ins and outs of productive peer review.
Getting feedback from others can help your child gain a fresh perspective on their writing and identify areas for improvement or clarity that they may not have noticed on their own. Constructive criticism is a valuable tool for growth and improvement, and it's important to remind your child that their first drafts shouldn't be perfect. Encourage them to be open to feedback and willing to make revisions based on suggestions from others.
Practice Progress, Perfection!
Most importantly, remind your child that writing is a process and that it's okay to not get it right the first time. Encourage them to be patient and to embrace the revision process as an opportunity to strengthen their writing and refine their ideas. At the end of the day, your child wants the best possible essay. Remind them that writing is a skill that takes time and practice to develop, so encourage them to keep writing, revising, reading, and seeking feedback to improve. Your future self (and your child's future self) will be glad that you did!
