How Many College Essays Do You Have to Write?
Hey, everyone, and welcome back. We're diving into some articles and research today about college prep that you all sent in.
Speaker 2:Yeah. There's a lot here, and it seems like everyone is feeling the pressure.
Speaker 1:Yeah. No kidding. Parents are definitely stressed about the whole college application process.
Speaker 2:For sure. It's a big deal. And what stood out to me was all this talk about essays.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah. The essays.
Speaker 2:Like, did you know that some students are writing, like, 5 or even 10 essays just for their applications?
Speaker 1:Well, 5 to 10 per college.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Per college.
Speaker 1:It's a lot. That's insane. I mean, no wonder parents are stressed. That's more like writing a whole book. But, why so many?
Speaker 1:What's the deal with that?
Speaker 2:Well, it seems like colleges are moving toward this thing they're calling, like, a holistic view of the applicant. Okay. So they wanna see more than just grades and test scores. You know?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:They wanna know who the student is, like, what they're passionate about, what their dreams are.
Speaker 1:I see.
Speaker 2:So essays are a way for students to kind of show off their personality and tell their own stories.
Speaker 1:Okay. That makes sense. So it's about, like, painting a full picture, not just filling out a form.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:But where do you even begin with all of that? There's a common app, the Coalition app, and then, like, a zillion supplemental essays. It's enough to make your head spin.
Speaker 2:Yeah. All the different applications and essays can get really confusing.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Think of it this way. The Common app and the Coalition app are, like, the basic frameworks. Hundreds of colleges use them.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:These cover the basics, grades, scores, extracurriculars.
Speaker 1:Gotcha.
Speaker 2:And then you've got those supplemental essays. Those are specific to each college.
Speaker 1:So it's like why this specific school is the perfect fit for you.
Speaker 2:Exactly. That's where your child can really showcase their personality and what they love about that school.
Speaker 1:Okay. I'm starting to see the bigger picture here. But with so many essays, how can students keep up? And how can parents help without, you know, adding to the stress? I know the research I was reading really emphasized organization.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Organization is key. One of the best tips I saw was to create a timeline early on and then just break down the whole process into smaller steps.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:This is definitely a marathon, not a sprint.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And remember, it's not just about getting into college. It's about guiding your child through this and helping them develop those life skills that they'll need no matter what.
Speaker 1:Those life skills are so important. Yeah. I also read a lot about finances, which, honestly, that's a whole other level of stress for a lot of families.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely. College is expensive. Yeah. One thing that sources really pushed was understanding the costs. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Looking into financial aid options
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:And having honest conversations as a family about what's realistic. It's like building a house. You wouldn't start without a budget.
Speaker 1:That's a great analogy. So we've got the essays, applications, financial planning. Yeah. It's a lot to wrap your head around. Yeah.
Speaker 1:It really is. But besides all the logistics and stuff, there's this bigger question I kept seeing. How can we, like, as parents Mhmm. Support our kids emotionally through all of this?
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah. For sure. This is a huge transition for them.
Speaker 1:Exactly. It's like such a pivotal time in their lives, and there's so much uncertainty and pressure.
Speaker 2:Definitely. And all the sources we looked at really highlighted communication and being empathetic.
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:Like, you have to create a safe space for your child to talk about what they're going through
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Their hopes, their anxieties. You know? Yeah.
Speaker 1:So it's not just about being the parent who, like, checks off all the boxes on the to do list. Nope. It's more about being a partner to them during this whole thing.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And a big part of that is recognizing that every kid is different.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah. For sure.
Speaker 2:What works for one student might totally overwhelm another.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:So some kids need structure and deadlines. Others need more flexibility.
Speaker 1:Yeah. That's a good point. It's about understanding how your kid learns best and kinda tailoring your approach.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:And that's so important when you think about the essays too.
Speaker 2:Oh, sure.
Speaker 1:It's not just about getting the words down on paper.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:It's about helping them find their own voice and perspective.
Speaker 2:And the sources actually had some cool ideas for that.
Speaker 1:Oh, like what?
Speaker 2:Encouraging them to experiment with different writing styles or try different prompts Yep. Or even branching out and trying something totally new.
Speaker 1:So, basically, like, fostering their creativity. Yeah. And helping them see the essays as, like, a chance to learn about themselves, not just another thing to get through.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:I also saw some stuff though about the dangers of, like, over parenting during this whole college prep thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It's easy to get caught up in it.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So how do you find that balance between being supportive but also letting them take ownership of the process?
Speaker 2:Well, it's tricky for sure. It's like you wanna be there to guide them and offer support. Uh-huh. But at the same time, you want them to become independent and learn how to advocate for themselves.
Speaker 1:Take that classic thing, wanting to protect them, but also preparing them to, like, fly on their own.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Exactly. It's a tough one.
Speaker 1:So how do we manage that? What did those articles say? Well, a
Speaker 2:lot of them talked about empowering kids to make their own choices. Mhmm. Even if those choices are different from what you would have picked for them.
Speaker 1:I see.
Speaker 2:It's about trusting them and respecting their vision for their future.
Speaker 1:So, like, letting go of the reins a little bit and having faith that they'll figure things out.
Speaker 2:Exactly. It's more about focusing on the process and supporting their growth.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Okay. I like that. Yeah. So it's not about the outcome so much as it is about them learning and becoming the best versions of themselves.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And that's a good lesson no matter what they end up doing.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. And speaking of doing things, one thing that stood out to me was finding the right fit for college.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Fit is super important.
Speaker 1:Like, it's not just about getting into the most prestigious school.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:It's about finding the place where they'll actually thrive.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Academically, socially, emotionally, all of it.
Speaker 1:So how do you figure that out? It it feels like there's just so much information out there.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It can be overwhelming.
Speaker 1:It also makes you wish there was, like, a personalized guide or something to help families through it.
Speaker 2:Well, you know, there actually is a platform that's kinda like that.
Speaker 1:Oh, really? A platform. Tell me more about that.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So it's called College Journey, and it's basically designed to help families with, like, all aspects of college prep.
Speaker 1:College Journey. Okay. Interesting. What makes it so unique, though? Like, there are so many college prep resources out there already.
Speaker 2:Well, the thing about College Journey is that it uses AI for a personalized approach.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So at the core of it is this AI guide they call Alice.
Speaker 1:Alice.
Speaker 2:Yeah. You can think of her, like, a virtual college counselor available 247.
Speaker 1:Well, wait a minute. An AI college counselor. That sounds kinda futuristic. How does that even work?
Speaker 2:So Alice learns about your child by asking them questions through these interactive questionnaires and assessments.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And she's gathering information about their academic interests, extracurriculars, personality, even their goals for the future. Gotcha. And then based on all that data, Alice creates a personalized road map and suggests colleges that match your child's unique profile.
Speaker 1:So it's not just about matching GPA and test scores. It's about finding a college that's actually a good fit for them as a person.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Alice digs into the details of each college, like their culture, academic programs, extracurriculars, even things like location and campus size.
Speaker 1:Wow. That's really impressive. But what about those essays we were talking about? Can Alice help students write those too?
Speaker 2:Well, she doesn't write the essays for them. Okay. But she's like a brainstorming partner.
Speaker 1:I assume.
Speaker 2:She can suggest essay topics that fit with the students' experiences and interests, helps them find their own voice, and write a strong essay.
Speaker 1:So she's like a muse almost.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Exactly. And remember all that stress we talked about earlier.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah.
Speaker 2:Alice helps with that too
Speaker 1:Really help?
Speaker 2:By keeping everyone organized and on track.
Speaker 1:Oh, good.
Speaker 2:She provides these personalized timelines, sends reminders about deadlines, even offers tips on how to handle the emotional ups and downs of the whole process. It sounds like Alice could be a game changer for the emotional ups
Speaker 1:and downs of the whole process. It sounds like Alice could be a game changer for families who are feeling overwhelmed. Yeah. Definitely. But what about the financial side
Speaker 2:of things? Can College Journey help with that too? Yeah. That's a big one. For sure.
Speaker 2:And, yeah, College Journey has tools to help families figure out the cost of college, explore financial aid, and even develop long term financial strategies.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:Alice can even analyze your finances and suggest colleges that fit your budget.
Speaker 1:Okay. So they really thought of everything. It sounds incredible. But with all this focus on AI, I have to ask, what about the human element? Does Alice, like, replace the need for actual human guidance and interaction?
Speaker 2:That's a really good question. And, honestly, it's important to remember that AI is just a tool. It's not meant to replace human connection. Mhmm. College journey is more about complementing the role of parents, teachers, and counselors, not replacing them.
Speaker 1:Okay. So it's about empowering families with information and support.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And at the end of the day, the most important thing is that your child feels supported and excited about their future, and platforms like College Journey can definitely help with that.
Speaker 1:I think you've given us all a lot to think about. It sounds like College Journey's really innovative approach to college prep, combining technology with a real understanding of what families need. Thanks so much for sharing all of this with us.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And just remember, you're not alone in this. There are resources out there, and the best thing you can do is trust your instincts and focus on what matters most to you and your child.
