by Marie Todd
The Power of Reflection in College Essay Writing
Did you know that the word “essay” comes from the French word essai (later essayer), meaning “to try”? An essay is a kind of inquiry – an attempt to get at the core of an idea or experience, to find out what is true. We read personal essays to discover how the writer thinks and what is important to them. We read them hoping to enjoy the writer’s skill with language, insights, knowledge, and life experience, and perhaps their sense of humor as well. Through reading about another person’s life, we enrich our own experience vicariously.
Although some people might wish they didn’t have to delve so deeply into their thoughts and reflections to write a strong personal essay, many applicants end up feeling grateful for the experience. In modern life, we have so little time when we aren’t connected to our phones, social media, and messaging. We don’t have much opportunity to simply sit, think, and reflect. It might feel weird or uncomfortable at first, but engaging in this kind of reflection helps us get to know ourselves differently.
Brainstorming ideas for your college essays and then discussing them with a few trusted adults who know you and your abilities is a wonderful opportunity. You’ll not only get the chance to learn about yourself, but you’ll also gain an appreciation for the budding adult you are becoming. You’ll develop a deeper understanding of what you have experienced in your life and how those experiences have influenced the person you are. Sometimes, searching for the truth can make you feel vulnerable, so you might feel tempted to shy away from it. But you know what? People who show their vulnerability are also showing their strength. In fact, people who can be revealing (in an appropriate way) are usually admired and often seem more relatable to other people.
The poet Robert Frost is said to have advised, “No tears for the writer, no tears for the reader,” meaning that an author must conjure up genuine emotion in themselves to be able to elicit the same from their reader. You can apply this to your essays and the college admissions committees; if they can tell that you have engaged in honest self-reflection as you examined your life events, they will feel moved by, interested in, and excited about what you have to say.
When you approach writing your college essays as an opportunity to develop greater self-knowledge, you won’t be sorry. You’ll not only craft stronger, more memorable essays, but you’ll also be better prepared for the exciting and transformative years ahead in college.
Marie Todd has been involved in college admissions for more than 20 years. Marie has both counseled applicants to top colleges and evaluated more than 5,000 applications for the University of Michigan’s College of Literature, Science, and the Arts; College of Engineering; School of Kinesiology; School of Nursing; and Taubman College of Architecture. Want Marie to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch.
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