True Stories Part 4

“Miss Nancy. Miss Nancy. I got in trouble today!”

Immediately the dialog format catches the reader’s attention. Nancy writes about her conversation with the playground bully at the school where she worked as a teacher assistant. The boy complains that the teacher punished him when, “I said a bad word and pushed Tommy because he was making fun of me.”

Nancy commiserates saying, “Getting in trouble isn’t much fun.” Later on she shares her own experience, “One day I figured out that if I didn’t let my sister see me get mad, she wouldn’t make fun of me because I wasn’t getting angry.” At another point she suggests, “We are going to have a secret code. Every time you get angry, flip your retainer in your mouth and that will let me know… I will come over and give you three minutes of alone time to calm down…”

Without a boastful word, Nancy’s essay shows her insight, compassion, tact and creativity.

True Stories Part 3

It was a stroke of genius as we were batting around ideas, when Joshua decided to write his essay about Emperor Fabius Maximus, nicknamed Cunctator, The Delayer . Surely college admissions readers would not yawn, having read thousands of essays on this topic!

Beyond catching attention, the topic was strategically a good choice. It reinforced Josh’s A’s and prizes in Latin. Writing playfully about how he and the emperor shared a tendency to delay, Joshua demonstrated wit, introspection, and his talent for finding relevance in ancient texts.

Joshua’s essay enhanced his intellectual and academic stature and certainly set him apart from others with a C average and in the bottom half of the class.

True Stories Part 1

Worried that Don’s 6 transcripts, from two high schools and four junior colleges, with several D’s, arriving cold, could ruin his chances, I convinced him to write a cover letter, even though none of the colleges he was applying to required a personal statement.

He explained that after working part time jobs and taking occasional courses, he had in the past year focused more seriously on his studies and attended community college full time. Both his life and his school experiences now led him to choose a program in international relations. He had lived and traveled in the Middle East, and was comfortable with and knowledgeable about foreign cultures. While his academic performance was uneven, his grades in courses related to his intended major were excellent, with A’s in government, history and anthropology.

Don’s well crafted note drew attention to what he wanted to emphasize in his record and communicated that he had become mature, focused, and ready to succeed.

What to Do about Senioritis - Again

How to Get Excited About Finishing Again

Try Out College Early

If your child is interested in pursuing a subject further, and has excelled at her high school classes so far, she should consider taking a class at a local college. This challenge can help her avoid sliding into an academic slump, and stimulate her interest in the possibilities of college.

Another option in many areas is middle college or early college high schools. These schools, normally located on community and four-year college campuses, allow students to spend their last two years taking classes in both college and high school. Early exposure to college classes introduces students to the rigor of college work while easing their transition from high school.

Explore All the Options

Your child's continued commitment to challenge herself and grow will help her to maintain momentum, and make smart decisions about her future. Your child should discuss all her education options with her counselor to create a plan that puts her on the right track for success—throughout her high school years and beyond.