There’s nothing more American than a good old tale of redemption. We love them! Politicians, athletes, celebrities—you name it, if they’ve made a big boo-boo, we’re just counting down the hours for their tear-filled apology broadcast on live television. But I’ve learned that someone else likes the redemption stories as well—high school seniors. And there are loads of admissions essay about just that thing.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of students who legitimately have overcome any number of hardships during their academic career. That’s not the issue. The problem is writing about how you’ve turned your life around and there’s little evidence of that on your transcripts or extracurricular activities. In a time when getting into a school is increasingly difficult, make sure you know how to wow that admissions board.
Many things go into a school’s decisions to accept a student. That essay is becoming more and more important. Be yourself, be interesting, and write it well. And, most importantly, get someone you trust to read over those essays and provide feedback.
Jay Varner, Assistant Director
