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Convey, not Say

The purpose of the Application Essay is to keep the reader on the application when at a moment in time they'd like to close the application with a denial. 

Please understand that there's not a person out there who can't wait to read your child's 600 word essay, especially knowing they have another 1,000 of them in the queue.

They'd much prefer to quickly become disinterested, maybe confused, so they can get off it, hit the Deny button, and go to the next one...999 to go! If you were them, you'd be the same.

Our job is to keep the application open, moving the admission counselor towards their college's specific section where Acceptances are won.

Your $75 application fee doesn't buy you their time and attention. Only an essay that's interesting, easy to read, and meaningful to the applicant will keep them reading.

The bigger picture objective is twofold-

1) Enhance the reader's experience

2) Enhance the reader's feelings about the writer 

Acceptances are not typically won from the essay, but certainly tens of thousands of denials result from misunderstanding its purpose.

The biggest, most common mistake is to keep pushing what you, the child or parent, want to say. 

"I want to say..." doesn't work. How about focusing on what you want to convey...this works. It's a huge difference to understand, and not to understate.

The best essays result when the writer writes for the reader. The key is to know what message you'd like the reader to get and figure out how to deliver it. 

If you confuse the message, mix up the theme, or misdirect the reader, it's a losing essay. 

When it comes to this, parents are not good judges. I'm sorry, how can you be? Essays are written to enhance the experience and feeling of a reader who DOES NOT KNOW the writer. 

Alright, enough said...has my message been well conveyed?

Casting a wide net is for Commercial Fisherman, not College Applicants!

As we enter the college application season, note that most of my students will have their top priority colleges applied to by mid-September. This is the application-acceptance strategy that works. There's a big benefit to submitting early applications.

My strategy is to prepare and submit the student's top 5-6 priority applications first, then focus on those colleges for direct follow-up and follow-through. 

I was just listening to a podcast of Tom Fuld- The Heart of Healing, and the guest said-

"If I can get kids to take ownership of their lives by internalizing their needs and accessing their deep internal passion...their pathway to success and satisfaction is predictably good."

If this sounds familiar, it is. I was honored to be Tom's guest.

This is a common theme of mine and one that has become rooted into my CollegeLogic programming. Tom brought it out of me in his podcast. You can listen here.

It all leads to taking appropriate action. The key is to have the internal need come from deep within one's passion and desire for life. It has to be genuine and authentic for it to work its magic. If it's coming from the outside world, such as from a parent or teacher, it won't work any magic. 

CollegeLogic students are continuously tasked with accessing their passion and desire for internalizing their needs. As a result, I get to witness their magic flowing from it on an everyday basis. 

Opportunity is gained by distinguishing yourself from the pack.

There are three quick keys to distinguishing yourself from the pack. 

As we look ahead to college and entrance into the workplace thereafter, I like to focus students on building their unique basket of skills and abilities, pursuing their true internal passion and desire, and then demonstrating real substance for who they want to become (fresh from last week's memo).

What does this have to do with homeless Veterans? Most don't have a pathway to build upon their skills and abilities, pursue their internal passion and desire, or demonstrate real substance. Unless they are cared for by great organizations like Homes for the Brave, who work daily with struggling Veterans in this way, they don't have people advocating for their interests. 

My band Gold Dust is advocating for their interests. We are playing a dedicated show to support Veterans being cared for at Homes for the Brave. But we need your help. Will you please join us in advocating for their interests by clicking here to make a donation?

We thank them for their service.
I thank you for your support!