Most students dread the essay portion of their college application, especially when a college requires more than one essay. It’s not always easy for students to talk about themselves or share personal stories, but this is the area where they can set themselves apart from others and give colleges a better idea of who they are and what they want out of life. The college essay is an important piece of the admissions puzzle and students should give serious thought as to what will be revealed and how it will be constructed. Thankfully, there is help for those who struggle with making their essay come to life or have difficulty coming up with a good topic; many online companies now provide students with mentoring, editing and other strategic help. Whether students are looking for free assistance or some one-on-one tutoring help, the following services are sure to make their essays pop.
1. EssayEdge
EssayEdge provides expert support for high school, college graduate, medical and law students. Their fees vary, depending on the word count and services provided. Students can select a simple proofreading plan for as little as $69 or splurge on the premier package ($379+), which includes proofreading, constructive critique, a brainstorming session and support from an editor. They even provide samples of essays (before and after) from previous customers. The turnaround time for most work is between 24 and 48 hours.
2. EnglishClub
Students who don’t want to pay for one-on-one support from EssayEdge should consider checking out EnglishClub. This website hosts a free tutorial of the EssayEdge admissions essay-writing course. It includes six lessons with over 100 pages of content, including a brainstorming worksheet, examples of popular essay structures and templates to help those with writer’s block. Best of all, it’s free!
Most students will have multiple essays to write, even those who use the Common Application, but keeping track of everything can really be a pain. With College Essay Organizer, students can select the colleges where they intend to apply and receive all their required essay questions for free. For a low $24 fee, students can upgrade to the Essay RoadMap Tool and receive a personal writing plan, view winning essay samples, and have the ability to upload, edit and track the status of their essay drafts.
WOW Writing Workshop offers a variety of services, including essay workshops, private coaching and help with scholarship essays. Students can also get assistance through WOW’s online, self-guided tutorial ($99), which helps students understand how to approach essay prompts, focus their writing and edit their drafts for better results. Students can work at their own pace and have the opportunity to participate in writing exercises.
WiseChoice offers their Essay Tamer tool at absolutely no cost. Students simply need to register for a free account and they can get assistance with brainstorming ideas for their essays, help with editing and revisions, and tips that will help make their essays stand out in the crowd. Students should also check out their advice on preparing for the new Common Application essay prompts.
For those who want some additional feedback on their essays, without having to pay a consultation fee, I suggest checking out Writing.com. It’s a forum that offers a variety of free tools and students can get suggestions on how to improve their work. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) also offers some good tips on how to write a college essay. Writing takes time and practice, so the sooner students begin working on their essays, the more opportunities they will have to improve their skills.
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