The College Essay: How to Stand Out and Keep an Admissions Officer Awake

Gr 11 Up—These short videos, two of a five-part series, provide a quick, easy-to-understand discourse of topics related to preparing for college. Hanna Stotland, an independent admissions consultant, is personable and speaks directly to the camera in a nonpatronizing or judgmental fashion about topics of concern to students during their final year of high school. In The College Essay, she states that the essay is essentially the only thing entirely in the student's control during the application process. Some of her rules for writing include remembering the audience: twentysomethings, who are reading 700 essays and looking for something to make them laugh or cry. Stotland suggests that students proofread, proofread, proofread and that they focus on specific personal details. She also lists topics that student shouldn't write about and others that can be touchy. In Your Freshman Year, Stotland advises that students be responsible for their education by participating in activities like going to class, reading the assigned material, learning the rules of the college, and attending the professor's office hours, whether or not they need extra help. She also discusses social life on campus, encouraging students to join a team, band, or club; to exercise regularly; and to become the friend one wants to have. The content of the videos is good, though fairly predictable. The no-frills production values are somewhat amateurish.