👪 Parent Guide: Supporting the College Essay Process

Parents play a huge role in helping students navigate their college essays—but it’s important to support without over-steering. Here’s how parents can help effectively:

1. Start With Encouragement, Not Pressure

Writing about yourself is hard. Encourage brainstorming, reflection, and honesty.

2. Let Your Student Lead the Story

Parents can guide, but the voice must belong to the student. Admissions officers can instantly tell when adults are writing or rewriting.

3. Help Them Explore Their Experiences

Ask open-ended questions:

• “What moment changed you?”

• “What do you want colleges to know about you?”

• “When did you grow the most?”

4. Focus on Reflection, Not Just Events

Parents can gently remind students that the meaning behind the story matters more than the story itself.

5. Discuss Sensitive Topics Carefully

Topics like grief, mental health, or trauma can work—if the focus is recovery, insight, or resilience rather than the event.

6. Offer Light Editing, Not Rewriting

Parents can:
✔️ Check for clarity
✔️ Point out confusing sections
✔️ Offer encouragement
Parents should NOT:
❌ Rewrite sentences
❌ Change the student’s voice
❌ Insert adult vocabulary

7. Keep it in Perspective

A college essay is important—but it’s not the only factor. Support, patience, and reassurance go a long way.