Parents: Don’t Write Your Kids’ Essays!

I know this seems like common sense, but parents: DON’T WRITE YOUR KIDS’ ESSAYS! Every year, I sit parents down and tell them that they need to let their kids write their own personal statements and college application essays.  As they sit across the table from me they nod in agreement and smile as if they have never “helped” their children on essays or homework before. And, every year, there are a handful of parents who can’t help themselves and actually write their children’s essays for them. Oy  Vey!

Parents: College admissions officers immediately see when parents write their kids’ essays. Your perspective on life come from decades of bumps and bruises and experiences that a 17-year old simply cannot have. Teens don’t have adult foresight and vision.  Sure some teens write really well but they don’t have mature wisdom that marriage, careers, and 40 years of life gives you. Writing their essays actually hurts their chances of getting into top colleges!

Besides, what kind of message are you sending to your child when you write their essays?  Do you want them to think that you don’t believe they can do this on their own?  What happens when they get to college with other students who actually have the writing skills needed to be successful? NOT GOOD. If you’re that concerned about their writing skills, spend the time to teach them how to improve their writing or hire a tutor to help them. That way, they’ll learn grammar and writing mechanics so they’ll be prepared to enter college with their peers.