Colleges expect that the final college essay is something students have written and edited on their own. I ask that seniors kindly refrain from sending me requests to "proofread" or "edit" essays, electronically or otherwise, in the fall of senior year. Students may, however, wish to visit me during a mutually agreed upon free block to discuss an essay draft or idea. Please keep in mind that your teachers are also busy writing recommendations for college applicants, in addition to their regular professional duties. Also, a teacher may need to reschedule a college essay conversation to meet the academic needs of a current student.

Some teachers in the LHS English Department offer a college essay mini-unit in the spring of junior year. The rationale for such a unit is to give students familiarity with the Common Application prompts and a sense of why many colleges require a personal essay. Students in all junior English classes have also practiced personal writing. For more help with the college essay, Connecticut College has a website featuring successful essay examples, as does Johns Hopkins. Finally, here are examples from a recent New York Times essay contest.