Applying to College is Often A Long and Winding Road

Writing college essays is an intricate dance, often not a project that’s completed according to scheduled benchmarks and not without conflicts along the way. Often, applicants work in fits and starts, and typically, not in accordance with a parent’s expectations. 

Seventeen years of expectations, emotions and experiences can obstruct the effort to draft autobiographical essays. Furthermore, teens are reflecting on existential life questions like, “Who am I?” and “What do I want to be when I grow up?”, possibly walking a path separate from peers and maybe even in a new locale away from their families. 

And, if the aforementioned aren’t complicated enough, high school teachers often aren’t adjusting classwork expectations, thus continuing to assign work at the same rigorous pace and extracurricular commitments are on-going. Plus, parents and teens may complete work differently from each other, possibly adding to the running skirmishes of the natural teen-parent dynamic. 

Thus, simply setting benchmarks, breaking the college essay writing and application process into tasks, may not serve as an intended motivator. Each applicant discovers their own motivation on their own time in their own way. Yet, with objective guidance, and support waiting when the applicant is ready, with gentle nudges along the way, students will apply to college.


For more information about how to navigate the complex college admissions process to prepare any student for the challenging global socioeconomic situtation, contact us at Creative Marbles Consultancy

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About Jill Yoshikawa, Ed M, Partner of Creative Marbles Consultancy

Jill Yoshikawa, EdM, Harvard ’99, a seasoned, 25 year educator and consultant, is meticulous in helping clients navigate all aspects of the educational experience, no matter the level of complexity. She combines educational theory with experience to advise families, schools and educators. A UCSD and Harvard graduate, as well as a former high school teacher, Jill works tirelessly to help her clients succeed.
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