Tests Aren’t Everything, Essays are the Key
Writing may be a dying art, but US schools seem to disagree. The crackdown on AI-generated essays and homework assignments continues to increase. You will still need to write that essay on The Great Gatsby or The Catcher in the Rye. Essays, and by extension, writing, are still significant components of the US education system. Honors or AP science classes will require research projects or experiment write-ups. Social science classes, such as government or history, will require essays as well. English classes will definitely require essays on character analysis, poems, and literature alike. Math is the only class in which I have not been required to write a formal essay.
Essays Aren't About Right Answers
What are essays? Essentially, it is argumentative writing. You have a thesis or main opinion that you argue for. You find support and explain that support (Sounds familiar? Hopefully it should. Finding the main argument, support, and explanation for that support are fundamental components of SAT Reading as well). In essence, your teachers want to hear what you think about certain topics. In turn, you also need to be able to explain what you think and why you think that on certain topics. This is in stark distinction to essays in most Korean schools (obviously, excluding those that follow an American or an IB curriculum). There will be the occasional essay you might need to write for Korean, but they will be extremely few and far between. Grades are almost entirely based on test scores, which lead up to a midterm or final. 수능, another exam, dominates college admissions. Admission by 논술 is rare. Tests don’t really care about what you think about on certain topics; they care about your applied knowledge on topics.
While exams prove you can effectively memorize and recount knowledge, essays promote deeper engagement with material. What was your understanding of this topic? How can this knowledge be applied to real life, or cross-compared? Sure, you can memorize figures and facts, but can you academically express your opinions? It is through essays, particularly your college application essays, that admissions officers can look at you beyond your test scores. Your Common App essay and supplements are what make you stand out.
The Real Reason Essays Matter in the US
Virtually every university and college in the US will ask for an essay (the Common App essay, at least), and in many cases, they will require supplemental essays as well. Sometimes these supplemental essays can be harder and longer than the Common App essay. Writing is of utmost importance. The trend will continue well into college. The amount of writing you will need to do, depending on your major, will approximately double or triple as a general rule. Why this obsession, this strong emphasis on essays and writing? Honestly, there are several reasons: pedagogical, cultural, and historical. I think my favorite reason is this: there is an emphasis on self-presentation and self-directed thought. As a student and person, it is a wonderful feeling when you are heard. Essays allow you to do that: express yourself and be heard. It is a cornerstone of living in the US. It is one of the reasons why I love writing. I hope you will learn to love essays and writing as well (if you still hate them, at least force yourself to love them because grades matter, too).
The Holistic Approach
High grades don’t make you special; you do. Your Common App essay and supplements are what make you stand out. While you might be one of tens of thousands who have a 4.0 GPA, you are the only version of you. So what makes you special? That’s what we work to uncover here at Sigma: we take what makes you unique and help you express it. By using essays, colleges can see how you think, how you’ve grown as a person, and how you will contribute to that school. While this may sound very daunting (and truthfully, it is an intense process), our services are here to help you produce a holistic portfolio that truly reflects your passions, achievements, and aspirations. While the idea of ‘no correct answer’ may not appeal to some, we see it as an opportunity to help each and every student construct a unique set of essays that will get them the recognition they deserve.
Here’s the key idea of an essay: no idea or experience is too small. While you might think your connection to music or hobbies (etc) might not make you special, it is precisely these small but significant parts of you that make you stand out to AOs. The key is putting it into words.
At Sigma Education, we have a range of services to help you get the most out of your essay writing/college application experience. From an 8-week structured, tailored essay package (Common App Bootcamp) to post-application essay reviews (Admissions Autopsy), we’ve got all your essay needs covered. At Sigma Education, we understand that you might not be a squeaky-clean A* student, and that’s ok. This is what makes you human and unique, and it is only through essays that you can show this.
Overall, while exam scores will for sure get your foot in the door, essays are the key to an impressive, stand-out application.
