“Brevity is the soul of wit.” Polonius, Hamlet, William Shakespeare
Being concise, we can communicate with intelligence and clarity. When writing, especially without the chance to explain our meaning as is possible in conversation, brevity ensures readers can more likely grasp our ideas effectively.
Since most college essays are limited in word count, then students are challenged to reflect on what they mean to say, then rethink, refine, and revise—a complicated process. Teens can test the limits of their patience, as well as often stretch their vocabulary, which usually requires collaboration to select just the right words to convey their ideas.
Yet, many teenagers expect to draft their college essays in one sitting and one draft, at worst two drafts, only to discover the complexity of crafting a concise, impactful story. Many panic when drafting a 350 word response where 400 words is needed for just the introduction. Yikes!
So, ignore the word count for many, many, many drafts. Then, students are free draft a complete story in whatever words are necessary. Then, in collaboration with editors and mentors, students can reduce their stories to the word count, refining their sentences to the pith essence, confident in the story they’re sharing.
Brevity, while challenging, is achievable. Crafting autobiographical college essays isn’t just fitting ideas into a box on an application; students are seeking to tell their story, providing context for admissions officers to fairly evaluate their qualifications.
Creative Marbles was founded by teachers who appreciate helping students craft insightful essays, first in the academic classroom, now as part of the complex college admissions process. For more information, please contact us
