Get Organized
you have a relative or close friend with
a serious illness or disability. What has
this taught you? How have you included
this person in your life and made your-
self a part of theirs, in spite of the illness
or disability? You could discuss gratitude
for your good health, a willingness to help
others less fortunate, or a desire to choose
a career field where you can be of service
to others such as medicine, social work or
special education.

GET ORGANIZED
All good writing starts with brainstorming
and pre-writing. Spend an hour making
notes about things you would like to write
about. You won’t write about everything
in your notes, but it will help you orga-
nize your thoughts. Make an outline, just
like you do for a school essay. The admis-
sions committees are looking for evidence
that you can organize your thoughts and
explore a specific topic from start to fin-
ish. A strong outline will make the writing
process much easier.

GET PERSONAL
Remember that the admissions committee
for each high school uses a variety of things
to decide upon your acceptance such as:
ƒ grades
ƒ recommendations from teachers
ƒ clubs, activities, sports, volunteer/
service work, religious involvement (if
applying to Catholic school)
ƒ honors, awards, achievements
Take a Deep
Breath Remember that
everyone goes to
high school.

24 Washington FAMILY OCTOBER 2019
All good writing starts
with brainstorming
and pre-writing.

Spend an hour
making notes about
things you would like
to write about.

ƒ high school placement test score
ƒ admissions essay
ƒ interview (not all schools have inter-
views, but those that do are looking for
eye contact, a firm handshake, good pos-
ture, a good conversation, positive things
about your middle school and positive
things about their high school)
So, the essay is only one part of the
puzzle, but it is something you have total
control over, unlike some of the other
things on the list of things they use to
decide whether you will attend their
school. Talk about positive and personal
things that show who you are in the best
possible way. Talk about school pride and
school spirit. Talk about being a good
role model, a leader, a caring friend.

Talk about how you connected with your
middle school, your teachers and your
classmates. If you had a particularly dif-
ficult struggle, but somehow managed to
come out on top, consider discussing this
because it will show that you have deter-
mination and character. Don’t brag, but
don’t hide your strengths either. If you
must mention a weakness, embrace it,
but also talk about the positive steps you
take to combat it.

DON’T PROCRASTINATE
Start now. As soon as those applications
are online, get your writing prompts out
in front of you. Write a first draft and let
a parent read it. Edit and revise it. Ask
a language arts teacher at your school
to read over it. Review the comments
from the teacher, and edit and revise it
again. Plan ahead and start early enough
that you are not stressed to finish right
before the deadline, missing the opportu-
nity to have time to send out your very
best work. As Aristotle said, “Well begun
is half done.”
DO YOUR OWN WORK
This is obvious, but it must be said. Do
your own work. School administrators are
very good at assessing students’ work, and
if the admissions essay presented to them
feels more like that of a seasoned profes-
sional than that of a rising freshman, it
will not bode well for you.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH
Remember that everyone goes to high
school. There are many fine choices
among the Catholic and private high
schools in this area. If tuition costs are
a barrier even with financial aid and/or
scholarships, explore your public school
options. Visit and/or shadow there. Talk
to neighbors. Investigate magnet pro-
grams or schools that have a performing
arts or STEM focus. Make an appointment
to meet with an administrator.

And finally, remember: It is not always
just about the destination. It is also about
the journey. ■
Michelle Blanchard Ardillo is a freelance
writer and middle school language
arts teacher. She has successfully
guided hundreds of students through
the high school application process for
12 years. Follow her @michardillo on
Twitter or Goodreads or at
michelleardillo.com.