Should I Write About the Coronavirus? Tips for Writing Your College Admissions Essay During COVID-19

As current juniors begin to think about their college application essays, a number of students are wondering if they should write about the coronavirus on their college essay. Will everyone be writing on the virus? Will admissions officers be sick of reading yet another essay on this topic? What if something really meaningful or life-altering has happened to you as a result of the virus? Shouldn’t you want to share that with admissions officers?

Even before the CommonApp announced that they will be adding a dedicated space for both students and counselors to remark on the impact COVID-19 has had, admissions officers answered this question for counselors time and time again in webinars and group discussions. Overwhelmingly, college admissions officers stated that they were prepared to read essays centered on the virus, and were going to be compassionate and understanding to students who felt that this was an important topic for them to write about. They understand that the virus has impacted teenagers in different, yet profound, ways and they would not penalize students for writing on this topic, even if they are one of the hundreds of essays on such a topic.

My advice, even before CommonApp’s announcement, is not to say that students can’t write about the topic, but I challenge students to think hard about why they are choosing this topic. Historically, I encourage all of my students to go through deep dive brainstorming activities that elucidate different aspects of their personalities, experiences, and strengths. I plan to do the same brainstorming activities with my rising seniors this year. Perhaps the coronavirus emerges as a major theme or central part of the story, perhaps it shows itself as a background character to a stronger more central theme, or perhaps it does not get mentioned at all.

This is where the CommonApp’s directed question on COVID-19 comes in handy. For many students, it may be more appropriate for them to write on the impacts of the virus in a more succinct manner (the word limit on this question is 250 words as opposed to the 650-word limit on the personal statement). So as not to minimize or erase the impact the virus has had on any student, the CommonApp’s unique question allows students to share their experiences one time for all schools, while leaving them the opportunity to talk about other aspects of themselves in the personal statement.

Have questions about your college essay? Sydney can be reached at hello@smontgomeryconsulting.com.