Alexa Donne | College Applications During COVID - Why You Should NOT Write Your Essay On COVID @AlexaDonne | Uploaded September 2020 | Updated October 2024, 4 hours ago.
Will it be easier or harder to get into college in the era of COVID? What should you be doing to stand out and prepare? I'm putting on my college admissions hat today to give rising seniors a pep talk and going in DEEP specifically on how to tackle your admissions essay for 2020/2021. My advice? Do NOT write about COVID in your essay if you can at all avoid it! But if you really want to, I have tips on how to do it well.
Everything is super stressful, so I also have some hopefully helpful advice for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors too.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
02:09 Self Care Instructions
03:20 A word for Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors
04:22 Focus on new hobbies (to use as ECs)
06:10 Rising seniors & flexible plans (including gap years)
07:30 Is it easier or harder to get into schools this year?
10:04 Frank discussion of MONEY
13:15 SATs & ACTs (should you submit?)
14:21 Essays: Why you shouldn't write about COVID-19 (IMO)
16:50 Emotional tunnel vision & COVID essays
17:38 The failure prompt is a lie (what admissions really wants to hear)
18:25 Example of a "good" COVID essay approach
19:25 How to use the COVID "additional information" space (vs. personal essay)
20:12 Get out your COVID feels with freewriting
20:38 List of some ways to write about COVID
22:16 COVID grief essays
25:42 Don't write a "navel gazing" COVID death essay (please)
27:04 Auditions, Recommendations & Interviews
RESOURCES
College Confidentialn forums: talk.categories.collegeconfidential.com
reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege
List of Test Optional Schools due to COVID: collegelifetoday.com/tips/organizing/college-not-requiring-sat
Add THE IVIES, my YA thriller featuring competitive college admissions & murder, out in 2021, on Goodreads! goodreads.com/book/show/48896122-the-ivies
+OTHER PROJECTS+
Support NovelTea Show on Patreon! We're launching a podcast, with your support. patreon.com/novelteashow
+BUY MY BOOKS+
Add THE STARS WE STEAL (Jane Austen + The Bachelor, in space) on Goodreads: goodreads.com/book/show/40950392-the-stars-we-steal
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): bookdepository.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/9781785659423
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING on Amazon: amazon.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/dp/1328948935/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1500334638&sr=1-1
Get Brightly Burning on Audible.com! audible.com/pd/Brightly-Burning-Audiobook/B07H41CPVC?asin=B07H41CPVC&source_code=AUDOR2220912189OII
+LINKS+
Goodreads:
goodreads.com/book/show/35065031-brightly-burning
Twitter:
twitter.com/alexadonne
Instagram:
instagram.com/alexadonne
Newsletter Sign-Up:
alexadonne.com/newsletter
Website:
alexadonne.com
Wattpad:
wattpad.com/user/alexadonne
+FILMING SPECS+
Camera: Canon t6i
Mic: Rode VideoMic Go Light
Lighting: Limo Studio Soft Kit
Editing Software: Pinnacle Studio 22
Will it be easier or harder to get into college in the era of COVID? What should you be doing to stand out and prepare? I'm putting on my college admissions hat today to give rising seniors a pep talk and going in DEEP specifically on how to tackle your admissions essay for 2020/2021. My advice? Do NOT write about COVID in your essay if you can at all avoid it! But if you really want to, I have tips on how to do it well.
Everything is super stressful, so I also have some hopefully helpful advice for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors too.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction
02:09 Self Care Instructions
03:20 A word for Freshmen, Sophomores & Juniors
04:22 Focus on new hobbies (to use as ECs)
06:10 Rising seniors & flexible plans (including gap years)
07:30 Is it easier or harder to get into schools this year?
10:04 Frank discussion of MONEY
13:15 SATs & ACTs (should you submit?)
14:21 Essays: Why you shouldn't write about COVID-19 (IMO)
16:50 Emotional tunnel vision & COVID essays
17:38 The failure prompt is a lie (what admissions really wants to hear)
18:25 Example of a "good" COVID essay approach
19:25 How to use the COVID "additional information" space (vs. personal essay)
20:12 Get out your COVID feels with freewriting
20:38 List of some ways to write about COVID
22:16 COVID grief essays
25:42 Don't write a "navel gazing" COVID death essay (please)
27:04 Auditions, Recommendations & Interviews
RESOURCES
College Confidentialn forums: talk.categories.collegeconfidential.com
reddit.com/r/ApplyingToCollege
List of Test Optional Schools due to COVID: collegelifetoday.com/tips/organizing/college-not-requiring-sat
Add THE IVIES, my YA thriller featuring competitive college admissions & murder, out in 2021, on Goodreads! goodreads.com/book/show/48896122-the-ivies
+OTHER PROJECTS+
Support NovelTea Show on Patreon! We're launching a podcast, with your support. patreon.com/novelteashow
+BUY MY BOOKS+
Add THE STARS WE STEAL (Jane Austen + The Bachelor, in space) on Goodreads: goodreads.com/book/show/40950392-the-stars-we-steal
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING from Book Depository (ships worldwide!): bookdepository.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/9781785659423
Buy BRIGHTLY BURNING on Amazon: amazon.com/Brightly-Burning-Alexa-Donne/dp/1328948935/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1500334638&sr=1-1
Get Brightly Burning on Audible.com! audible.com/pd/Brightly-Burning-Audiobook/B07H41CPVC?asin=B07H41CPVC&source_code=AUDOR2220912189OII
+LINKS+
Goodreads:
goodreads.com/book/show/35065031-brightly-burning
Twitter:
twitter.com/alexadonne
Instagram:
instagram.com/alexadonne
Newsletter Sign-Up:
alexadonne.com/newsletter
Website:
alexadonne.com
Wattpad:
wattpad.com/user/alexadonne
+FILMING SPECS+
Camera: Canon t6i
Mic: Rode VideoMic Go Light
Lighting: Limo Studio Soft Kit
Editing Software: Pinnacle Studio 22
