by Margo Bartsch,
College Essay Coach

With summer approaching, it's college road-trip time! As shown in the hilarious Disney film, "College Road Trip," location matters when making an application list and eventually choosing to attend. In the movie, Raven-Symone plays a high school junior from Chicago who does not want to attend Northwestern because it is too close to home. She joins her Dad, Martin Lawrence, on a topsy-turvy adventure to visit Georgetown. Their road trip illustrates the role of location in selecting a college.

Colleges are aware that location matters. In fact, Middlebury has posed the essay question, "Middlebury values a sense of place and community in all forms. Describe the community where you grew up and how it influences your vision about the type of college community you would like to join."

Why is location important in choosing a college? If your child is comfortable and engaged in urban settings, NYU and BU are campuses smack in the middle of cities. Although these are popular colleges on their lists, after they visit, many say, "This doesn't feel like a gated campus." Whereas, if your child loves outdoor sports, Bowdoin and Boulder are great choices. However, even these two colleges differ: a big state university versus a small liberal arts college. This feedback helps to recognize how your child's academic and social interests can be matched to specific college environments.

The impressions from college visits are reflected when working on college application essays. This will help in sharing stories as to the qualities they will bring to college and why they will be a good fit to the campus community. For example, if your child is a budding entrepreneur, writing about their business interests could demonstrate their interest in the "Bring Your Own Biz" program at Champlain College. Plus, if they are a snowboarder, living in Vermont is a natural fit.

Summer is the time to take college road trips and get a head start on applications. This will make one less priority to worry about during senior year. Most students have a hard time getting the writing process started, developing a main idea, organizing their thoughts, and connecting to the reader. Instead, their writing reverts to what comes naturally: the shorthand of texting or a rambling stream of consciousness. Poorly written essays represent a missed opportunity for every applicant, but are particularly damaging to students whose GPA and SAT/ACT scores are already on the low end of the school's acceptable range.

So, what's your child's story? Visiting colleges before starting the application process helps to put a face on the college, beyond the brand name. In writing college essays, this is a chance to show that the campus is a place where the student can excel and reach their potential. Colleges will notice applicants who take the extra effort in making informed decisions. On your road trips, you will learn that your child's experiences and dreams make a truly a great story.

Margo Bartsch is the founder of College Essay Coach, a locally owned business. She is an adjunct professor at Champlain College. This is her sixth year in providing one-on-one instruction to write college application essays and prepare for the SAT and ACT Writing sections. Contact her at mbartsch@collegeessaycoach.com or at 985-3770.