Your College Bound Kid | Admission Tips, Admission Trends & Admission Interviews

YCBK 557: More Tips For Writing Your Personal Statement

Jul 31, 2025
Peg Keogh, Director of Education at College Aid Pro, shares insights on financial aid applications, diving into common pitfalls and the importance of the FAFSA and CSS Profile. She discusses the significance of being 'need-blind' and the potential missed opportunities for aid. Joining her is Greg Zaiser, VP of Enrollment at Elon University, who highlights what makes Elon unique, from its engaged learning approach to small class sizes and exciting new programs. Their conversation emphasizes the intersection of financial planning and distinctive college experiences.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ADVICE

Show How Gratitude Changed You

  • In essays about gratitude, spend two-thirds of the essay explaining how the gratitude changed or motivated you.
  • Focus on what you did or how you grew because of the person who helped you.
ADVICE

Be Careful Explaining Low Grades

  • When writing about a low grade, avoid sounding like you're making excuses or blaming teachers.
  • Only mention it if there's a strong, legitimate reason like illness impacting the grade consistently.
ADVICE

Use Paragraphs and Edit Ruthlessly

  • Use paragraphs in your essay to improve clarity and emphasis.
  • Remove any extraneous details that don't support the main message about yourself.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app