The Real Way Teens Should Respond on Their College Essays

I am currently helping my daughter work on her college applications. Maybe it’s because she is my third child to go through this process (and there’s still one more kid to go). Maybe it’s because, as a high school teacher, I helped countless other teenagers with their college essays. Or maybe it’s just because I am getting older, and I no longer have patience with the ridiculous.

But the fact is, the college application process is ridiculous—in particular the essays. Our children are being as...