What great stories do parents tell about a teen's early life? What challenges has a teen faced and with what outcome? What adventures has a teen had that turned out well or disastrously? What makes a teen unique? These are some of the questions college-bound teens should consider as they decide on the focus of their college essays.

College application essays have the potential to convey personality, potential and why a teen is a great addition to an incoming college freshman class. Or they can be boring narratives that convey little about the student. Parents and grandparents can be a great asset to teens considering what to write about because they know all of the wonderful stories about the early life of a teen that could be used to create a spectacular essay.