Essays Pakistan was launched after a lot of consideration;
the idea had long been in my mind and was waiting
to be materialized as I was gradually realizing the
need for a service which addressed the needs of students
who found difficulty in admission essay writing, students
who were looking for basic guidance, and students
who were just not applying to top-notch universities
simply because of the fear of this integral part of
the application process. I recall the time I was applying
for the Near East Undergraduate Program (NESA) under
the Fulbright banner; the application process entailed
a personal statement. I was scared - and could do
with any help or guidance coming from a solid platform.
Unfortunately, there was none - I wrote my way with
extensive reading over the internet, and found myself
getting selected. It’s unfortunate that while
schools and colleges heavily emphasize on the personal
statement, little or no guidance is given, no workshops
are arranged, and students are only left miserable.
Essays Pakistan finally came into being in February
this year, upon my return to Pakistan from the California
State University where I had been studying broadcast
journalism. The launch process was simple - student
groups are continuously being made aware of this new
service - a first real in Pakistan!
I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth ride
from day one. The fact that students need to be made
aware of this service is challenging on its own -
but what is more challenging is to make young minds
be comfortable with the idea of asking for assistance.
It is okay to ask for help. Essays Pakistan is addressing
all needs and requirements regarding the admission
essay or personal statement, in order to produce an
end result which is very satisfactory to the student.
The response has been gradual - as this is a one-of-a-kind,
new service for Pakistani students. Never before have
local students been exposed to this idea. Many students
have queries that generally mean the same: what is
a perfect essay? I always tell them there’s
no fixed formula that needs to be followed.
This is a very exclusive, personalized service unlike
the truckloads online which deliver a ‘custom
term paper essay’ to your doorstep once a ridiculous
$25 per page is wiped out from your bank account.
Once a student takes interest in Essays Pakistan,
he is simply not handed a written essay. The first
step is for the student to take i.e. to coin a first
draft for us. Essays Pakistan takes on from there
to further work with the student on the essay considering
elements such as academic background, professional
and personal goals, university program requirements,
and so on. A second draft is coined after this assistance,
and then further modified if needed. The second or
third draft is usually the final piece if both the
student and Essays Pakistan is satisfied with it.
Competitiveness to get admission into an Ivy League
university is ridiculous; at the same time, it must
be understood that ‘getting in’ isn’t
entirely impossible - especially for talented, bright
Pakistani individuals. Also, I feel that the Pakistani
student body needs to get rid of its obsession with
Ivy Leagues. Educational standards in countries such
as America and Canada are pretty uniformed; there
are a gazillion other factors to be considered before
selecting universities. It is common of students to
quickly apply to big-name universities because of
peer pressure, social pressure, and academic pressure.
There is more to a university experience than the
name or ranking. However, students must display a
uniqueness in abilities, confidence, and coherence
when it comes to their application for top-notch universities.
Anum Pasha recently returned
to Pakistan from Los Angeles, where she was studying
broadcast journalism at the California State Polytechnic
University under the Fulbright umbrella. She freelances
for various publications such as Instep, Dawn Images,
Sunday and is also Assistant Features Editor at The
Friday Times. She can be reached at essays.com@gmail.com
