College bound high school seniors through out the U.S. are struggling to put the finishing touches on college essays, those pesky assignments aimed at giving admissions officers a bit more personal information about an applicant --  and at the very least some insight into their writing.

Now eighth graders attempting to get into some of the city's most competitive New York City high schools are doing the same.  They may be coming home straight from school to work on their high school essays, and trading possible topics and ideas. Or, perhaps, their parents wish they were because the stakes are so high.

The ever-popular Beacon, where the freshmen class will be less than 300, wants both a portfolio delivered in person to the Lincoln Center area school and a one-page, single-spaced typed paper “on ways that you have shown a special dedication to or a special talent for the arts, technology, community service, an academic subject, or sports.”

At downtown Manhattan's Millenium High School, it is optional to submit a one page personal essay (250-500 words, single or double spaced): Tell us about a challenging problem and how you solved it.   The school notes on its website that it had over 4,500 applicants last year for just over 150 seats.

In the face of all this competition, I’m not surprised that just before the start of every tour, my 13-year-old turns to me and asks:

“Is there an essay? Or a test? Do I have to try out? Is there an interview? Is there a portfolio? What kinds of grades do they want?”<!--more-->

These kids get it – they already know from applying to middle schools that not everyone will get their first choice. And they can’t help overhearing snippets of conversation: For example, word is out that Townsend Harris High School in Queens had nearly 3,000 students who ranked it first, and had spots for only 10 percent of them, according to the [New York Daily News](http://www.nydailynews.com/nylocal/education/2010/10/17/2010-10-17highontheirlistqueenshstoppickfor8thgraders.html)._

Townsend Harris does not ask for essays, but selects students whose overall average is 90 percent or higher; it’s also one of the few schools that lists the specific seventh-grade test scores required to be considered for admission.

There’s less than a month to go before students rank and list their final choices. Tours are continuing but we’ve come to the point where everyone seems a bit weary of them. I heard a few parents complain on a tour last week that all the schools are starting to look and sound alike.

Insideschools would like to hear from teachers, principals, parent coordinators and others about the essays they are reading. Are they all starting to sound alike yet? Any tips on what makes an essay from a 13-year-old truly stand out?  Should more schools ask for them to help identify writing problems early on and target instruction accordingly?

And, how are students --  and parents --  handling the challenge of making sure that essays get written and portfolios are put together?