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Helping The Poor and Needy

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7 Essays About Poverty: Example Essays and Prompts

Essays about poverty give valuable insight into the economic situation that we share globally. Read our guide with poverty essay examples and prompts for your paper.

In the US, the official poverty rate in 2022 was 11.5 percent, with 37.9 million people living below the poverty line. With a global pandemic, cost of living crisis, and climate change on the rise, we’ve seen poverty increase due to various factors. As many of us face adversity daily, we can look to essays about poverty from some of the world’s greatest speakers for inspiration and guidance.

There is nothing but a lack of social vision to prevent us from paying an adequate wage to every American citizen whether he be a hospital worker, laundry worker, maid or day laborer. There is nothing except shortsightedness to prevent us from guaranteeing an annual minimum—and livable—income for every American family. Martin Luther King Jr., Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?

Writing a poverty essay can be challenging due to the many factors contributing to poverty and the knock-on effects of living below the poverty line . For example, homelessness among low-income individuals stems from many different causes.

It’s important to note that poverty exists beyond the US, with many developing countries living in extreme poverty without access to essentials like clean water and housing. For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

Essays About Poverty: Top Examples

1. pensioner poverty: fear of rise over decades as uk under-40s wealth falls, 2. the surprising poverty levels across the u.s., 3. why poverty persists in america, 4. post-pandemic poverty is rising in america’s suburbs.

• 5. The Basic Facts About Children in Poverty
• 6. The State of America’s Children 
• 7. COVID-19: This is how many Americans now live below the poverty line

10 Poverty Essay Topics

1. the causes of poverty, 2. the negative effects of poverty, 3. how countries can reduce poverty rates, 4. the basic necessities and poverty, 5. how disabilities can lead to poverty, 6. how the cycle of poverty unfolds , 7. universal basic income and its relationship to poverty, 8. interview someone who has experience living in poverty, 9. the impact of the criminal justice system on poverty, 10. the different ways to create affordable housing.

There is growing concern about increasing pensioner poverty in the UK in the coming decades. Due to financial challenges like the cost of living crisis, rent increases, and the COVID-19 pandemic, under 40s have seen their finances shrink.

Osborne discusses the housing wealth gap in this article, where many under the 40s currently pay less in a pension due to rent prices. While this means they will have less pension available, they will also retire without owning a home, resulting in less personal wealth than previous generations. Osborne delves into the causes and gaps in wealth between generations in this in-depth essay.

“Those under-40s have already been identified as  facing the biggest hit from rising mortgage rates , and last week a study by the financial advice firm Hargreaves Lansdown found that almost a third of 18- to 34-year-olds had stopped or cut back on their pension contributions in order to save money.” Hilary Osborne,  The Guardian

In this 2023 essay, Jeremy Ney looks at the poverty levels across the US, stating that poverty has had the largest one-year increase in history. According to the most recent census, child poverty has more than doubled from 2021 to 2022.

Ney states that the expiration of government support and inflation has created new financial challenges for US families. With the increased cost of living and essential items like food and housing sharply increasing, more and more families have fallen below the poverty line. Throughout this essay, Ney displays statistics and data showing the wealth changes across states, ethnic groups, and households.

“Poverty in America reflects the inequality that plagues U.S. households. While certain regions have endured this pain much more than others, this new rising trend may spell ongoing challenges for even more communities.” Jeremy Ney,  TIME

In this New York Times article, a Pulitzer Prize-winning sociologist explores why poverty exists in North America.

The American poor have access to cheap, mass-produced goods, as every American does. But that doesn’t mean they can access what matters most. Matthew Desmond,  The New York Times

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released its annual data on poverty, revealing contrasting trends for 2022. While one set of findings indicated that the overall number of Americans living in poverty remained stable compared to the previous two years, another survey highlighted a concerning increase in child poverty. The rate of child poverty in the U.S. doubled from 2021 to 2022, a spike attributed mainly to the cessation of the expanded child tax credit following the pandemic. These varied outcomes underscore the Census Bureau’s multifaceted methods to measure poverty.

“The nation’s suburbs accounted for the majority of increases in the poor population following the onset of the pandemic” Elizabeth Kneebone and Alan Berube,  Brookings

5.  The Basic Facts About Children in Poverty

Nearly 11 million children are living in poverty in America. This essay explores ow the crisis reached this point—and what steps must be taken to solve it.

“In America, nearly 11 million children are poor. That’s 1 in 7 kids, who make up almost one-third of all people living in poverty in this country.” Areeba Haider,  Center for American Progress

6.  The State of America’s Children  

This essay articles how, despite advancements, children continue to be the most impoverished demographic in the U.S., with particular subgroups — such as children of color, those under five, offspring of single mothers, and children residing in the South — facing the most severe poverty levels.

“Growing up in poverty has wide-ranging, sometimes lifelong, effects on children, putting them at a much higher risk of experiencing behavioral, social, emotional, and health challenges. Childhood poverty also plays an instrumental role in impairing a child’s ability and capacity to learn, build skills, and succeed academically.” Children’s Defense Fund

7.  COVID-19: This is how many Americans now live below the poverty line

This essay explores how the economic repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic 2020 led to a surge in U.S. poverty rates, with unemployment figures reaching unprecedented heights. The writer provides data confirming that individuals at the lowest economic strata bore the brunt of these challenges, indicating that the recession might have exacerbated income disparities, further widening the chasm between the affluent and the underprivileged.

“Poverty in the U.S. increased in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic hammered the economy and unemployment soared. Those at the bottom of the economic ladder were hit hardest, new figures confirm, suggesting that the recession may have widened the gap between the rich and the poor.” Elena Delavega,  World Econmic Forum

If you’re tasked with writing an essay about poverty, consider using the below topics. They offer pointers for outlining and planning an essay about this challenging topic.

One of the most specific poverty essay topics to address involves the causes of poverty. You can craft an essay to examine the most common causes of extreme poverty. Here are a few topics you might want to include:

• Racial discrimination, particularly among African Americans, has been a common cause of poverty throughout American history. Discrimination and racism can make it hard for people to get the education they need, making it nearly impossible to get a job.
• A lack of access to adequate health care can also lead to poverty. When people do not have access to healthcare, they are more likely to get sick. This could make it hard for them to go to work while also leading to major medical bills.
• Inadequate food and water can lead to poverty as well. If people’s basic needs aren’t met, they focus on finding food and water instead of getting an education they can use to find a better job.

These are just a few of the most common causes of poverty you might want to highlight in your essay. These topics could help people see why some people are more likely to become impoverished than others. You might also be interested in these essays about poverty .

Poverty affects everyone, and the impacts of an impoverished lifestyle are very real. Furthermore, the disparities when comparing adult poverty to child poverty are also significant. This opens the doors to multiple possible essay topics. Here are a few points to include:

• When children live in poverty, their development is stunted. For example, they might not be able to get to school on time due to a lack of transportation, making it hard for them to keep up with their peers. Child poverty also leads to malnutrition, which can stunt their development.
• Poverty can impact familial relationships as well. For example, members of the same family could fight for limited resources, making it hard for family members to bond. In addition, malnutrition can stunt the growth of children.
• As a side effect of poverty, people have difficulty finding a safe place to live. This creates a challenging environment for everyone involved, and it is even harder for children to grow and develop.
• When poverty leads to homelessness, it is hard for someone to get a job. They don’t have an address to use for physical communication, which leads to employment concerns.

These are just a few of the many side effects of poverty. Of course, these impacts are felt by people across the board, but it is not unusual for children to feel the effects of poverty that much more. You might also be interested in these essays about unemployment .

Different countries take different approaches to reduce the number of people living in poverty

The issue of poverty is a major human rights concern, and many countries explore poverty reduction strategies to improve people’s quality of life. You might want to examine different strategies that different countries are taking while also suggesting how some countries can do more. A few ways to write this essay include:

• Explore the poverty level in America, comparing it to the poverty level of a European country. Then, explore why different countries take different strategies.
• Compare the minimum wage in one state, such as New York, to the minimum wage in another state, such as Alabama. Why is it higher in one state? What does raising the minimum wage do to the cost of living?
• Highlight a few advocacy groups and nonprofit organizations actively lobbying their governments to do more for low-income families. Then, talk about why some efforts are more successful than others.

Different countries take different approaches to reduce the number of people living in poverty. Poverty within each country is such a broad topic that you could write a different essay on how poverty could be decreased within the country. For more, check out our list of simple essays topics for intermediate writers .

You could also write an essay on the necessities people need to survive. You could take a look at information published by the United Nations , which focuses on getting people out of the cycle of poverty across the globe. The social problem of poverty can be addressed by giving people the necessities they need to survive, particularly in rural areas. Here are some of the areas you might want to include:

• Affordable housing
• Fresh, healthy food and clean water
• Access to an affordable education
• Access to affordable healthcare

Giving everyone these necessities could significantly improve their well-being and get people out of absolute poverty. You might even want to talk about whether these necessities vary depending on where someone is living.

There are a lot of medical and social issues that contribute to poverty, and you could write about how disabilities contribute to poverty. This is one of the most important essay topics because people could be disabled through no fault of their own. Some of the issues you might want to address in this essay include:

• Talk about the road someone faces if they become disabled while serving overseas. What is it like for people to apply for benefits through the Veterans’ Administration?
• Discuss what happens if someone becomes disabled while at work. What is it like for someone to pursue disability benefits if they are hurt doing a blue-collar job instead of a desk job?
• Research and discuss the experiences of disabled people and how their disability impacts their financial situation.

People who are disabled need to have money to survive for many reasons, such as the inability to work, limitations at home, and medical expenses. A lack of money, in this situation, can lead to a dangerous cycle that can make it hard for someone to be financially stable and live a comfortable lifestyle.

Many people talk about the cycle of poverty, yet many aren’t entirely sure what this means or what it entails. A few key points you should address in this essay include:

• When someone is born into poverty, income inequality can make it hard to get an education.
• A lack of education makes it hard for someone to get into a good school, which gives them the foundation they need to compete for a good job. 
• A lack of money can make it hard for someone to afford college, even if they get into a good school.
• Without attending a good college, it can be hard for someone to get a good job. This makes it hard for someone to support themselves or their families. 
• Without a good paycheck, it is nearly impossible for someone to keep their children out of poverty, limiting upward mobility into the middle class.

The problem of poverty is a positive feedback loop. It can be nearly impossible for those who live this every day to escape. Therefore, you might want to explore a few initiatives that could break the cycle of world poverty and explore other measures that could break this feedback loop.

Many business people and politicians have floated the idea of a universal basic income to give people the basic resources they need to survive. While this hasn’t gotten a lot of serious traction, you could write an essay to shed light on this idea. A few points to hit on include:

• What does a universal basic income mean, and how is it distributed?
• Some people are concerned about the impact this would have on taxes. How would this be paid for?
• What is the minimum amount of money someone would need to stay out of poverty? Is it different in different areas?
• What are a few of the biggest reasons major world governments haven’t passed this?

This is one of the best essay examples because it gives you a lot of room to be creative. However, there hasn’t been a concrete structure for implementing this plan, so you might want to afford one.

Another interesting topic you might want to explore is interviewing someone living in poverty or who has been impoverished. While you can talk about statistics all day, they won’t be as powerful as interviewing someone who has lived that life. A few questions you might want to ask during your interview include:

• What was it like growing up?
• How has living in poverty made it hard for you to get a job?
• What do you feel people misunderstand about those who live in poverty?
• When you need to find a meal, do you have a place you go to? Or is it somewhere different every day?
• What do you think is the main contributor to people living in poverty?

Remember that you can also craft different questions depending on your responses. You might want to let the interviewee read the essay when you are done to ensure all the information is accurate and correct.

The criminal justice system and poverty tend to go hand in hand. People with criminal records are more likely to be impoverished for several reasons. You might want to write an essay that hits on some of these points:

• Discuss the discriminatory practices of the criminal justice system both as they relate to socioeconomic status and as they relate to race.
• Explore just how hard it is for someone to get a job if they have a criminal record. Discuss how this might contribute to a life of poverty.
• Dive into how this creates a positive feedback loop. For example, when someone cannot get a job due to a criminal record, they might have to steal to survive, which worsens the issue.
• Review what the criminal justice system might be like for someone with resources when compared to someone who cannot afford to hire expert witnesses or pay for a good attorney.

You might want to include a few examples of disparate sentences for people in different socioeconomic situations to back up your points. 

Affordable housing can make a major difference when someone is trying to escape poverty

Many poverty-related problems could be reduced if people had access to affordable housing. While the cost of housing has increased dramatically in the United States , some initiatives exist to create affordable housing. Here are a few points to include:

• Talk about public programs that offer affordable housing to people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Discuss private programs, such as Habitat for Humanity , doing similar things.
• Review the positive impacts that stable housing has on both adults and children.
• Dive into other measures local and federal governments could take to provide more affordable housing for people.

There are a lot of political and social angles to address with this essay, so you might want to consider spreading this out across multiple papers. Affordable housing can make a major difference when trying to escape poverty. If you want to learn more, check out our essay writing tips !

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Essay on Helping the Poor

Students are often asked to write an essay on Helping the Poor in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Helping the Poor

Understanding poverty.

Poverty is a global issue. Many people worldwide live under challenging conditions and struggle daily to meet basic needs.

Why Help the Poor?

Helping the poor is important. It’s about compassion, empathy, and making the world a better place. It helps reduce inequality and suffering.

Ways to Help

There are many ways to help. Donating money, food, or clothes can make a big difference. Volunteering time to community service or teaching skills also helps.

Impact of Helping

Helping the poor not only improves their lives but also makes us feel good. It promotes love, unity, and peace in society.

250 Words Essay on Helping the Poor

Introduction.

Helping the poor is not just a humanitarian act, but it is also a powerful tool for societal transformation. It involves more than just providing financial aid; it encompasses understanding, empathy, and a commitment to creating a system that fosters equal opportunities for all.

The Importance of Empathy

The first step towards helping the poor is cultivating empathy. Empathy allows us to understand the challenges faced by the less fortunate, thereby enabling us to devise effective solutions. It is not about pity; it’s about acknowledging their struggles and working towards alleviating them.

Education: The Key to Change

Education is a powerful weapon in the fight against poverty. By providing quality education to the underprivileged, we equip them with the tools to break the cycle of poverty. It fosters self-reliance, opening doors to better job opportunities and a brighter future.

Creating Sustainable Systems

Merely providing aid is not a sustainable solution. We need to create systems that promote equality and provide the poor with the resources they need to improve their circumstances. This includes access to healthcare, clean water, and affordable housing.

Helping the poor is not a one-time act, but a continuous process that requires collective effort. It is about creating a society where every individual has an equal shot at success. By fostering empathy, promoting education, and implementing sustainable systems, we can make a significant difference in the lives of the less fortunate.

500 Words Essay on Helping the Poor

Helping the poor is not just a moral obligation, but a societal necessity that promotes overall societal growth and development. It is a topic that deserves serious attention, especially in an era where wealth inequality is at its peak.

The Moral Imperative

The moral grounds for helping the poor are deeply rooted in empathy and compassion. The understanding that all humans deserve a decent standard of living regardless of their socio-economic status is fundamental. When we help the poor, we are not just giving them a lifeline, but we are also affirming their worth and dignity.

Economic Perspective

From an economic perspective, helping the poor can stimulate economic growth. The poor, when given the right resources and opportunities, can contribute positively to the economy. They can become consumers, producers, and even innovators, thus driving economic growth. This concept is also known as ‘inclusive growth’, which suggests that including everyone in economic development is beneficial for the economy as a whole.

Social Cohesion

Helping the poor also enhances social cohesion. In societies with high levels of poverty, there is often a corresponding increase in social unrest and crime. By addressing poverty, we can reduce these negative social phenomena, thus fostering peace and unity in the society.

Challenges and Solutions

Despite the clear benefits, there are challenges in helping the poor. The first is the issue of dependency. Handouts can create a dependency syndrome, which is counterproductive. To solve this, aid should be linked with empowerment programs that equip the poor with skills and knowledge to break the cycle of poverty.

Secondly, there is the issue of corruption and mismanagement of funds meant for the poor. This can be mitigated by promoting transparency and accountability in the distribution of aid.

In conclusion, helping the poor is a multifaceted issue that involves moral, economic, and social aspects. It is not just about giving handouts, but about empowering the poor to rise above their situation. By addressing the challenges and implementing effective strategies, we can make a significant difference in the lives of the poor and, by extension, the society at large.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Shelter
• Essay on Self Help
• Essay on Self Esteem

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Poverty Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on poverty essay.

“Poverty is the worst form of violence”. – Mahatma Gandhi.

How Poverty is Measured?

For measuring poverty United nations have devised two measures of poverty – Absolute & relative poverty.  Absolute poverty is used to measure poverty in developing countries like India. Relative poverty is used to measure poverty in developed countries like the USA. In absolute poverty, a line based on the minimum level of income has been created & is called a poverty line.  If per day income of a family is below this level, then it is poor or below the poverty line. If per day income of a family is above this level, then it is non-poor or above the poverty line. In India, the new poverty line is  Rs 32 in rural areas and Rs 47 in urban areas.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Causes of Poverty

According to the Noble prize winner South African leader, Nelson Mandela – “Poverty is not natural, it is manmade”. The above statement is true as the causes of poverty are generally man-made. There are various causes of poverty but the most important is population. Rising population is putting the burden on the resources & budget of countries. Governments are finding difficult to provide food, shelter & employment to the rising population.

The other causes are- lack of education, war, natural disaster, lack of employment, lack of infrastructure, political instability, etc. For instance- lack of employment opportunities makes a person jobless & he is not able to earn enough to fulfill the basic necessities of his family & becomes poor. Lack of education compels a person for less paying jobs & it makes him poorer. Lack of infrastructure means there are no industries, banks, etc. in a country resulting in lack of employment opportunities. Natural disasters like flood, earthquake also contribute to poverty.

In some countries, especially African countries like Somalia, a long period of civil war has made poverty widespread. This is because all the resources & money is being spent in war instead of public welfare. Countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. are prone to natural disasters like cyclone, etc. These disasters occur every year causing poverty to rise.

Ill Effects of Poverty

Poverty affects the life of a poor family. A poor person is not able to take proper food & nutrition &his capacity to work reduces. Reduced capacity to work further reduces his income, making him poorer. Children from poor family never get proper schooling & proper nutrition. They have to work to support their family & this destroys their childhood. Some of them may also involve in crimes like theft, murder, robbery, etc. A poor person remains uneducated & is forced to live under unhygienic conditions in slums. There are no proper sanitation & drinking water facility in slums & he falls ill often &  his health deteriorates. A poor person generally dies an early death. So, all social evils are related to poverty.

Government Schemes to Remove Poverty

The government of India also took several measures to eradicate poverty from India. Some of them are – creating employment opportunities , controlling population, etc. In India, about 60% of the population is still dependent on agriculture for its livelihood. Government has taken certain measures to promote agriculture in India. The government constructed certain dams & canals in our country to provide easy availability of water for irrigation. Government has also taken steps for the cheap availability of seeds & farming equipment to promote agriculture. Government is also promoting farming of cash crops like cotton, instead of food crops. In cities, the government is promoting industrialization to create more jobs. Government has also opened  ‘Ration shops’. Other measures include providing free & compulsory education for children up to 14 years of age, scholarship to deserving students from a poor background, providing subsidized houses to poor people, etc.

Poverty is a social evil, we can also contribute to control it. For example- we can simply donate old clothes to poor people, we can also sponsor the education of a poor child or we can utilize our free time by teaching poor students. Remember before wasting food, somebody is still sleeping hungry.

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5 Essays About Poverty Everyone Should Know

Poverty is one of the driving forces of inequality in the world. Between 1990-2015, much progress was made. The number of people living on less than $1.90 went from 36% to 10%. However, according to the World Bank , the COVID-19 pandemic represents a serious problem that disproportionately impacts the poor. Research released in February of 2020 shows that by 2030, up to ⅔ of the “global extreme poor” will be living in conflict-affected and fragile economies. Poverty will remain a major human rights issue for decades to come. Here are five essays about the issue that everyone should know:

“We need an economic bill of rights” –  Martin Luther King Jr.

The Guardian published an abridged version of this essay in 2018, which was originally released in Look magazine just after Dr. King was killed. In this piece, Dr. King explains why an economic bill of rights is necessary. He points out that while mass unemployment within the black community is a “social problem,” it’s a “depression” in the white community. An economic bill of rights would give a job to everyone who wants one and who can work. It would also give an income to those who can’t work. Dr. King affirms his commitment to non-violence. He’s fully aware that tensions are high. He quotes a spiritual, writing “timing is winding up.” Even while the nation progresses, poverty is getting worse.

This essay was reprinted and abridged in The Guardian in an arrangement with The Heirs to the Estate of Martin Luther King. Jr. The most visible representative of the Civil Rights Movement beginning in 1955, Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. His essays and speeches remain timely.

“How Poverty Can Follow Children Into Adulthood” – Priyanka Boghani

This article is from 2017, but it’s more relevant than ever because it was written when 2012 was the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. That’s no longer the case. In 2012, around ¼ American children were in poverty. Five years later, children were still more likely than adults to be poor. This is especially true for children of colour. Consequences of poverty include anxiety, hunger, and homelessness. This essay also looks at the long-term consequences that come from growing up in poverty. A child can develop health problems that affect them in adulthood. Poverty can also harm a child’s brain development. Being aware of how poverty affects children and follows them into adulthood is essential as the world deals with the economic fallout from the pandemic.

Priyanka Boghani is a journalist at PBS Frontline. She focuses on U.S. foreign policy, humanitarian crises, and conflicts in the Middle East. She also assists in managing Frontline’s social accounts.

“5 Reasons COVID-19 Will Impact the Fight to End Extreme Poverty” – Leah Rodriguez

For decades, the UN has attempted to end extreme poverty. In the face of the novel coronavirus outbreak, new challenges threaten the fight against poverty. In this essay, Dr. Natalie Linos, a Harvard social epidemiologist, urges the world to have a “social conversation” about how the disease impacts poverty and inequality. If nothing is done, it’s unlikely that the UN will meet its Global Goals by 2030. Poverty and COVID-19 intersect in five key ways. For one, low-income people are more vulnerable to disease. They also don’t have equal access to healthcare or job stability. This piece provides a clear, concise summary of why this outbreak is especially concerning for the global poor.

Leah Rodriguez’s writing at Global Citizen focuses on women, girls, water, and sanitation. She’s also worked as a web producer and homepage editor for New York Magazine’s The Cut.

“Climate apartheid”: World’s poor to suffer most from disasters” – Al Jazeera and news Agencies

The consequences of climate change are well-known to experts like Philip Alston, the special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights. In 2019, he submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Council sounding the alarm on how climate change will devastate the poor. While the wealthy will be able to pay their way out of devastation, the poor will not. This will end up creating a “climate apartheid.” Alston states that if climate change isn’t addressed, it will undo the last five decades of progress in poverty education, as well as global health and development .

“Nickel and Dimed: On (not) getting by in America” – Barbara Ehrenreich

In this excerpt from her book Nickel and Dimed, Ehrenreich describes her experience choosing to live undercover as an “unskilled worker” in the US. She wanted to investigate the impact the 1996 welfare reform act had on the working poor. Released in 2001, the events take place between the spring of 1998 and the summer of 2000. Ehrenreich decided to live in a town close to her “real life” and finds a place to live and a job. She has her eyes opened to the challenges and “special costs” of being poor. In 2019, The Guardian ranked the book 13th on their list of 100 best books of the 21st century.

Barbara Ehrenreich is the author of 21 books and an activist. She’s worked as an award-winning columnist and essayist.

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Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

7 Ways You Can Help Fight Poverty in Your Community

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, 7.8 million people have fallen into poverty—the biggest jump in a single year since the government began tracking poverty 60 years ago. It’s easy to think about poverty as a national crisis that is bigger than you, but there are actually lots of things you can do to influence this systemic problem right in your own community. CommonBond works to help fight poverty through housing in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Iowa, and we’ve outlined some examples of how you can help fight poverty in your community .

How to Help Poverty Issues in Your Community

1. challenge ideas and assumptions.

Whether you have preconceived notions about poverty within your community, or as a concept in general, it’s important to challenge those assumptions so you aren’t unintentionally spreading harmful biases. One common misconception, for example, is that people experiencing homelessness choose not to work. This misconception is incredibly harmful because it negates the many uncontrollable and systemic conditions that can cause housing instability or poverty. In reality, there are many factors people have to deal with that make it hard to find employment, including loss of affordable housing , inequitable access to training and tools, and mental illness.

If you recognize this myth, be sure to challenge it. Want to go a step further with how to help the poor and fight poverty in your community? Learn about the specific poverty issues your town or city faces; this will educate you on matters and enable you to apply context and critical thinking while pushing back against assumptions and myths.

2. Create awareness/get informed

Poverty is in every community, so it’s important to know where the issues lie within your own. Get informed about the resources that are already available and those that are still needed. There are local groups doing this work that could use your help—you can then do your part in getting the word out and listening to these community experts about where you can be helpful in fighting poverty in your community. A great resource in Minneapolis, for example, is the Twin Cities Mutual Aid Map . This map shows a myriad of organizations and mutual aid efforts around the Twin Cities area that are accepting donations or other resources.

3.  Donate funds and time & find volunteer opportunities

One of the most straightforward ways to help fight poverty in your community is to donate funds to organizations whose mission it is to end these economic disparities. No amount of money is too small or too large. As these donations add up, organizations can put the funds toward fixing housing inequalities, education gaps, food insecurities and more.

Another helpful option is to p artner with local organizations that help the community by donating time. Whether it’s helping out in a food kitchen or working with children after school to get their homework done, there are ways that don’t require money that can still make an impact. We’ve created a volunteer list that you can join to support our work, whether you’re in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, or Iowa.

Fighting Poverty in Your Community is as Simple as Donating a Few Dollars.

Donate Today!      

4. Make kits or fundraise for those experiencing homelessness in your neighborhood

In addition to donating time, you can also reach out to local organizational leaders to see what specifically folks who are experiencing poverty in their communities need. To ensure your donations have the most impact, listen to these community experts. Be sure to donate items that are specifically being asked for, not just what you have in your pantry! Use that info to create meal kits or baskets full of food or house cleaning products that will keep people stocked up on essentials for a while, and give it to local organizations and community experts to distribute.

Another option is to hold fundraisers. How about fighting poverty in your community by throwing a pizza party where the proceeds go to local shelters or other organizations that provide critical services? Get bigger local businesses to donate services for a silent auction. Doing fundraisers like this can be a fun way to bring people together for an important cause.

5. Attend demonstrations or rallies to increase awareness

Another way to create and increase awareness and help fight poverty in your community is to attend events like demonstrations and rallies. These may be block parties or parades or any other kind of peaceful event that will grab the community’s attention and turn it toward fighting against systemic poverty. There are organizations that regularly hold events that both raise awareness, as well as stand in solidarity with those affected by poverty—and by joining their work, you may learn how to be a better advocate.

6. Create jobs

If you own a business or an organization in the community, look for areas you could use some help with. Many people living in poverty may not have had access to higher education or specialty certifications, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have skills to contribute. Identifying areas of opportunities within your business or organization, expanding your recruiting pool, and paying a living wage is one way to make a change to help neighbors living in poverty in your community.

DONATE TODAY!

7. Provide paid leave and paid sick days

If you’re a business owner within your community, offer paid leave and paid sick days. Although it’s an investment for you, taking a day off every now and then without pay can seriously hurt some of your employees, especially if they’re under the poverty line. Your employees are going to get sick from time to time—let them rest easy by offering paid sick leave. For staff who are earning under the area median income, consider offering stipends for childcare, or even consider an on-site childcare option to create an environment where working families don't have to choose between income and childcare.

CommonBond Can Help

Poverty affects more people than you think, and as you now know, there are many ways to help fight poverty in your community. Serving your community by donating time or money is a valuable way to get involved. Our team at CommonBond wants to help you in your fight, whether you’re in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, or Iowa. Get in touch to learn more about how to help the poor and fight poverty in your community today!

Donate Today!

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10 Ways to Start Helping the Poor

Last Updated: March 15, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Direct Relief and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman . Direct Relief is an award-winning humanitarian aid organization, active in all 50 states and more than 80 countries. They focus on helping people affected by emergencies and natural disasters. Direct Relief has been highly rated by Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at University of Pennsylvania, for their effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 491,760 times.

There’s no denying that poverty is a serious concern all over the world, including your own community. How can we as individuals hope to make a difference when facing such a widespread issue, though? Don’t worry—by offering your voice and using your time and resources wisely, there are plenty of ways for you to make a positive impact on the world around you.

Things You Should Know

• Support businesses with a track record of giving back to impoverished communities, like Kroger, The Home Depot, and Johnson & Johnson.
• Donate to charities dedicated to helping those in poverty. Resources like Charity Navigator can help you find high-quality organizations to donate to.
• Support local food banks in your area by donating groceries.

Support businesses that donate to charity.

• The Home Depot
• Johnson & Johnson

Give money to reputable charities.

• Evidence Action Inc
• Haitian Health Foundation
• Amref Health Africa
• Equalize Health
• Tip: Try to make thoughtful purchases when you go out shopping. Before making an impulse buy, ask yourself if you really need the item. Could that money be better used as a charitable donation?

Donate groceries to local food banks.

• Not sure where your local food bank is? If you live in the United States, click here .
• Does your community not have a local food bank? Think about starting one yourself .

Volunteer your time.

• Make meals with groups like Orphan Grain Train or No Kid Hungry
• Build homes with groups like Habitat for Humanity
• Help out at a local soup kitchen
• Volunteer at a homeless shelter [3] X Research source

Distribute meal kits to the local homeless community.

• Pads and tampons
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste

Start a fundraiser.

• Hosting a collection drive
• Hosting a dance-a-thon
• Organizing a charity BBQ
• Organizing a charity quiz night

Call your government officials.

• Not sure who your local representative is or how to contact them? Check out this website for more information.

Advocate on social media.

• “I’ve been thinking a lot about some of the low-income families in our community. Did you know that United Way offers healthcare support to families in need?”
• “As a new mother myself, it breaks my heart to know that some mothers are struggling to provide for their little ones. I’m grateful and relieved to know that charities like Life of a Single Mom and Bridge of Hope are offering support to this vulnerable community.”

Talk about poverty-related issues with others.

• “Did you know that about 1 in every 6 kids in America is currently experiencing poverty?”
• “Did you know that over 15 million Americans are currently making 50% below the poverty level of income?”
• “I learned recently that over 10% of American families/households don’t have food security.” [6] X Research source

Live empathetically and help others to the best of your ability "We have a responsibility to be aware of others. We need to make justice the norm, not the exception."

Research and learn more about poverty.

• Poverty USA (poverty in America)
• UNICEF (child poverty)
• World Bank (learning poverty)
• World Vision (global poverty)

Expert Q&A

You might also like.

• ↑ https://www.giveforms.com/blog/25-companies-that-donate-to-nonprofits
• ↑ https://www.charitynavigator.org/discover-charities/best-charities/address-global-poverty/
• ↑ https://students.1fbusa.com/pay-it-forward/25-ways-to-volunteer-in-your-community
• ↑ https://portlandrescuemission.org/news/about-homelessness/how-to-pack-a-care-kit-to-help-someone-homeless/
• ↑ https://www.nspcc.org.uk/support-us/charity-fundraising/do-your-own-fundraising/a-z-fundraising-ideas/
• ↑ https://www.povertyusa.org/facts

About This Article

You can help the poor by donating food, clothing, or toiletries to a local shelter or giving your old books to a books for prisoners program. You can also donate your time by volunteering in an community center or soup kitchen. To have a greater impact in your community, try joining an organization or starting a petition to help low-income kids in your community. To learn more ways to help the poor through activism, keep reading. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Education Articles & More

How to help low-income students succeed, according to a new book, we tend to blame kids who struggle rather than blaming their environment..

With all of the talk of education reform and what’s needed to revitalize public schools, it’s refreshing to read Paul Tough’s new book, Helping Children Succeed: What Works and Why . In this slim volume, Tough pulls together decades of social science research on the impacts of poverty and trauma on kids’ brains and behavior, and makes a cogent, convincing argument for why this research should lie at the center of any discussions about reform.

Researchers have found that the chronic stress of living in chaotic, impoverished environments affects brain centers involved in executive functioning, which controls things like attention, working memory, planning, reasoning, and inhibition. Children who grow up in stressful environments tend to have more emotional and behavioral problems , making the transition to school problematic. Yet, as Tough points out, more than 50 percent of school-aged kids are now coming from low-income families, without the optimal cognitive or emotional development to succeed as students.

Disadvantaged kids with neuro-cognitive problems should not be blamed for having trouble learning to read and write early on, he writes. It’s understandable that, as academic material gets more difficult, they will likely fall behind further, emotionally and relationally. When these kids hit adolescence, though, they often are labeled as unmotivated or as having attitude problems, which just alienates them even more.

Though the picture looks dire, character strengths like perseverance, conscientiousness, self-control, and optimism can help kids succeed in spite of hardship, according to Tough. They are not easily taught, though, at least not directly. Instead, contextual influences in the environment are what nurture them.

“If we want to improve a child’s grit or resilience or self-control, it turns out that the place to begin is not with the child himself,” writes Tough. “What we need to change first, it seems, is his environment.”

The role of parents

What does Tough mean by environment? The adults in a child’s life, starting at the very beginning with parents.

Research has shown that all young children need certain types of supports from parents to develop in positive directions—starting with consistent, safe, and loving attention. When children come from homes where there is abuse, domestic violence, an incarcerated parent, or a parent with drug or mental health problems, they don’t get that kind of attention and suffer the consequences: higher risks of later-life depression, adolescent pregnancy, alcoholism, drug use, and poor academic performance.

Parents can also shape their children’s life trajectory by how they role-model emotional resilience. If stressed-out parents react to children’s emotions by yelling at or hitting them, or ignoring or neglecting them, they create an unsafe environment that ratchets up the children’s stress and distrust of others. Negative parenting can affect a child’s ability to regulate emotion, which creates problems in interpersonal interactions as well as learning.

“By contrast, parents who are able to help their children handle stressful moments and calm themselves down after a tantrum or scare often have a profoundly positive effect on the children’s long-term ability to manage stress,” writes Tough.

Rather than focusing on heartwarming stories, Tough chooses to spend time detailing the types of interventions that show promise. Programs like FIND , which trains parent coaches to work with low-income, stressed parents, focus less on pointing out what parents do wrong and more on what parents do right, in order to nudge parents toward behaviors that help their kids.

The role of schools

Tough also describes successful programs aimed at preschool-aged kids—like Educare , All Our Kin , and CSRP , all of which focus on improving the learning environment for young kids (rather than direct skills training). In a randomized trial of CSRP , children who spent a pre-K year in CSRP had better cognitive skills and better self-regulation—the ability to sit still, follow directions, and pay attention—than kids who hadn’t gone through CSRP. The improvements were all credited to the stable, nurturing, predictable learning environment, where good behavior was recognized more than bad behavior punished.

“Changing the environment in the classroom made it easier for [the kids] to learn,” writes Tough.

For older kids, Tough eschews our current tactic of offering students extrinsic rewards, and instead encourages teachers to nurture intrinsic motivation, fueled by the basic human need for competence, autonomy, and relatedness (or connection) . Tough suggests teachers assign tasks that are challenging, but not too challenging; minimize coercion and control; and show warmth and respect for students , so they feel part of the learning community.

“These motivational dynamics can play an even greater role in the school experience of low-income students, especially those whose development has been affected by early exposure to toxic stress,” he writes. Punitive policies targeting behavioral problems have been shown to backfire, he adds, putting kids even further behind their peers.

In other words, motivation to learn has little to do with grit and more to do with the learning environment. Tough recounts an experiment by David Yeager and colleagues in which teachers provided feedback to students on their essays and then added a Post-it that said either the comments were given as feedback or the comments reflected the teacher’s high expectations for the student. This relatively small difference had a profound effect, particularly on black students: 72 percent revised their paper if they were told the teacher had high expectations, while only 17 percent revised it otherwise.

“At the very moment when a student might be gearing up to react to the teacher’s comments as a threat, a sign of the teacher’s personal disapproval or bias, the Post-it gave the student an alternative frame through which to view those comments—not as an attack, in other words, but as a vote of confidence,” writes Tough.

It’s also important that teachers provide challenge to students, says Tough. He highlights some of the innovative programs that are working on creating a positive learning environment, both relationally and academically. EL Education is a research-based program that helps schools work with emotionally or behaviorally challenged students in therapeutic ways, then provides curriculum allowing students more autonomy and challenge. Independent evaluators have found that schools embracing EL Education programs significantly advance students’ reading and math abilities in comparison to other schools.

But of course these are only isolated programs, albeit ones that are growing in influence. Though science may inform positive reforms, the reforms may be difficult to scale up, even if they are effective. Education experts have a long history of imposing well-meaning but ineffective policy changes on schools, and the authority to reform schools often lies within each state or even within individual school districts. .

But Tough is hopeful. If we can change our policies and our practices in the classroom, and work with researchers devoted to finding ways to help our children, we can “make a tremendous difference, not only in the lives of individual children and their families, but in our communities and our nation as a whole.”

His book may just help get us there.

About the Author

Jill Suttie

Jill Suttie, Psy.D. , is Greater Good ’s former book review editor and now serves as a staff writer and contributing editor for the magazine. She received her doctorate of psychology from the University of San Francisco in 1998 and was a psychologist in private practice before coming to Greater Good .

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• Essay Database >
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Sample Essay On Helping Poor People

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Social Issues , Charity , Human , Children , Family , World , Life , United Nations

Words: 1300

Published: 03/28/2020

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Introduction

Human life is guided by principles, thoughts and considerations, which determine what activities, are right or wrong to undertake in any situation. The ability to reason and act out of a set of determined principles differentiates humans from animals. All activities conducted by humans, therefore find their basis in some ethic that makes them acceptable or not. Humanitarian effort finds its foundation in the willingness by other people to sacrifice some of their resources for the improvement of someone else’s life. The decision to participate in a humanitarian effort is voluntary and not guided by formal laws. Additionally, the choice of the effort to expend one’s resources towards is a voluntary decision guided by individual preferences and value for each cause they chose to participate. In making such choices, however, people often find guidance from discourses carried out in the past relating to the subject in determining the best cause to contribute towards, and one that will offer the best satisfaction. Such discourses include the golden rule, which states that one should do onto others what they would want done unto them. In relation to philanthropy, this would relate the situations of a person with the means to help, with the person in need. In a reversal of the roles, the person with the means to help should do as he/ she would want done unto them if they were in the opposite situation. By application of the golden rule, it is, therefore, paramount that anyone in a privileged position finds it their duty to assist those in disadvantaged situations. The essay on poverty by wattles brings the question of how much should a person contribute towards charity. Although it is an over-simplification, I would hold that one is obliged to contribute as much as they can, and as long as they fee3l they are contributing to a good cause; Wattles holds that one should contribute a sum close to the entirety of their earnings, after the deduction of basic amenities. While it is a good benchmark, it is seldom applicable. Wattles donates a fifth of his earnings to charity, which is not a reflection of his earnings minus expenses for basic amenities. Additionally, the determination of what are the basic requirements for an individual is prone to various interpretations. This essay seeks to explain the charity I would consider donating towards in case I happened to chance upon a $10,000 windfall. Deciding on what charity to donate towards, for me is much a moral decision as it is a decision guided by preference and logical deduction. There are good causes, to which one can donate towards, the environment, saving animals, medicine, famine-relief, the list in exhaustible. I chose to help poor people incapable of meeting their basic needs such as proper feeding, housing and basic clothing. It is the right of every human being to achieve a life of some decency. While this right is espoused in many constitutions around the world, few countries, if any achieve the goal of citizens who can be considered to live a decent life. The right to life is protected in many all countries that adopt the universal bill of rights, but it is the concerted duty of the individual, and the ethical obligation of a person of means to preserve that right to life, towards achieving a dignified life for all. The choice that informed my decision to contributing to the cause for human life preservation, other causes in need of support arise out of the deliberate actions of human beings. The environment, for instance, is faced with numerous challenges such as melting glaciers, decreasing forest cover, radioactive contamination and many more. The cause for these challenges afflicting human beings is because of human activity. The attempt to stop or reverse these activities would succeed only from the willing cessation of the injurious activities to the environment. Animals also fall under this category, animal welfare is the subject of conscious human consideration, preservation efforts would always negate, if the human agents putting the animals at risk are not persuaded not to do so. I chose to concentrate on charities that improve on the lives of human beings, in particular, the most vulnerable to factors beyond their control, the children. I found several charities with causes that impact on the welfare of children both indirectly and directly. The organizations I targeted for consideration include; save the children, Oxfam, UNICEF, CARE, and World vision. UNICEF is concerned with the overall welfare of children, ranging from feeding the underfed children, promoting security in conflict areas for the welfare of the children, educating underprivileged children, promoting emergency aid to children and providing humanitarian services. According to the UNICEF website, they are actively involved in ensuring the welfare of children afflicted by various threats against their welfare around the world. Their involvement in the conflict, in Lebanon shows their commitment to ensuring child safety amongst all children despite the nature and origin of the threat facing them. Children fleeing conflict in Syria are facing a different crisis in Lebanon where the threat of malnutrition faces them. According to a report compiled by a UNICEF correspondent, Soha Bsat Boustani, http://www.unicef.org/media/media_72726.html , she reports on the fate several women and the different realities their children are facing away from home. UNICEF utilizes its global reach to raise awareness on issues such as the plight on the Syrian refugees and the impact the affected children suffer as a means of mobilizing resources towards alleviating their suffering. Oxfam is another charitable cause towards which I would consider contributing. It deals with global alleviation of poverty and as such, is involved in activities aimed at reducing the poverty levels experienced by people around the world. Some of its activities include the setting up of infrastructure aiding in the creation of wealth such as irrigation systems and preservation of existing production resources. Additionally, they are involved in situations where there is the risk of deteriorating the livelihood of the people through crisis. Through an article reported in the Philippines’ information agency, Oxfam helped in the alleviation of suffering caused by typhoon Yolanda in the country. Th program initiated seeks to offer temporary assistance to the residents, before rehabilitating them back into their normal livelihoods for a sustainable way to earn income. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=newssearch&cd=5&cad=rja&ved=0CEQQqQIoADAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.pia.gov.ph%2Findex.php%3Farticle%3D1231392861916&ei=34oPU4elJqOH4gSS-YEw&usg=AFQjCNF2loi8yg11dN_k6iHAwVsOLGMTyg&sig2=iQyHXCiWtQmoTFNqR07Ojw&bvm=bv.61965928,d.bGE I would choose to donate my $10, 000 on UNHCR for the reason that their cause appeal to me more than Oxfam’s. While both organizations help individuals in desperate situations, a child is always vulnerable in comparison to an adult. The dedication by UNICEF to champion the issues affecting children, expressly, and exclusively, means that they afford the children a chance to change for a better future. The immediate well-being of the child is important in determining their presence in the achievement of future aspirations.

Works Cited

Korenromp, Eline L., John Miller, Richard E. Cibulskis, M. K. Cham, David Alnwick, and Christopher Dye. "Monitoring mosquito net coverage for malaria control in Africa: possession vs. use by children under 5 years." Tropical Medicine & International Health (2003): n. pag. Print. Oxfam. "What we do." Oxfam GB. Oxfam.uk, 27 Feb. 2014. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. ""Peter Singer's Solution to World Poverty," New York Times Sunday Magazine." Brandeis Users' Home Pages. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. "Press centre report: Silent threat emerging among Syrian refugee children in Lebanon."UNICEF. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts.

College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

• Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
• Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
• Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
• Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

• Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
• Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
• Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
• Tell you what to say and how to say it
• Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
• Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

• An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
• An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
• An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

• If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
• If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
• If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

• Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
• Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
• Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

• Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
• How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
• Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
• Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

• Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
• Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
• Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
• Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
• What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

• You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
• A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
• A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
• A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
• All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
• Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
• If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
• Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Who Are You Calling Underprivileged?

NATASHA RODRIGUEZ

I have come to loathe the word “underprivileged.” When I filled out my college applications, I checked off the Latino/Hispanic box whenever I was asked to give my ethnicity. My parents in turn indicated their income, hoping that we would qualify for financial aid. But while I waited for acceptances and rejections, several colleges I was considering sent me material that made me feel worthless rather than excited about attending those institutions.

The first mailing I received was a brochure that featured a photograph of African-American, Asian, and Latino teens standing around in a cluster, their faces full of laughter and joy. The title of the brochure was “Help for Underprivileged Students.” At first I was confused: “Underprivileged” was not a word that I associated with myself. But there was the handout, with my name printed boldly on the surface.

The author questions the connotations of underprivileged.

The text went on to inform me that, since I was a student who had experienced an underprivileged life, I could qualify for several kinds of financial aid and scholarships. While I appreciated the intent, I was turned off by that one word — “underprivileged.”

I had never been called that before. The word made me question how I saw myself in the world. Yes, I needed financial aid, and I had received generous scholarships to help me attend a private high school on the Upper East Side of New York. Surely that didn’t mean that I had lived a less-privileged life than others. My upbringing had been very happy.

The author then gives a standard definition for underprivileged and explains why she refuses the label.

What does “underprivileged” actually mean? According to most dictionaries, the word refers to a person who does not enjoy the same standard of living or rights as a majority of people in a society. I don’t fit that definition. Even though my family does not have a lot of money, we have always had enough to get by, and I have received an excellent education.

What angered me most about the label was why colleges would ever use such a term. Who wants to be called underprivileged? I’m sure that even those who have had no opportunities would not want their social status rubbed in their faces so blatantly. People should be referred to as underprivileged only if they’re the ones who are calling themselves that.

Misfortune, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. It’s not appropriate to slap labels on people that they might not like or even agree with. Social research has found that those who are negatively labeled usually have lower self-esteem than others who are not labeled in that way. So why does the label of “underprivileged” persist?

Most colleges brag about the diversity of their students. But I don’t want to be bragged about if my ethnicity is automatically associated with “underprivileged.” Several colleges that had not even received information on my parents’ finances just assumed that I was underprivileged because I had checked “Latino/Hispanic” on their applications.

The author examines the assumptions colleges make based on ethnicity and income.

That kind of labeling has to stop. Brochures and handouts could be titled “Help for Students in Need” rather than “Help for Underprivileged Students.” I am sure that many people, myself included, are more than willing to admit that they require financial aid, and would feel fine about a college that referred to them as a student in need.

The essay concludes with the author’s own self-definition.

That’s a definition I can agree with. I am a student in need; I’m just not an underprivileged one.

Natasha Rodriguez is a student at Sarah Lawrence College, where she edits the features section of her school newspaper, the Phoenix .

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Helping Poor People

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Life is more meaningful if you live not only for yourself but also help others. Nevertheless, people sometimes forget about others and selfishly pursue only their interests. Helping poor people is one of the best things everyone can do. Poor people are an integral part of our society, and everyone should not turn a blind eye towards them but should think over what they can do to help. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to discuss how people can help poor individuals within society and what I personally have done to contribute to that.

Unfortunately, there are many poor people in any society, which is why they need much help from those who have a better life. The inequality gap between the rich and poor has been growing from year to year, irrespective of the fact that governments have been trying to do something to improve the situation. Everyone can help others in some way. First, I would like to mention that helping poor people is related to personal sacrifice. An individual might not give all their money to the poor person but allocate some part of it. It is about volunteering and the desire to make a difference. I would like to mention that helping poor people is not that easy, as it might be a heart-breaking experience. Sometimes, a person can decide to donate money and have nothing to do with it, due to the feeling of deep distress for those who are not that successful in life.

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Since I was a child, my mother and teachers at school have always tried to encourage me to help poor people by giving them toys and clothes that I would not use anymore. In addition to that, I was told that it was nice to give poor people food when possible and never to ignore them, as no one knows what future they will have. If not for the goodwill of some kind individuals, many poor people would not be able to stay alive.

Some individuals think that there is nothing they can do to help poor people, and that it is the job of the government to give them the money gained from tax payments. Nevertheless, I can state that everyone can contribute by volunteering, and this should not be something that a person has to do every day all year round. It would be very helpful to volunteer to build a shelter for homeless people or help provide food for those who are taking their first steps. If everyone tried to do at least one small thing from his or her side in order to help poor people, there would be much less inequality in the world.

I would like to share my personal experience. During the class, I gained very useful information and skills that I can use further in my life while helping poor people. My instructor has assigned me to work with Mr. Paul. We have been working for 13 hours together on the project related to building a house to poor people. We were assigned to a very challenging project and had to meet a deadline so that poor people would have a place to stay in the cold. My task was to help to renovate the building that was allocated by the government in order to become a home for poor people. I must state that I was very impressed that with the help of volunteers we have managed to accomplish this big task and build a good home for poor people. Once I started working on that project, I realized that I felt passionate about it and wanted to help as much as possible by doing the best job ever. I was not working on the project alone but with my peers and many volunteers who sacrificed their time and efforts to help build a home for poor people. It required much strength and leadership. I was impressed with Mr. Paul, who not only taught me the basic things but also was very patient towards me, even though I could not do everything perfectly from the first time.

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In conclusion, I would like to mention that building a house for poor people is one of the most fascinating experiences I have ever had in my life. Moreover, I would state that I recommend everyone to participate in such a project in their life, as it is not only about helping others but also about helping oneself to realize that they can be a valuable member of society and bring many good things to the world. Many people think that they can become happy if they earn a lot of money and buy many things, but, in fact, I have found happiness while helping poor people. II did not want any payment for that, and I felt that I had accomplished one of the major goals in my life when our team, together with Mr. Paul, told that the house was ready to move in. I was happy to see that poor people finally had a nice home to live in, and I even almost cried when I saw them dancing with happiness. I believe that helping poor people is one of the best gifts a person can give.

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6 College Application Essay Tips for First-Gen Students

by j9robinson | Oct 17, 2015

 Advice for Students Who Are Underrepresented for Whatever Reason: Tell Your Personal Story

In my previous post , I shared my experience working with teachers and students from the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas, where I’m giving a series of workshops on how to write college application essays.

It was my first time working with a large number of students who were mainly from underrepresented backgrounds. Most of the students were Hispanic and would be the first to attend college in their families.

I wanted to share some insights, tips and advice on what I learned, in case this helps other similar students struggling with their essays.

Here are 6 Essay Writing Tips for Students from Underprivileged or Underrepresented Backgrounds

ONE: Students who come from underprivileged backgrounds can be more reluctant to open up and reveal their tribulations, pain and vulnerability. Many believe they need to show only their strengths and victories. They are rightfully proud and don’t want to appear weak, deficient or complaining.

However, colleges are eager to hear about the obstacles students have faced, and their real-life stories of hardship, and these essays are the perfect place to share them. The best college application essays are almost always highly personal. (more…)

Creating a College-Bound Culture along the Texan Border

by j9robinson | Oct 16, 2015

 First-Gen Students Learn to Write College Application Essays

Last month, I had the privilege to work with a group of teachers and students on their writing and college application essays from the Rio Grande Valley in the southernmost tip of Texas.

Almost all of the 50-some English teachers and 165 students were Hispanic, and most of the kids will be the first in their families to attend college.

The College Essay Writing Workshop, which is a four-part series of workshops for the most promising students from 30 high schools in the Valley, was sponsored by the  Texas Graduate Center , which is an initiative of the Texas Valley Communities Foundation (a non-profit community organization), and the  Region One GEAR UP Program , whose mission is to help create a college-bound culture in this part of the U.S.

Earlier in the year, their students toured top colleges and universities around the country, including Harvard, Princeton and other ivies.

During these visits, the admissions officers from the various schools told the sponsors one thing over and over: The college application essay played a huge part in who they accepted, and urged them to help their students write better ones.

So they got in touch with me.

This is me working with a student.

I’d never spent time in that part of Texas, where the Rio Grande river winds up along the border between the U.S. and Mexico. It’s been in the news lately, mainly as ground zero in the U.S. for the flood of illegal immigrants, many children, fleeing unrest in Central America, and violence in Mexico due to drug-related activity. (more…)

Should You Write About Your Job?

by j9robinson | May 21, 2015

Colleges Encourage Students to Write About $ and Work in College Application Essays

The New York Times today published the seven college application essays it liked the best for its contest about writing on the topic of money.

Most of the winners wrote about their experiences facing various types of financial hardship and challenges.

They are worth reading simply as sample essays , which could give you ideas for topics of your own. (more…)

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Guest Essay

Anxious Parents Are the Ones Who Need Help

By Mathilde Ross

Dr. Ross is a senior staff psychiatrist at Boston University Health Services.

This month, across the country, a new cohort of students is being accepted into colleges. And if recent trends continue, the start of the school year will kick off another record-breaking season for anxiety on campus.

I’m talking about the parents. The kids are mostly fine.

Let me explain. Most emotions, even unpleasant ones, are normal. But the word is out about increasing rates of mental health problems on campus, and that’s got parents worrying. Fair enough. The statistics are startling — in 2022, nearly 14 percent of 18-to-25-year-olds reported having serious thoughts about suicide.

But parents are allowing their anxiety to take over, and it’s not helping anyone, least of all their children. If a child calls home too much, there must be a crisis! And if a child calls too little, there must be a crisis! Either way, the panicked parent picks up the phone and calls the college counseling center to talk to someone like me.

I am a psychiatrist who has worked at a major university’s mental health clinic for 16 years. Much of next year’s freshman class was born the year before I started working here. Technically, my job is to keep my door open and help students through crises, big and small. But I have also developed a comprehensive approach to the assessment and treatment of anxious parents.

The typical call from a parent begins like this: “I think my son/daughter is suffering from anxiety.” My typical reply is: “Anxiety in this setting is usually normal, because major life transitions like living away from home for the first time are commonly associated with elevated anxiety.” Parents used to be satisfied with this kind of answer, thanked me, hung up, called their children and encouraged them to think long-term: “This too shall pass.” And most everyone carried on.

But these days this kind of thinking just convinces parents that I don’t know what I’m talking about. In the circular logic of mental health awareness, a clinician’s reassurance that situational anxiety is most likely normal and time-limited leads a parent to believe that the clinician may be missing a serious mental health condition.

Today’s parents are suffering from anxiety about anxiety, which is actually much more serious than anxiety. It’s self-fulfilling and not easily soothed by logic or evidence, such as the knowledge that most everyone adjusts to college just fine.

Anxiety about anxiety has gotten so bad that some parents actually worry if their student isn’t anxious. This puts a lot of pressure on unanxious students — it creates anxiety about anxiety about anxiety. (This happens all the time. Well-meaning parents tell their kid to make an appointment with our office to make sure their adjustment to college is going OK.) If the student says she’s fine, the parents worry that she isn’t being forthright. This is the conundrum of anxiety about anxiety — there’s really no easy way to combat it.

But I do have some advice for parents. The first thing I’d like to say, and I mean it in the kindest possible way, is: Get a grip.

As for your kids, I would like to help you with some age-appropriate remedies. If your child calls during the first weeks of college feeling anxious, consider saying any of the following: You’ll get through this; this is normal; we’ll laugh about this phone call at Thanksgiving. Or, say anything that was helpful to you the last time you started something new. Alternatively, you could say nothing. Just listening really helps. It’s the entire basis of my profession.

If the anxiety is connected to academic performance — for instance, if your child is having difficulty following the professor and thinks everyone in class is smarter — consider saying, “Do the reading.” Several times a semester, a student I’ve counseled tells me he or she discovered the secret to college: Show up for class prepared! This is often whispered rather sheepishly, even though my office is private.

Anxiety about oral presentations is also quite common. You know what I tell students? “Rehearse your speech.” Parents, you can say things like this, too. Practice it: “Son, you wouldn’t believe how helpful practice is.”

I can prepare you for advanced topics, too. Let’s say your child is exhausted and having trouble waking up for class; he thinks he has a medical problem or maybe a sleep disorder. Consider telling him to go to bed earlier. Common sense is still allowed.

What if a roommate is too loud or too quiet, too messy or too neat? Advise your kid to talk to the roommate, to take the conversation to the problem’s source.

If your child is worrying about something more serious, like failing out of college: This is quite common in the first few weeks on campus. Truth be told, failing all of one’s classes and being expelled as a result, all within the first semester, is essentially impossible and is particularly rare among those students who are worrying about it. The administrative process simply doesn’t happen that fast. Besides, you haven’t paid enough tuition yet.

I’m making my job sound easy, and it’s not. I’m making kids sound simple, and they’re not. They are my life’s work. Some kids walk through my door in serious pain. But most don’t. Most just need a responsible adult to show them the way. And most of what I do can be handled by any adult who has been through a thing or two, which is to say, any parent.

I worry that the current obsession with mental health awareness is disempowering parents from helping their adult children handle ordinary things. People are increasingly fearful that any normal emotion is a sign of something serious. But if you send your adult children to a mental health professional at the first sign of distress, you deprive yourself of the opportunity to strengthen your relationship with them. This is the beginning of their adult relationship with you. Show them the way.

The transition to college is full of excitement and its cousin, anxiety. I enjoy shepherding young people through this rite of passage. Parents should try enjoying it, too.

Mathilde Ross is a senior staff psychiatrist at Boston University Health Services.

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Dirty Dozen: IRS urges taxpayers to not fall prey to untrustworthy tax preparers; "ghost preparers" can disappear with taxpayer cash, information

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IR-2024-96, April 5, 2024

WASHINGTON — In day seven of the Dirty Dozen tax scam series, the Internal Revenue Service and Security Summit partners today alerted taxpayers to be on the lookout for unscrupulous tax preparers who could encourage people to file false tax returns and steal valuable personal information.

A common problem seen annually during tax season, “ghost preparers” pop up to encourage taxpayers to take advantage of tax credits and benefits for which they don’t qualify. These preparers can charge a large percentage fee of the refund or even steal the entire tax refund. After the tax return is prepared, these “ghost preparers” can simply disappear, leaving well-meaning taxpayers to deal with the consequences.

While most tax professionals offer quality service, these ghost preparers and other unscrupulous preparers try to take advantage of people and should be avoided at all costs. The IRS encourages people to use a trusted tax professional , and IRS.gov has important information to help people choose a reputable, accredited practitioner.

“Ghost preparers and other shady return preparers form a real threat every tax season to well-meaning taxpayers,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “By trying to make a fast buck, these scammers prey on seniors and underserved communities, enticing them with bigger refunds by including bogus tax credit claims or making up income or deductions. But after the tax return is filed, these ghost preparers disappear, leaving the taxpayer to deal with consequences ranging from a stolen refund to follow-up action from the IRS. We urge people to choose a trusted tax professional that will be around if questions arise later.”

Unethical tax preparers serve as day seven of the annual IRS Dirty Dozen campaign – a list of 12 scams and schemes to help taxpayers and the tax professional community protect their personal and financial information. Compiled annually since 2002, the Dirty Dozen lists a variety of common scams that taxpayers may encounter anytime, but many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare their returns or hire someone to help with their taxes.

Bogus tax preparers have been a recurring theme in the Dirty Dozen for years. Anyone can file a tax return because preparing tax returns is unregulated, which adds risks for vulnerable taxpayers during filing season. To protect taxpayers, the IRS and the Treasury Department have again proposed regulating tax practitioners as part of the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

Shady tax practitioners can also be involved in stealing taxpayer identities. As a member of the Security Summit , the IRS has worked with state tax agencies and the nation’s tax industry for nine years to cooperatively implement a variety of internal security measures to protect taxpayers. The collaborative effort by the Summit partners also has focused on educating taxpayers about scams and fraudulent schemes throughout the year, which can lead to tax-related identity theft. Through initiatives like the Dirty Dozen and the Security Summit program, the IRS strives to protect taxpayers, businesses and the tax system from cyber criminals and deceptive activities that seek to extract information and money, including ghost preparers.

Tips for taxpayers: Warning signs to look out for

Most tax return preparers provide honest, high-quality service. But some may cause harm through fraud, identity theft and other scams. Paid preparers must sign and include a valid preparer tax identification number (PTIN) on every tax return. A ghost preparer is someone who doesn't sign tax returns they prepare. These unethical tax return preparers should be avoided, especially if they refuse to sign a complete paper tax return or digital form when filing electronically.

Taxpayers are also encouraged to check the tax preparer’s credentials and qualifications to make sure they are capable of assisting with the taxpayer’s needs. The IRS offers resources for taxpayers to educate themselves on types of preparers, representation rights, as well as a Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications to help choose which tax preparer is the best fit.

Some of the warning signs of a bad preparer include:

• Shady fees. Taxpayers should always ask about service fees. Shady tax preparers can ask for a cash-only payment without providing a receipt. They are also known to base their fees on a percentage of the taxpayer’s refund.
• False income . Untrustworthy tax preparers may also invent false income to try to get their clients more tax credits or claim fake deductions to boost the size of the refund.
• Wrong bank account. Taxpayers should also be wary of a tax preparer attempting to convince them to deposit the taxpayer’s refund in their bank account rather than the taxpayer’s account.

Good preparers ask to see all relevant documents like receipts, records and tax forms. They also ask questions to determine the client’s total income, deductions, tax credits and other items. Taxpayers should never hire a preparer who e-files a tax return using a pay stub instead of a Form W-2. This is also against IRS e-file rules.

File accurately and check eligibility for credits and deductions

Taxpayers are ultimately responsible for all the information on their income tax return, regardless of who prepares it. Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov to find answers to tax-related questions and access tools like the Interactive Tax Assistant , which provides answers to several tax law questions specific to individual circumstances.

Filing electronically reduces tax return errors, and people can take advantage of free online and in-person tax preparation options if they qualify through programs like IRS Free File and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly .

Taxpayers should also make sure that they are taking advantage of available credits and deductions , like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) , which is refundable and can help low-to-moderate income workers receive up to $7,340 based on their qualifications. People need to make sure they understand which credits and deductions they are eligible to claim and keep records to show their eligibility.

Report fraudulent activity and scams

The IRS highly encourages people to report tax return preparers who deliberately prepare improper returns and any activity that promotes improper and abusive tax schemes.

To report an abusive tax scheme or a tax return preparer, people should use the online Form 14242 – Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers , or mail or fax a completed Form 14242 PDF and any supporting material to the IRS Lead Development Center in the Office of Promoter Investigations.

Internal Revenue Service Lead Development Center Stop MS5040 24000 Avila Road Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-3405 Fax: 877-477-9135

Taxpayers can also report preparer misconduct using Form 14157, Complaint: Tax Return Preparer PDF . If a taxpayer suspects a preparer filed or changed their tax return without their consent, they should file Form 14157-A, Tax Return Preparer Fraud or Misconduct Affidavit PDF .

Alternatively, taxpayers and tax practitioners may send the information to the IRS Whistleblower Office for possible monetary award.

Additional Resources

• Abusive tax schemes and abusive tax return preparers
• Identity Theft Central
• Choosing a tax professional
• Publication 5895, Who Do You Trust to Prepare Your Return? PDF
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Best Loans for Bad Credit: A Comprehensive Guide for 2024

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Bad credit can be a heavy burden, making it more difficult to do everything from renting an apartment to buying insurance, or even getting hired for a job. Your credit score is also a key factor in getting a personal loan. If it's too low, some lenders may decide you pose too great a risk and decline to lend you money.

However, it may still be possible to qualify for a personal loan even if your credit isn't in the best shape. Personal loans for bad credit can can provide financial flexibility, allowing you to address needs like debt consolidation, unexpected expenses, or home repairs. Responsible repayment of these loans can also contribute to rebuilding your credit over time.

Remember that even the best personal loans for bad credit scores will come with higher interest rates compared with loans for borrowers with good credit. But they can be much safer than other alternatives often resorted to by those with bad credit, such as payday loans, which have exorbitantly high interest rates and can trap you in a cycle of debt.

Top Personal Loans for Bad Credit of 2024

• Upgrade Personal Loan : Best for small loan amounts
• Avant Personal Loan : Best for easy qualification
• LendingPoint Personal Loan : Best for low credit scores
• Upstart Personal Loan : Best for limited credit histories
• LendingClub Personal Loan : Best for applying with a co-borrower
• OneMain Financial Personal Loan : Best for secured loans

Compare the Top Personal Loans for Bad Credit

Bad credit loan company reviews, upgrade personal loan.

Upgrade offers a low minimum APR. But you'll likely pay a higher rate if your credit isn't in good shape. With a poor credit history, you may end up paying an APR closer to 35.99%. Upgrade's smallest loan amount of $1,000 is lower than many other comparable lenders. 

You'll pay an origination fee with Upgrade, which will be taken from your loan proceeds. Upstart may also charge you a late fee of up to $10. However, you won't pay any prepayment penalties with this lender. Once you accept your loan offer, you should get your funds as soon as the next day.

Upgrade Personal Loans Review

Avant Personal Loan

is one of the easier lenders to qualify for on our list. Its stated minimum credit score is just a guideline, not a requirement, but most Avant borrowers have a credit score between 600 and 700. Avant funds loans quickly — if the company approves your loan by 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, funds are often put into your account by the next business day.

Avant has excellent customer service hours, with its phone line open at least 13 hours every day of the week. The lender also has a strong mobile app. 

Avant Personal Loans Review

Upstart Personal Loan

's minimum credit requirement is 300, but if your credit score is low, you might end up paying a high APR. However, Upstart also considers employment history and education history, such as where you went to school and your area of study, when making its lending decisions, which could help borrowers who may not qualify for a loan solely based on their credit score.

Upstart's loan repayment term options are fairly limited — you can choose between a three-year or five-year term. On the bright side, the company usually funds loans within one business day, which is useful if you need your money fast. There are no prepayment penalties with this lender. 

Upstart Personal Loans Review

OneMain Financial Personal Loan

's minimum APR is higher than every other lender on our top picks, but there is no minimum credit score required to apply. That said, if your credit is in particularly rough shape, it may be easier to qualify for a loan with this lender. You may also be able to get your money the same day you apply.

OneMain's standout feature is that it offers secured personal loans (loans backed by collateral such as a house or a car) as well as unsecured personal loans. This is uncommon among personal loan lenders.

OneMain Financial Personal Loans Review

LendingClub Personal Loan

LendingClub allows you to add a co-borrower to your loan application. So if you're worried about not qualifying for a loan or paying a higher interest rate than you can afford, you may consider this option. 

However, it will take you two to four business days to get your money, which is longer than most of the other lenders on our list. You'll also pay an late fee of 5% of the minimum payment amount or $15 (whichever is greater) of your total loan amount. 

LendingClub Personal Loans Review

LendingPoint Personal Loan

LendingPoint has the lowest minimum credit score requirement of any of our top picks, making it a good option if you can't qualify for other lenders with your credit score. LendingPoint has a quick application process. and you may be approved the same day you apply. You can often get your funds the next business day after approval.  

Unfortunately, you're not able to take out a loan if you live in Nevada or West Virginia. You also might pay an origination fee, depending on the state you live in. 

LendingPoint Personal Loans Review

How to Choose the Best Bad Credit Loan for Your Needs

To get the best bad credit personal loan, consider what is most important to you. Many borrowers prioritize the lowest personal loan interest rate , but also consider any fees, the minimum credit score needed, and the accessibility of the lender's customer service. You'll also want to make sure you're able to select a term length that works for you and that your loan's purpose is allowed by the lender you choose.

See the latest personal loan interest rates »

For bad credit loans specifically, you'll want to understand if you qualify for a loan or if you may need to add a cosigner to boost your chances of being eligible. 

Improving Your Credit With a Loan

Getting a personal loan with bad credit can itself help you to improve your credit score. While it may sound counterintuitive, there are several ways this can happen based on how credit scores are calculated.

For example, when you make payments on a loan, they're reported to the major credit bureaus , and your payment history accounts for more than a third of your overall credit score. Making your payments on time will have a positive impact.

If you use a personal loan for debt consolidation, it can also help improve your score. With a debt consolidation loan for poor credit, you roll multiple debt into a single loan with one monthly payment. This can reduce your credit utilization ratio , which determines about 30% of your credit score.

Applying for a Personal Loan With Bad Credit

If you're looking for a personal loan and have bad credit, you'll want to stick to lenders that allow you to prequalify. This allows you to compare interest rates and terms available without affecting your credit score. This is usually a fast process, so you should do so with several lenders.

After you've gotten prequalified, compare the offers and choose the one that best suits your needs. To complete the full loan application process you'll need documentation, including paperwork like: 

• Pay stubs/proof of income
• W-2 forms or tax returns
• Documentation of 401(k)s and other financial accounts
• Rent/mortgage payment history
• Proof of collateral, if you're pursuing a secured loan

If you're approved for the loan, the lender will send you final loan documents to sign off on. Make sure to read everything carefully to understand how exactly how much you'll be paying in total for the loan and be absolutely certain you can afford the monthly payments.

Bad Credit Loan Company Trustworthiness

Whether you're looking for a $5,000 loan or a $10,000 loan , finding a trustworthy lender can help improve your loan experience. To help you make a decision, we've compared each institution's Better Business Bureau score. The BBB measures businesses based on factors like their responsiveness to consumer complaints, truthfulness in advertising, and clarity about business practices. Here is each company's score:

All of our top picks are rated A or higher by the BBB. Keep in mind that a high BBB score does not guarantee a positive relationship with a lender, and that you should continue to do research and talk to others who have used the company to get the most comprehensive information possible.

Other Types of Loans for Bad Credit

While some personal loan lenders such as Best Egg and Upgrade may accept collateral for a secured loan, which may get you a lower interest rate, most focus on unsecured loans, which are based entirely on your creditworthiness. Secured loans may get you a lower interest rate, but it's important to remember that you risk losing your collateral if you end up in a position where you can't afford the monthly payments. This can be financially devastating if you were to put up your car as collateral.

It's also important to predatory lenders that target borrowers with bad credit with loans at exhorbitant interest rates that can trap you in a cycle of debt. Payday loans are among the most common examples. They're advertised as fast and helpful ways to get money to cover an unexpected expense but often end up saddling borrowers with loan terms and interest rates that severely damage their long-term financial health. Car title loans, which allow the lender to take ownership of your car if you can't pay, are also frequently associated with predatory lending .

Bad Credit Loan FAQs

What's the minimum credit score required for a bad credit loan.

The minimum score can vary widely among lenders; some offer loans specifically designed for borrowers with scores below 600. Others may have no minimum credit score requirement.

Will applying for a bad credit loan affect my credit score?

The impact on your credit score can vary. Getting prequalified for a loan will involve a soft check that doesn't affect your score, but a hard check will once you proceed with an application.

Can I use a bad credit loan for debt consolidation?

Yes, many borrowers use bad credit loans to consolidate higher-interest debt, which can help simplify payments and potentially save on interest. This can also help toward rebuilding your credit over the long run.

How can I improve my credit to get better loan terms in the future?

Key strategies for improving your credit include consistently making on-time payments, keeping credit utilization low, and regularly checking your credit report for errors.

Why You Should Trust Us: Our Methodology

We rate all personal loan products in our reviews and guides on a 1-5 scale. The overall rating is a weighted average that takes into account seven different categories, some of which are judged more heavily than others. They are:

• Interest rate (20% of rating)
• Fees (20% of rating)
• Term lengths and loan amounts (15% of rating)
• Funding speed (15% of rating)
• Borrower accessibility (15% of rating)
• Customer support (7.5% of rating)
• Ethics (7.5% of rating)

Each category's weighting is based on its importance to your borrowing experience. Rates and fees have the most direct impact on the overall cost of your loan, so we weigh those the most heavily. Customer support and ethics are still very important parts of the borrowing experience, but do not directly tie to a personal loan's terms, so they have less of an impact on the overall rating. 

Other Personal Loans We Considered for Bad Credit

TD Bank Fit Loan. While TD Bank offers relatively low maximum APRs on its personal loans, the company only lends to borrowers in 15 states and Washington, DC, so it may not be accessible depending on where you live. 

Universal Credit Personal Loans. Universal Credit has a low minimum credit score requirement of 580, but it takes longer to get your money than with our top picks.

OppLoans Personal Loan. OppLoans doesn't have a minimum credit score to be eligible, but its APR is significantly higher than any lender on our list at 160.00%. Read Insider's full review here . 

Payoff Loan™. Payoff offers great minimum APRs to those with good credit scores, but its minimum requirement of 640 is higher than all of our top picks. 

Prosper Personal Loan. Like Payoff, you need a minimum credit score of 640 to qualify for a loan from Prosper. Read Insider's full review of Prosper . 

Peerform Personal Loan. Peerform offers competitive APRs on its loans and only requires a minimum credit score of 600 to qualify, but its minimum loan amount of $4,000 is higher than our top picks. 

First Tech Personal Loan. Although First Tech offers small minimum loan amounts, you have to join the credit union to be eligible to take out a loan from the company, an added step none of our other picks require. 

Achieve Personal Loan. Achieve has a minimum credit score of 620 and allows co-borrowers, but it has a high minimum loan amount of $5,000 and requires an origination fee. Read our full Achieve personal loans review .

NetCredit Personal Loans. NetCredit doesn't have a minimum credit score requirement, but its minimum interest rate is on the high end of the range for personal loan lenders. Read our full NetCredit personal loans review .

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