“Financial hardship and triumph, and wants and needs, are the stuff of great literature,” writes Ron Lieber in a recent New York Times article, and we agree. These Dickensian topics are the stuff of the American dream. They are also incredibly difficult to talk about, especially when you’re in high school. To do these topics […]
Hooray! It’s another installation of “Personal Essay Spotlight” in which we help you master the art of the personal essay by harnessing the techniques of the greats. This week, we’re tackling another common challenge (that will come up again and again): Seeing the big picture. At College Essay Advisors, we love discovering the details that […]
Let’s all breathe a sigh of relief. The 2014-15 college application cycle has run its course, we have finally gotten a full night’s sleep, and the weekly link roundup is back after its peak-season hiatus! We’re feeling pretty blissed out these days, so the theme of this week’s roundup is ~*~inspiration~*~. The school year is […]
“Commencement speakers are always telling young people to follow their passions,” writes David Brooks in his recent article for the NY Times titled, “The Moral Bucket List.” We’re sure you’ve heard this advice many times and in many ways from the adults in your lives. And guess what: you will hear it again throughout the college […]
When high seniors first encounter the Common Application, most have little to no experience with the personal essay, but this is exactly what colleges expect you to deliver in your application. It’s a format that requires both a conversational tone and polished, insightful storytelling, but most students haven’t had many opportunities or reasons to proactively […]
The 2015-2016 Common Application essay prompts were finally confirmed this past Tuesday. What changed and what stayed the same? And what does it all mean for the upcoming college application season? College Essay Advisors has the answers.
The Common App has made applying to college easier in so many ways. Only one form for your personal information! Only one activity resume to fill out! That said, as with so that now rely on the miracles of modern technology for basic functionality, the Common App’s online platform can be a little confusing — […]
Most people are unaware of their own verbal tics. While we know to look out for fillers like “uh,” “um,” “like,” even “you know,” sometimes less generic stand-ins seep into our vocabulary and stick. These words can become so ingrained in our speech patterns, they become like verbal fingerprints. Remember when you mocked your sister mercilessly for […]
College essay news has been coming fast and furious but we only select the best, most interesting stories for you, dear readers. Sit back, relax, and bask in the glow of our hand-picked college essay news items. Remember that New Republic piece on the Ivy League? Of course you do. Here’s another response. There is no better feeling […]
School is back in session and we know you’re already feeling the burn. The homework has piled up up and the extracurriculars are swallowing your afternoons. When are you supposed to find time to start that pesky college essay (that you were supposed to write this summer, but no biggie — we won’t tell anyone.) Would […]
We thought so.
