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CEA Blog

The Top 3 Things To Do Over Presidents Day

Topic: College Admissions  |  Posted on February 4th, 2016  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

Ah, Presidents Day. That random break in the middle of February. It’s the perfect time to contemplate the Declaration of Independence, memorize the score of Hamilton, or create a portrait of Thomas Jefferson using nothing but bottle caps. Alternatively, you could abandon all patriotic rumination and go on a quest for the perfect rainbow bagel […]

The 2016-2017 Common App Prompts Are Out And Nothing Has Changed

Topic: College Admissions, Common App Prompts/Topics, Most Popular  |  Posted on January 29th, 2016  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

Yes, it’s true. While you were sleeping, the tiny elves powering the Common Application were up all night perfecting the 2016-2017 prompts. This unprecedented early release gives juniors almost an entire year to plan for this momentous assignment. Plus, the 2016-2017 Common App prompts are exactly the same as the 2015-2016 prompts! So, juniors, make […]

ICYMI- Harvard Agrees: It’s Time to Tell Applicants, ‘You Are Enough’

Topic: College Admissions  |  Posted on January 27th, 2016  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

This week, CEA founder Stacey Brook provided some unique insight into Harvard’s recent “Turning the Tide” study. The college essay has become a crucial turning point in the application process that reveals just how damaging the college admissions culture has become. Stacey writes: I see it all the time: Imposter Syndrome in a thoughtful and […]

Why We Love February Application Deadlines and You Should Too

Topic: College Admissions  |  Posted on January 20th, 2016  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

February is the shortest month of the year for a reason: it stinks. Snow piles up and begins to turn mysterious shades of yellow and brown. We finally use up the lotion we bought to ward off dry skin. And don’t even get us started on Valentine’s Day. Who thought it was a good idea […]

2016-2017 College Application Calendar for Juniors

Topic: College Admissions, Common App Prompts/Topics, International Students, Most Popular  |  Posted on January 13th, 2016  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

Dearest juniors-or do you now prefer to go by “rising seniors?” Dearest class of 2017, welcome to the busiest year of your life. Before you start stockpiling RedBull or making plans to flee to Cuba, know that you can do this. At this very moment, you have the whole year ahead of you, and if […]

The Year In Review: Personal Statement Success and More

Topic: College Admissions  |  Posted on January 6th, 2016  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

Wow. You are awesome. Before you start making New Years resolutions, take a moment to look back at all of your 2015 accomplishments. We’re serious. Get out a notebook at make a list: the best of you, year-in-review. Here, we’ll get you started: I completed applications to [pick a number] colleges! I balanced my school […]

The Final Countdown: 2015’s Top 10 College Essay Tips

Topic: College Admissions, Essay Tips  |  Posted on December 28th, 2015  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

As 2015 draws to a close, year-end lists clog up all of our newsfeeds with reminiscences of the year’s best tunes, worst outfits, weirdest Snapchat filters, happiest chinchillas, and pretty much anything else you can think of. But we all know that the countdown to the new year means so much more than a welcome […]

The Final College Essay Checklist: Taste The Sweet Victory

Topic: College Admissions, Essay Tips  |  Posted on December 17th, 2015  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

REJOICE! FESTIVE PASTRY SEASON IS UPON US! Look at these adorable snowflake cookies! Look at this gigantic seasonal croquembouche! Nothing tastes sweeter than a puffy profiterole plucked from a perfectly engineered pastry tower. Nothing, that is, aside from the sweet taste of knowing that the college essays you have toiled over are finally done – […]

Last-Minute Application Essay Edits from the Experts at CEA

Topic: College Admissions, Essay Tips  |  Posted on December 10th, 2015  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

Are you coming down with something, or are college essays making you sick? Does the mere thought of reading over another draft make you nauseous? A normal medical doctor can’t help with these ailments, but without a quick shot in the arm, you and your essays could be in dire trouble. Luckily the specialists at […]

How To Manage All of Your Last-Minute College Essays

Topic: College Admissions, Essay Tips, Most Popular  |  Posted on December 3rd, 2015  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

Tis the season to open your calendar and transform into Ralphie during this pivotal moment of A Christmas Story: We’re about to hit the last week of December and many deadlines are only days away. If you still have supplemental essays left to write, before you let yourself become too overwhelmed by guilt, stress, and the […]

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