We are thrilled to announce that Kelly Porter’s essay, “En Español, Por Favor,” is the First Place winner of CEA’s Bragging Writes college essay contest. Her thoughtful approach to the Common App’s fifth prompt, about the transition from childhood to adulthood, stood out from the pack. Kelly’s essay caught our attention from the first line, […]
Summer Allen is the First Runner-Up in CEA’s Bragging Writes college essay contest. She tells a story of swashbuckling intellectual curiosity as she spends one summer racing her father to the finish of Robinson Crusoe. Summer’s submission is the perfect example of how a great essay can come out of a small, personal life event. […]
There was a tie for Second Runner-Up in CEA’s Bragging Writes college essay contest. We just couldn’t decide between Ha Hoang’s creatively-paced piece “The Tear Catalyst” and Eva Su’s tale of accidental entrepreneurism. Both essays find creative ways to connect personal experiences with global issues and communities, either in their structure or content. This fall, […]
Where will YOU go this summer? Is a good long stay at camp in your future? Will you head abroad to study or volunteer? How about a trip to Canada to hang out with ducklings and nice people? Is the inside of the local ice cream parlor your destination of choice? Will you be wielding […]
There is an upheaval in the world of college admissions. At least that’s what the members of the newly-formed Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success would have us believe as they prepare to launch a new mass application platform this summer. Since the announcement that over 80 elite colleges would be banding together to challenge […]
This Sunday, hundreds of students will pay a visit to the fabled Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan for the 2016 NACAC College Fair. This incredible free event will give juniors the opportunity to explore a huge range of higher education options and get detailed information in subject-specific workshops. Plus, we’ll be there! Two friendly […]
At this point, it’s almost been impossible to avoid reading about the amazing Costco college essay that secured one lucky applicant admission to several Ivies and Stanford. It’s a great essay, but not everyone seems to understand why, so CEA Founder Stacey Brook broke it down and offered some lessons that everyone can take away […]
Juniors! Do you smell that? It’s the end of the year creeping closer. Soon, your time as juniors will close and you will open a new chapter as seniors and college hopefuls. The end of the year is a big part of this transition and can be a critical runway for starting your college applications. […]
Congratulations to the future class of 2020! Acceptances are starting to roll in and we couldn’t be more excited for you, or prouder to have been a part of your journey. As one final hurrah, we’re holding a college essay contest to honor this year’s best essays. So, submit your winning application essay to the […]
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new weekend course at the School of the New York Times, “Supplemental Essay Writing: A College Essay Toolkit.” Every year, college applicants across the country find themselves buried by an unexpected avalanche of supplemental essays. Most students only write one personal statement, but they must answer anywhere […]