Resources & Tips


CEA Blog
New Additions to The Supplemental Essay Guide: TU and JHU!
Fear not, young students, for we have heard your pleas! We have added supplemental essay guides for both the University of Texas at Austin and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore!! Yay!!! While the University of Texas requires one long essay and three short essays from most applicants, JHU only requires […]
Time Management Tips for College Applicants
You wake up, get ready, go to school, go to practice, go to work, spend some much needed time with your friends, and then you’re supposed to write a college essay?!?! We know, we get it. It can be difficult to not only find time to write your college essay, but use that time efficiently. […]
10 Critical College Essay Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Why College Essays Matter Since many other students have similar GPAs and test scores as you (if not better, eek!), one powerful way to stand out from the crowd is to draft compelling and insightful essays. The personal statement and other supplemental essays are your chance to “be in the room” with admissions and introduce […]
The Number One Mistake International Students Make
It goes without saying that, as an international student, your application will be distinct from that of many of the other students applying to American colleges and universities. If you did not go to school in the States, your schooling experience, the activities you participated in, and many of the details of your life and […]
How this Student Got Into All 8 Ivy Leagues
Yes, he’s done it. Martin Altenburg, a 17-year-old from Fargo, North Dakota has gained acceptance into every Ivy League plus a couple more schools for good measure. You might be asking yourself, “But don’t Ivy Leagues have some of the lowest acceptance rates in the country?” Yes, they do! But Altenburg figured out the […]
How to Dress Your Resume for Success: CEA’s Founder Gives Tips for Landing The Job
Besides being a pasta fanatic and college essay expert, our Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, knows a thing or two about reaching academic and professional goals. Sure, each year she helps hundreds of students get into their dream schools by arming them with the tools required to craft the perfect college essay, but she […]
Beyoncé Offers College Scholarships for Women, Continues to Slay
In a boss move from one of the world’s most empowering females, Beyoncé recently announced that she will be launching a program called Formation Scholars to provide scholarships for young women “who are unafraid to think outside the box and are bold, creative, conscious and confident. ” The scholarships will be awarded to one student at each […]
How to Write a Compelling Community Essay | College Application Guide
The Community Essay is a standard supplemental essay type that mines for information about your social habits and favorite causes. Since you will become a member of whichever college community you choose to attend, it’s not surprising that admissions is curious to learn more about the communities you are already a part of and the […]
What You Can Learn from Stalking Your Dream College on Facebook
You’ve been warned. In this digital age, 40% of college admissions officers scour your social media profiles about as closely as your academic records. While this Facebook (or Twitter or Instagram) stalking may seem invasive, it’s also a window into your judgement, values, and sense of humor – and now, two can play at this […]
College Essay News and Tips: CEA’s Weekly Link Roundup
With the anniversary of our nation’s birth just around the corner (cue the eagle squawking and flying overhead), summer is well underway! Hopefully all of you are treating yourselves to some well deserved R&R. When your mouth isn’t stuffed with a celebratory ice cream cone, there’s one thing that we at CEA hope you’re doing: […]