The class of 2021 is facing unprecedented college application challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic, in addition to the usual sources of stress during the application process. COVID-19’s social distancing, social gathering, and travel restrictions have halted college visits, tours, and fairs, as well as plans for summer/part-time jobs, internships, camp experiences, sports, extracurricular activities,…
The college admissions essay is an essential part of a successful application for several reasons. While academic, extracurricular, test score, and athletic accomplishments create a winning application, the essay stands out as the only opportunity for personal expression beyond the constraints of checking off boxes, answering closed-ended questions, and inputting limited text responses. It also…
If you are like most students, writing assignments can seem overwhelming as you consider what to write and how to write it. Not only do you have to choose a topic, create a thesis, critique research, and decide what information to include for support, you also have to worry about the writing process itself. This…
With the 2018-2019 college application season upon us, there is another shared college application besides The Common Application heading to the forefront: the Coalition for College, or Coalition application. Since its start in 2015 for the 2016-2017 college admissions season, the Coalition for College has promoted broader, more inclusive, and more affordable access to higher…
The 2018-2019 college application process is arriving, and with it comes the anxiety most students experience when writing their college application essays. While the rest of the admissions application is straightforward with checking and filling in boxes, the college admissions application essay is the only portion that allows for creativity, self-expression, uniqueness, and personality. It…
With October comes another month of college applications as students finish early decision and early action applications and select additional colleges of interest to round out their list. Most of the application process is straightforward, requiring students to check boxes, enter numbers, and present snippets of background information. When it comes to application essays, though,…
Although the entire college selection and application process is stressful for most students (and parents!), the admissions essays often prove to be the most overwhelming part of the process. While most of the application requires filling in blanks and boxes with short, straightforward, and easy-to-answer responses, the essay demands extended writing, reflection, and thought, with…
Whether the written response has high stakes (such as a college application or SAT/ACT essay) or is part of an ordinary school task (such as an open-ended question or literature-based prompt), there is one common mistake students make that has a straightforward solution: Answer all parts of the question and provide proof! A successful response…
The 2017-2018 college admissions journey has officially begun, and with it comes several changes to The Common Application essay prompts. Although the maximum word count still holds at 650, you will find two new prompts and three revised prompts from last year. The key to essay success is still creating engaging, error-free writing infused with…
High school and college students and recent graduates often find themselves challenged when composing their first resume, whether for employment, internship, academic, or program application purposes. However, the simple strategies outlined below can help you independently write your own winning resume with confidence and ease. Despite similarities with regular resumes in format and structure—as well…
