During my webinar last week, students and parents asked how to write about painful life experiences—illness, poverty, trauma—in their college application essays. These questions come up a lot: Can I …

I was cleaning up my study recently, clearing the decks to write a new book about storytelling, and I found my notes from the road trip I took with my …

If you’re applying to Cornell, you’re in luck! While some of its Ivy peers require upwards of 10 supplemental essays, Cornell requires just one, with a maximum of 650 words …

Your personal essays play a unique role in the admissions process, revealing your unique character to colleges, as admissions officers build a community of diverse students who will make the …

Your grades, test scores, and list of extracurricular activities help admissions readers understand who you are as a student and college applicant, and your personal statement helps them understand who …

Supplemental essays are a great opportunity to give admissions officers more insight into why your unique character and life experiences make you a great fit for their school. Like many …

Hoping to head to a “public Ivy” next year? The University of Virginia might be the school for you! UVA requires two supplemental essays, each with a maximum of 250 …

Hoping to spend your college years in sunny Southern California? USC might be the school for you! But before you make your way to LA, you’ll need to complete USC’s …