In writing a college or graduate school application essay (or job application), there can be a temptation to write whatever will “work,” that is “get you in” to a more selective college than would ...

As the college essay program manager for Write the World, a nonprofit writing organization for teens, I oversee a group of advisers who guide students through the essay writing process. I have seen ...

Writing college essays that stand out is a critical step in the college admissions process. College admissions officers read thousands of essays each year, and a compelling essay can make a ...

College application essays matter. Why? Most colleges want more than an army of academic robots; they want to build a community. High GPAs and activity lists don’t reveal enough. A strong application ...

Carter Osborne started a side hustle tutoring students on their college admissions essays in 2017. The Stanford graduate shared his recommendations for students looking to ace their personal essays.

Every year more than a million students use the Common Application, a standardized electronic form accepted by more than 1,000 colleges, to apply to college. And every year since 1976, the Common App, ...

At its core, Irena Smith’s job as an independent college counselor means being a writing coach. With a PhD in comparative literature, the former Stanford admissions officer helps her teenage clients ...

With college essay season upon us, many young writers will fall into the same old trap that hurts applicants every year: viewing the personal statement as an extension of the resume. It's ...

The genre is often maligned for being formulaic and melodramatic, but it’s more important than you think. By Nell Freudenberger Most high school seniors approach the college essay with dread. Either ...