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CEA Blog

The Trick to Avoiding Supplemental Essay Burnout

Topic: College Admissions, Essay Tips, Supplemental Essays  |  Posted on September 22nd, 2016  |  Written by CEA HQ

It’s mid-September and the school year is fully underway. You’ve been working steadily on your college applications, powering through the personal statement and filling in your Common App and Coalition profiles. Things are going well, but you’re starting to feel this flickering sense of blah-ness. Or maybe you haven’t started yet, and you’re watching essays […]

Stanford University 2016-17 Essay Prompts and Advice

Topic: College Admissions, College Spotlight, Supplemental Essays  |  Posted on August 23rd, 2016  |  Written by CEA HQ

Stanford University is consistently ranked as one of the hardest schools to gain acceptance to in the United States, but that doesn’t seem to stop students from applying in hordes every year. In this ridiculously competitive environment, distinguishing yourself from other applicants is tough, which is why Stanford’s sprawling supplement is your ally, not your […]

Duke University 2016 Essay Prompt Advice and Profile

Topic: College Admissions, College Spotlight, Supplemental Essays  |  Posted on August 16th, 2016  |  Written by CEA HQ

This might be the only time in your life your mom will be proud of you for aspiring to become an a devil. Duke University is a private institution nestled in Durham, North Carolina. Offering over 100 academic programs, state-of-the-art research facilities, and a global education program that allows students to study domestically or internationally through 50 Duke […]

University of Virginia 2016 Essay Prompts and Profile

Topic: College Admissions, College Spotlight, Supplemental Essays  |  Posted on July 19th, 2016  |  Written by CEA HQ

The University of Virginia has become an increasingly respected and popular academic institution over the past decade, and it’s easy to see why. This distinguished public university, located in Charlottesville, Virginia was founded by none other than United States president Thomas Jefferson. The Jeffersonian architectural influence is especially evident when visiting The UVa campus and […]

College Spotlight: UC Application 2016-17

Topic: College Admissions, College Spotlight, Supplemental Essays  |  Posted on July 5th, 2016  |  Written by CEA HQ

How could anyone not want to check out at least one of the campuses that the University of California offers students? You’ve probably heard of UC Berkeley and UCLA, but did you know that UC has nine campuses located all over California? And each one offers unique academic and social experiences. The University of California’s […]

4 Surprisingly Simple Strategies for Tackling Supplemental Application Essays

Topic: College Admissions, Essay Tips, Supplemental Essays  |  Posted on June 16th, 2016  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

The deluge has begun. The earliest supplemental essays have started to trickle out and it’s time to bust out your rain slicker and boots… maybe even a canoe if you have one on hand. For the uninitiated, supplemental essays are the school-specific writing assignments that many colleges and universities require in addition to the Common […]

College Spotlight: University of Michigan 2016-17

Topic: College Admissions, College Spotlight, Supplemental Essays  |  Posted on June 15th, 2016  |  Written by CEA HQ

The University of Michigan is a prestigious public university located in the heart of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Being such a huge university, Michigan is known for its vast degree program options (about 260 in total), being a top research institute offering research opportunities to more than 1,300 students each year, and for its Division I […]

College Spotlight: University of Chicago 2016-17

Topic: College Admissions, College Spotlight, Supplemental Essays  |  Posted on June 14th, 2016  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

The University of Chicago is known for its intellectually rigorous core curriculum, beautiful gothic architecture, and quirky application supplement (more on those oddball essay prompts below). It’s a nerd paradise where the blustery Chicago winters are the perfect excuse to stay inside with a nice book or ten. Even though the unofficial school motto is, “If […]

CEA at the New York Times: Supplemental Essay Writing Class

Topic: College Admissions, Essay Tips, Supplemental Essays  |  Posted on March 23rd, 2016  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

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 […]

The Trick to Nailing Your Supplemental “Why Essays”

Topic: Essay Tips, Supplemental Essays  |  Posted on November 12th, 2015  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

“WHY?!” The word is echoing in your head. It’s the first thing you think when you wake up and the last thing you think as you lay down at night. It dances in your dreams, Dumbo-nighmare-sequence-style. When Chipotle asks if you want to add guac, it’s the only word you can think to say. If you […]

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