Join Stacey and Becca as they walk you through the Common App’s first prompt option (out of seven), which asks applicants to discuss a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it.
Join Stacey and Becca as they offer listeners insight as to what applicants can expect upon signing up for an expert assessment of their college essay draft(s) and discuss their methods for constructively delivering feedback to young writers.
Join Stacey and Becca as they walk you through one of their favorite ways of brainstorming for the personal statement: the object exercise! Take a look around your room and identify a few objects that are near and dear to you, then reflect on what they represent to you or remind you of. You may just identify a conduit to an impactful college essay topic!
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss strategies for writing essays about hardship that emphasize positive qualities that will empower you to succeed in higher education, rather than relying on common platitudes. They also touch on the pressure many marginalized students feel to “sell their pain” by sharing traumatic stories in their college essays and offer advice on how to avoid writing about challenges that may read as trivial to admissions.
Join Stacey and Becca as they review common Activity Essay prompts, discuss the purpose of the essay within the scope of the larger application, offer guidance on which of your activities to expand upon, and flag common pitfalls to sidestep.
Join Stacey and Becca as they weigh the risks and benefits of writing about religion, faith, and politics in your college essay. Can applicants address potentially controversial topics without polarizing admissions? How should their school lists factor into the decision? Listen to get some expert advice from the people behind College Essay Advisors.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the risks that accompany reading too many college essay examples and ways students and parents alike can best set themselves up for success before starting the college essay writing process.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the dangers of writing about someone else in your college essay and what you can do to make sure the spotlight shines on you (your strengths, your character, your candidacy)!
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the challenges of writing about one of the most common college essay topics: summer camp. Is it possible to write about camp while still differentiating yourself from other applicants with similar stories? Learn how this common experience can be a featured player in your story without taking center stage.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the role of the Additional Information Essay in the college application. They cover the purpose of this text box and the kinds of circumstances that warrant an essay, as well as the dangers of submitting a superfluous essay.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss whether to (and how to) write about mental illness in your college admissions essay.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the pros and cons of writing about neurodiversity in your college admissions essays. Whether you’re considering writing about your Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, learning differences, or ADHD, Stacey and Becca are here to offer some advice on how to write about your lived experience.
Join Stacey and Becca as they talk all things twins! Distinguishing yourself from similarly qualified applicants is hard enough as it is, let alone someone who shares your DNA; luckily, Stacey and Becca have tips for twins (and triplets) writing college admissions essays that shine.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the infamous Diversity Essay. They cover creative approaches to writing about identity and whether there are any risks involved with writing about race, sexuality, gender, etc. in a post-affirmative action admissions landscape.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the 2023-24 Yale University supplemental essay prompts and explain what admissions is really looking for in winning responses. Part 2 of 2!
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the 2023-24 Yale University supplemental essay prompts and explain what admissions is really looking for in winning responses. Part 1 of 2!
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss this summer's SCOTUS Ruling on Affirmative Action, the ramifications for students of color (and the education system as a whole), and provide guidance to applicants wondering how to (or whether to) use the written components of the application to offer admissions additional context regarding their background and lived experiences.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the final two 2023-24 Harvard University supplemental essay prompts that applicants must respond to in 200 words or fewer.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the first three (out of five) 2023-24 Harvard University supplemental essay prompts that applicants must respond to in 200 words or fewer.
Join Stacey and Becca as they share some of their favorite brainstorming exercises to get the ideas flowing. Part 2 of 2!
Join Stacey and Becca as they share some of their favorite brainstorming exercises to get the ideas flowing. Part 1 of 2!
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the Common App’s seventh and final prompt option, which asks applicants to share an essay on any topic of their choice.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the Common App’s sixth prompt option (out of seven), which asks applicants to describe a topic, idea, or concept they find so engaging that it makes them lose all track of time.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the Common App’s fifth prompt option (out of seven), which asks applicants to discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the Common App’s fourth prompt option (out of seven), which asks applicants to reflect on something that someone has done for them that has made them happy or thankful in a surprising way.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the Common App’s third prompt option (out of seven), which asks applicants to reflect on a time when they questioned or challenged a belief or idea. They'll discuss the pitfalls of this prompt (and how to avoid them), as well as the opportunities it presents for self-discovery.
Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the Common App’s second prompt option (out of seven), which asks applicants to recount a time when they faced a challenge, setback, or failure, and share examples of topics that have been successful in the past.
Join Stacey and Becca as they walk you through the Common App’s first prompt option (out of seven), which asks applicants to discuss a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it.
Join CEA's Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, and Director of Advising, Becca Myers, as they answer the most frequently asked question raised by rising seniors: what is the college essay, anyway? They’ll explain the purpose of the assignment and offer insight as to what a successful college essay needs to accomplish.
