Resources & Tips
CEA Blog
How this Student Got Into All 8 Ivy Leagues
Yes, he’s done it. Martin Altenburg, a 17-year-old from Fargo, North Dakota has gained acceptance into every Ivy League plus a couple more schools for good measure. You might be asking yourself, “But don’t Ivy Leagues have some of the lowest acceptance rates in the country?” Yes, they do! But Altenburg figured out the […]
Guide to The NY Times’ Five Best College Essays on Work, Money and Class
Every year, The New York Times issues an open call for college application essays on the subject of money, work, and class. Money becomes a lens through which identity, family, and dreams, can be glimpsed. Out of the many submissions they received this year, The Times published the five best essays (four were published in […]
Five Foolproof Tips for Conquering the Common Application Essay
The first time I successfully did a handstand in yoga class, it was unexpected and almost effortless. My legs kicked up, and then, as if being lifted by string, I was supporting my body with my arms. When we talk about strategies for tackling the college essay, I like to tell the story of […]
The Common Application’s 2017-18 Essay Prompts: What You Need To Know
Class of 2022 – it’s about that time. The first milestone in your college application journey has officially arrived. Today the Common Application released their 2017-18 essay prompts. This reveal comes with a heaping helping of good news, most of which relates to the fact that the prompts have not changed all that much from last […]
2017-18 College Application Calendar for Juniors
High school juniors…it’s your turn up at bat. 2017 will be the year you reach an extremely important milestone – applying to college, which of course means writing your college essay. AHHH! PANIC! Wait, no, don’t. Because if you’re reading this post, then you’re already WAY ahead! We here at CEA say that the most […]
College Application Celebration
Let us be the first to say it. CONGRATULATIONS! You made it through the 2016 college application season. With most major deadlines approaching in just a few days, finally you can breathe. All the stress releases with the click of the “submit” button. Today, we’re here to tell you that it’s your time to sit […]
4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Submit Your College Applications
The day has come… almost. Regular decision deadlines are just a few weeks away, and soon it will be time to kiss those admissions essays goodbye and send them off into the wide world. They grow up so fast. After spending so many hours laboring over each individual application, it can be hard to let […]
How to Write an Oddball Essay | College Application Guide
The Oddball Essay is a supplemental essay type that mines for information about not only who you are, but also how you think. Colleges are interested in the way your mind works so they can determine if you’d be a good fit for their campus community. Are you easily led down a rabbit hole of […]
How to Write a Compelling Community Essay | College Application Guide
The Community Essay is a standard supplemental essay type that mines for information about your social habits and favorite causes. Since you will become a member of whichever college community you choose to attend, it’s not surprising that admissions is curious to learn more about the communities you are already a part of and the […]
How to Write a Compelling Extracurricular Activity Essay | College Essay Advisors
Admissions knows you lead a busy life, both in and out of school, and this standard supplemental essay type is an opportunity to elaborate on your most meaningful or prolonged extracurricular involvement. Colleges have the expectation that you will be an active contributor on campus, and your past participation is a window into your future […]
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