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How to Write a Standout Impact Essay | College Essay Advisors
The Impact Essay is a supplemental essay type that mines for information about your involvement in a community and how you have created lasting positive change—both within that community and yourself. It is an opportunity to talk about past contributions as well as future goals, which can be an insightful window into your values, priorities, […]
How To Write Diversity Supplemental Essays When You Feel Like You Don’t Have a Story to Tell
The diversity-focused supplemental essay has been gaining traction on college applications for years. These prompts allow admissions to get a sense of a student’s background, culture, and values. They often provide meaningful context for a student’s resume, transcript, and other application materials. And, as of the 2023 Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action, they serve […]
How the Coronavirus Pandemic is Impacting College Admissions: Our Founder Weighs In
Whether you’re deciding where to attend college next fall via virtual tours, or diving into the daunting task of starting your college admissions essay, the past few weeks have felt overwhelming and uncertain — to say the least. As the nation grapples with the impacts of a global pandemic, there are several ways for juniors […]
What Can You Accomplish in the Common Application Essay?
There are a few things you should be specifically aiming for in your college essay, and all of them are easy enough to accomplish: Make Yourself Memorable: In advertising, the idea of making yourself memorable is called “branding.” Celebrities often call it “star power.” What it really boils down to is finding something about yourself, […]
Where Does the Essay Fit into the Overall College Application?
While the essay is a potent piece of the puzzle, it is important to remember that it is but one of the crucial components of your college application. There is also the transcript, which is undeniably one of the most important factors in an admissions officer’s assessment of any applicant. Even this pretty straightforward index […]
3 Ways High School Juniors (and Sophomores!) Should be Preparing for the College Essay
Are you a high school junior or sophomore looking to get a jumpstart on your college admissions essay? You’re in the right place. Read on to find out more about this crucial piece of the college application puzzle and how you can set yourself up for success. Can you start your college essay too early? […]
Write about these 3 things in your college essay (even if you think you shouldn’t)
This article was originally published in USA Today. Every year, as my team at College Essay Advisors (CEA) begins to brainstorm essay topics with our students, the same refrain always emerges: “I read that I shouldn’t write about this” or “My teacher said I shouldn’t write about that.” What subjects are actually taboo in a college essay? […]
The Key to Writing a Great Essay About a Grandparent
So you are settling into your desk chair and flexing your fingers, ready to dive headfirst into your essay and you just can’t shake the voice in your head telling you to write your essay about your grandparent. We get it, grandparents are awesome! They know so much about you! And you’ve gained so much […]
How to Start Your College Admissions Essay
It’s a classic story of student-visits-campus, and it goes like this. First, student visits campus (duh). Then, student notices campus’ uncanny likeness to a wizarding school that shall-not-be-named. Student declares undying love for campus. Student decides to apply Early Decision because student is All In™. But then student realizes it’s only July. The deadline is […]
How to Write a College Essay When You Have Learning Differences
You sit down to start writing your college admissions essay. Maybe you wonder whether you should write about your learning differences. Perhaps you have dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, APD, LPD, ASD, and/or ADHD. Whatever the case may be, we bet your learning differences have played a big role in your education, and maybe even your life […]
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