Resources & Tips


CEA Blog
Brainstorming Quick Tip: Get By With A Little Help From Your Friends
Your parents have raised you since you were a wee pup, but do they know every single thing there is to know about you? (Of course you do, mom and dad — we’re just kidding.) Still, so much of your adolescence has been spent in the presence of your peers, that it would be negligent […]
Facts about MIT, Princeton University, and USC
We’ve updated our handy dandy supplemental essay guide with prompt breakdowns for MIT, Princeton University, and USC. But before you familiarize yourself with our prompt breakdowns, you should get a little more acquainted with the schools you’re considering dedicating your life to for the next four years! After all, four years is equivalent to 20% of […]
Where to Find Sneaky Supplements
It’s a jungle out there, but we don’t need to tell you that. You’ve been scouring websites clicking on words like “Requirements”, “Apply”, and “Unicorns” (oh wait, no, that was us) trying to see if your dream schools require supplements. It’s exhausting, but you’re not the only one out here looking out for lions, tigers, […]
How to Use Your Memories to Find the Perfect Essay Topic
So you’re working on your college applications and just can’t seem to come up with a good topic for your essay! You hate all of your ideas and you know a good topic is the foundation for a fantastic essay! Don’t panic! Your predicament is quite normal and you’re one of many students sweating your […]
The Harvard University Optional Essay: What You Need to Know
If you’re hoping to attend Harvard next year at this time, there are a few things you should know before pressing send on your application. They are as follows: Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 96% of students graduate within six years. Harvard is a medium-sized school with 6,712 total undergrads. The early action deadline […]
We Have New Guides for the NYU, Columbia, and University of California Essays!
Hello essay rockstars! We have published new guides to help you navigate the tricky prompts brought to you by the 2017-18 college application season gremlins. Although some prompts can seem straightforward, it’s important to always keep your audience (admissions officers!) in mind. The supplemental prompt for NYU fits the model of a standard Why Essay, […]
Real College Essay Examples: Johns Hopkins
Getting your college essay right is incredibly important, but you already know that or you wouldn’t be here. We have compiled a list of our favorite college essays that earned students admission to Johns Hopkins University. We think it’s best to jot down your own ideas before clouding your mind with the ideas of others, […]
What It’s Like to be a College Admissions Officer
Imagine you’re a college admissions officer. You’re pumped to dive into your pile of new applicants. You’re jazzed to see what the students of 2017 have to bring to your academic community. You’re responsible for viewing over 1,000 applications per season! This means 40 applications a day and 8.5 an hour! This gives you about […]
Follow this Timeline to Write a Winning College Essay
More goes into an essay than brainstorming, writing, and revising. You have to make sure you’re advancing through the process at the right speed. But how much time should you dedicate to each phase of the process?! Don’t worry, we have answers! Follow this timeline to keep yourself in check and ensure that when all […]
Do These 3 Things to Maintain Your Sanity and Write an Awesome Essay
Regardless of when you decide to write, whether it is three months or three days before the deadline, it can be easy to fall ill to college essay fever. Fortunately, we have helpful tips to share for maintaining your sanity! They may seem basic, but they can be easy to forget. Hydrate. […]