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CEA Blog

3 Ways High School Juniors (and Sophomores!) Should be Preparing for the College Essay

Topic: Admissions, Coalition Application, College Admissions, Uncategorized  |  Posted on January 29th, 2019  |  Written by Stacey Brook

This article was originally posted on USA Today. Yes, there is such a thing as writing your college essay too early. For over a decade, my students (and their parents) have heard me deliver this refrain, and it remains true as it ever was. At the sprightly age of 16 or 17, students are pulling […]

What It’s Like to be a College Admissions Officer

Topic: Admissions, College Admissions, Essay Resources  |  Posted on September 25th, 2017  |  Written by CEA HQ

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

Topic: Admissions, advice, Brainstorming, College Admissions, Essay Resources, Essay Writing, From The Founder, Tips  |  Posted on September 19th, 2017  |  Written by CEA HQ

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 […]

The University of California Essay Prompts 2017-18

Topic: advice, Brainstorming, College Admissions, College Spotlight, Essay Tips, Essay Writing  |  Posted on September 6th, 2017  |  Written by CEA HQ

All University of California schools require the same application – which is awesome for students who are interested in multiple campuses! The application doesn’t come without its downfalls, however. Students have to write four essays to be considered for admission. Since most students are also applying to other universities that accept the Coalition or Common […]

6 Tips to Make Brainstorming for the College Admissions Essay Enjoyable

Topic: advice, Brainstorming, College Admissions, Essay Tips, Essay Writing, Quick Tips, Tips  |  Posted on June 23rd, 2017  |  Written by Nina Bailey

It’s time to start brainstorming for your college essay! If you find the prospect of brainstorming to be far less fun than a.) sleeping outside b.) tattooing your tongue or c.) bathing in hot chili oil, don’t despair. We have six stellar suggestions for how to make brainstorming not only effective, but even (gasp!) fun: […]

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 […]