Resources & Tips
CEA Blog
Why It’s in Your Best Interest to Write Your Common App Essay Before Your UC Essays
For students who hope to submit applications to a range of colleges, including the UCs, we always recommend writing your Common App 650-word personal statement before your UC personal insight essays. (And for good reason!) Here’s why: 1) The Common App Prompts are Confirmed First The Common Application prompts are usually confirmed in January or […]
Everything You Need to Know About the Common App’s Brand New “Context & Background” Section
The Common Application is live for the 2022-23 application season, which means students can begin submitting their applications right now! Students who made their Common App accounts and began exploring the platform prior to August 1, 2022 may have noticed that there’s a new section this year that some schools are opting to include in […]
Breaking News: UGA Is Now On the Common App!
Calling all prospective Bulldogs: we’ve got good news for you. On May 7, the University of Georgia announced that they will now officially accept the Common Application!! This is fantastic news for prospective freshmen, who will likely save valuable time when applying (which means more time to watch The Great British Baking Show). UGA announced […]
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 […]
The Best Way to Proofread a College Essay
If you have happened across this article, then congratulations! You’ve finished a draft of your college essay! Now is the time to make sure your essay is fit for submission. To initiate the proofreading process, put your detective hat on. It’s time to search the dark corners of your essay for mistakes. Errors are your […]
How To Approach The College Essay as a STEM Student
So you’re not about to declare a Creative Writing major and your dream has never been to win a Pulitzer prize. The words don’t come naturally to you and you have trouble transforming your ideas into eloquent sentences. You might find yourself working harder in English and relaxing in Math and Computer Programming classes (in […]
Your Guide to the Most Frequently Asked Questions About College Essays
There is a ton of information that high school juniors and seniors have to absorb as they begin their college admissions journey. Understandably, many students (and parents!) have a lot of questions. We are in the business of alleviating the stress and pressure long associated with the college application process, so we’ve compiled a list […]
How to Use the College Essay to Your Advantage
So, you are settling into your comfy desk chair and cracking your knuckles, ready to start writing. You take a drink of water, open Microsoft Word and stare at the blinking cursor. You suddenly realize: you have no idea what you’re supposed to be accomplishing with this essay. Don’t worry, we are here to save […]
The Origins of The Common Application
A long time ago (back when applicants had to – GASP! – hand-write their applications) in a land far, far away (upstate New York), some fine academic institutions decided to take pity on the cramping hands of college applicants by creating a standardized form to help students streamline the application process. This great work of […]
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