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CEA Blog

Guide to the 2016-17 Coalition Application Essay Prompts

Topic: College Admissions, Essay Tips, Most Popular  |  Posted on April 25th, 2016  |  Written by Stacey Brook

There is an upheaval in the world of college admissions. At least that’s what the members of the newly-formed Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success would have us believe as they prepare to launch a new mass application platform this summer. Since the announcement that over 80 elite colleges would be banding together to challenge […]

4 Strategies for Getting Yourself off the Waiting List and into Your Dream School

Topic: College Admissions  |  Posted on April 7th, 2016  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

The unimaginable has occurred. You have been waitlisted at the school of your dreams. Even Frank Bruni’s lighthearted jibes about plunging Ivy League admission rates don’t soften the blow of Yale and Harvard’s record low acceptances this year. The class of 2020 at each of these esteemed institutions comprises just slightly more than 5% of […]

Bragging Writes College Essay Contest 2016

Topic: College Admissions, Essay Tips, International Students  |  Posted on March 28th, 2016  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

Congratulations to the future class of 2020! Acceptances are starting to roll in and we couldn’t be more excited for you, or prouder to have been a part of your journey. As one final hurrah, we’re holding a college essay contest to honor this year’s best essays. So, submit your winning application essay to the […]

3 Essential Books for Writing the Personal Statement

Topic: Essay Tips  |  Posted on March 10th, 2016  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

While it’s important to recharge your batteries over the weekend and during school breaks, these rest periods also present great opportunities for you to start visiting colleges and learning more about the admissions process in general. That’s why we’ve handpicked three eye-opening books that you could easily read over a long weekend or break. They […]

How To Manage All of Your Last-Minute College Essays

Topic: College Admissions, Essay Tips, Most Popular  |  Posted on December 3rd, 2015  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

Tis the season to open your calendar and transform into Ralphie during this pivotal moment of A Christmas Story: We’re about to hit the last week of December and many deadlines are only days away. If you still have supplemental essays left to write, before you let yourself become too overwhelmed by guilt, stress, and the […]

Writerly Nerds of Wisdom: Isaac Asimov

Topic: Essay Tips  |  Posted on August 28th, 2015  |  Written by CEA HQ

“Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers.” — Isaac Asimov

The 3 Most Common College Essay Topic Clichés and How to Cure Them

Topic: College Admissions, Essay Tips  |  Posted on August 27th, 2015  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

The average admissions officer reviews over 1,000 applications per admissions cycle, enduring a host of hackneyed college essay topics and combatting the urge to groan at the cliched treatment of usual-suspect topics that reveal little to no information about the student at hand. Applicants often choose to write about these subjects because they THINK the […]

5 Ways Your Phone Can Help You Write Your College Essay

Topic: Essay Tips  |  Posted on July 28th, 2015  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

We know. Your phone is basically magic. You can connect with your friends instantly! You can order 500 pizzas! And Snapchats – WHERE DO THEY GO?! But we bet you didn’t know that your phone – smart or standard – has a number of basic features that can make a world of difference to your […]

Personal Essay Spotlight: David Sedaris

Topic: College Admissions, Essay Tips  |  Posted on May 8th, 2015  |  Written by Thea Hogarth

Hooray! It’s another installation of “Personal Essay Spotlight” in which we help you master the art of the personal essay by harnessing the techniques of the greats. This week, we’re tackling another common challenge (that will come up again and again): Seeing the big picture. At College Essay Advisors, we love discovering the details that […]

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