Resources & Tips


CEA Blog
How to Create a Winning Activity Resume (for College Applications!)
Many schools will ask you for an “activity resume,” and the Coalition and Common Application have separate sections specifically for activities and extracurriculars, so it’s really easy to overthink this piece of the application. If you’ve never written a resume before, getting started can be incredibly daunting, but don’t worry — CEA is here to […]
How to Decide Which College or University to Attend (Amid the COVID-19 Crisis)
Deciding where you want to spend the next four years of your life is always a difficult decision, but this year, choosing a college or university at which to study is especially complicated in light of recent events. CEA’s Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to help you make your decision.
Unpopular Opinion: What to do When You’re Waitlisted
In this video, CEA’s Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, offers her (unpopular) opinion as to what students should do when waitlisted at their top college or university.
How to Get Off the Waitlist (at your Dream School)!
Waiting is tough, and it can feel like forever when it comes to college admissions. If you were waitlisted, don’t panic; you are not alone. The good news is that you can do something about it. CEA’s Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know about getting […]
Is your College Essay Cliché?
Applicants often choose to write about cliché subjects because they THINK the resulting essays present the kinds stories admissions officers want to read. To the contrary, jumping on an essay cliché bandwagon can make it nearly impossible for an admissions officer to distinguish you from your closest competition. In this video, CEA’s Founder and Chief […]
How to Write a Great Transfer Essay
The transfer essay presents new hurdles that differ from those of the standard freshman personal statement. There are three key steps you must take to master the transfer essay. Luckily for you, CEA’s Founder and Chief Advisor, Stacey Brook, is here to tell you everything you need to know in order to write a fantastic […]
Final Tips for Improving Your College Essay Draft
This is the expert advice we give to our one-on-one advising clients on how they can find ways to reword and restructure their essays into polished, final drafts worthy of an admissions officer’s careful read-through. Don’t submit an essay that you haven’t edited, revised, and polished!
Successful College Essay Examples: The Nature Painter
Many students find it helpful to familiarize themselves with successful college essays to better understand what it looks like (or sounds like) when it’s done right. There are so many different ways to write a great college essay, so don’t feel confined to any formula, structure, approach, or tone. In this essay, our student showcases […]
The Expert’s Guide to Finding Sneaky Supplemental Essays
There’s probably a section of the Common Application that says “Writing”, in which all of the supplemental essays live, right? WRONG! Supplements can be found in a variety of places and can sneak up on students who have spent months preparing to submit their applications. Don’t let that be you! This video will detail the […]
How to Write a Unique College Essay About a Grandparent
So you just can’t shake the voice in your head telling you to write your college admissions essay about your grandma. We get it, grandparents are awesome! They know so much about you! And you’ve gained so much wisdom from your relationship with them! Writing a great personal statement or supplemental essay about them, however, […]