Writing a College Application Essay

By letting what you think “they want” dictate the contents of your essay, your writing can wind up feeling self-conscious and manipulative.
The 2018-19 Common Application Essay Prompts: How to Write Essay #5

Learn more about writing Common Application Essay Prompt #5
The 2018-2019 Common Application Essay Prompts #1
Common Application Essay Prompt #1 can be the inspiration for an effective application essay.
A College Application Essay Tutor Reflects
During the ten years I’ve been a college application essay tutor, I have always focused my blogs on practical ways students could improve their essays, and their writing in general. I have written about how to start an essay, end it, deal with the word count, describe feelings rather than events, and much more. (https://collegeessaysolutions.com/how-to-make-your-college-application-essay-the-best-writing-youve-ever-done-1-of-25/) […]
THE “#BLACKLIVESMATTER” STANFORD APPLICATION ESSAY

#BlackLivesMatter One Hundred Times For many years, one of Stanford University’s (www.Stanford.edu) college application essay prompts has been, “What matters to you, and why?” It’s a wonderful essay topic and has often been answered with passion and creativity. This past year, a student responded to the prompt by writing “#BlackLivesMatter” (www.blacklivesmatter.com) one hundred times. That […]
Don’t Get Hacky – Keep Your Standards High!

Don’t Get Hacky – Keep Your Standards High What does writing your college application essay and writing an episode of Full House have in common? Well, frankly, not that much, unless you count the caffeine intake. Having spent a good deal of time in television “writers room,” however, I’ll share with you a writers’ expression you […]
Avoid the Last Minute Essay Writing Panic

Welcome, students and parents. Please come in and lie down on the couch. I assure you, everything is going to be all right. October 1 is almost here and, students, you have not yet written your college application essays. You’ve entered the last minute essay writing phase of applying for college. Many of your friends have […]
Short Paragraphs Make the Best College Application Essay Format

Choosing the best college application essay format As you write your college application essay, pay attention to formatting! Don’t forget: your audience is human! So, use specific techniques like using short paragraphs and making your essay look inviting to keep your reader happy! Your College Application Essay “Audience” When writing the college application essay, students usually […]
Essay Dialogues #4: A High School Senior Meets With the School’s College Counselor
RANCE, a high school senior, meets with his school’s college counselor, MS. LEWIS. MS. LEWIS: Hi, Rance, how are you doing with your Common Application essay? RANCE: Solid. Making progress. MS. LEWIS: Can I read your first draft? RANCE: Sure, here you go. (Rance hands Ms. Lewis a sheet of paper.) MS. LEWIS: Uhm, this […]
HOW TO MAKE YOUR COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY THE BEST WRITING YOU’VE EVER DONE (#16 of 25)
Number sixteen of my twenty five ways to make your college admissions essay the best writing you’ve ever done is good advice for life, as well as your application. #16. Be honest. Several years ago I worked with a student who told me he and his high school basketball team helped a family rebuild their […]