You’ve written your Common App essay, but it’s boring. You’ve added all the details you can think of; it still isn’t right, but you’re about to give up. Wait! There’s one more thing you can try: changing your story structure. Traditionally, a narrative is made up of six steps: Instead of a straightforward, chronological structure, …
Don’t want your college application essay to get in the way of enjoying your summer? Considering that the Common Application Essay prompts and Apply Texas prompts rarely change and the objectives are always the same, now is a great time to start! In our Narrative Roadmap post, we gave a few suggestions of how to …
When it comes to writing your supplemental essays, one of the most important—and most overlooked—steps comes before you begin typing a single word: Research, research, research. And then research some more. Unless you want to give the impression that you plucked a college off CommonApp at random, you should be prepared to invest a good …
Unexpected Ways to Use Social Media in Your Supplemental Essays Read More »
You’ve finished your narrative essay and pasted it into your Common App, but your application isn’t complete! Whether they’re under the “writing” tab or hiding under “additional information,” you still need to complete the shorter supplemental essays. Here are a few tips to take into account as you work through these college-specific essays. Do: be …
The nightmare: you’ve completed double-digit drafts of your narrative essay. You’ve revised so many times that you could recite all 650 words from memory. There’s a beginning, middle, and end; trusted readers have affirmed that it sufficiently captures your voice and spirit; there isn’t a typo or comma splice in sight. But still, something feels…off. …
Everybody knows about the Common App’s infamous Personal Narrative essay. You’ve probably also heard of the unique supplemental essays required by many colleges. But do you know where to find them? As we previously detailed in our Common App crash course, the narrative essay appears under the Common App tab, while the supplemental essays appear …
Surprise! 4 Places to Check for Hidden Essay Prompts in the Common App Read More »
When I ask students what they’re most nervous about in the college process, they overwhelmingly say, “The narrative essay.” Even though your Common App essay is only 650 words, it can cast a shadow over the entire application process. And yet! It has to be completed, one way or another. Here’s a roadmap to get …
Just 650 words, right. How hard could it possibly be? When it comes to the personal narrative essay, we like to say that (almost) anything is write-able. That being said, between plummeting college admissions rates and test-optional policies placing ever more emphasis on your essays, choosing a topic that will set you apart from the …
Three Clichés to Avoid in Your Common App Essay Read More »