Archive: July 2025

U Chicago Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Posted on July 10, 2025

UPDATE! U Chicago supplemental essay prompts never disappoint! The lastest are HERE. As always, they are quirky, wacky, mind-bending, a ton of fun–or “Not sure I want to apply to this college after all.”  And their publication is one of the highlights of the college app essay season for us college application essay nerds. There Continue Reading »

The Common App Essay Prompts are Terrific!

Posted on March 10, 2022

In this winter of so much change and unsettling news, the Common App essay prompts will stay the same — great news for students and families grappling with college admissions. That’s because they are such good sources of inspiration. These Common Application prompts consistently generate interesting personal statements from  students across the country and around Continue Reading »

A Great Common App Essay — Can You Write One?

Posted on July 28, 2021

You: “What makes a great Common App essay?” Me: “It’s wide open. Colleges want to know who you are. What drives you, makes you tick, gets you revved up.” Striving for the excellent Common App essay — or the Best Common App essay — has become a national pursuit. So when parents and students get Continue Reading »

You Can’t Write College Application Essays Unless You Know Where You’re Applying: Here’s Help

Posted on April 5, 2020

I don’t need to tell anyone reading this post that this is a spring for high school juniors unlike any other. Instead of being in school, you’re home, taking classes online. Instead of playing sports, maybe you’re playing ping pong with your siblings. Instead of visiting with your friends, you’re … well, wondering how long Continue Reading »

College and Medical School Acceptances from Don’t Sweat the Essay!

Posted on March 30, 2020

In these uncertain days of The Virus, every bit of good news is magnified by ten or maybe by 100. So I’m especially excited to share this year’s news from my clients about where they’ve been accepted. This year, clients got in early action/early decision to Harvard, MIT, Tufts, and Notre Dame, and regular decision Continue Reading »

Beware: Hidden Brown University Application Essay!!

Posted on August 17, 2018

For those applying to Brown, take note! The Writing Supplement section of the Common App lists 3 questions unique to Brown – one fewer than last year. HOWEVER, as you fill out the Common App for Brown and you answer all sorts of questions, and then you get to the ACTIVITIES section, there’s a surprise Continue Reading »