College application essays matter. Now more than ever. And they will matter in the 2023-24 cycle. Now that “test-optional” and “test blind” (the entire University of California system) are the default for most of the country’s most selective institutions, applications have spiked. That means acceptance rates have plummeted, and the admissions landscape is more unpredictable Continue Reading »
You wrote your hearts out in your college app essays for Early Decision and Restricted Early Action apps. And this week is The Week. Yes, this is a true nail biter of a time for you, your families, and me! (No, it’s not all about me, but my work involves me in the lives of Continue Reading »
The University of Chicago essay prompts are famous — and infamous. No other college asks you to stretch your mind this way. And they’re a blast to read even if you have no intention of applying. This year’s UChicago essay prompts do not disappoint. For instance: Essay Option 2: What advice would a wisdom tooth Continue Reading »
Many forces are altering the college admissions landscape. Among the changes, HBCU applications are on the rise The nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities are experiencing a renaissance. Endowments are growing, and this June 11 New York Times article tells the story of a woman who just turned down Yale for Spelman: “Once the primary means Continue Reading »
Who doesn’t need help choosing colleges? Are you curious about the University of Chicago, Vanderbilt, Wesleyan, University of Delaware, and the Olin School of Engineering? If so, read on! The Coalition for College has an online panel discussion June 21 at 8pm Eastern. It’s called Inside College Admissions: How Decisions Are Made. Admissions officers will Continue Reading »
Call it a variant of long Covid: the drastic effect the pandemic will have on college admissions 2023, based on the last two college applications cycles. The upcoming cycle is likely to be much like the last two: crazy high application numbers, crazy low acceptance rates, and enough disappointment to power a small country. For Continue Reading »
I have it on good authority that 36% of admissions officers check social media pages when considering your college application, according to a 2020 survey by the Kaplan test company. And a full 65 percent of AOs think that checking an applicant’s social media feeds is a perfectly reasonable form of information gathering. What does this Continue Reading »
JFK’s college application essay to Harvard has been floating around the Internet for years, but his terrible high school grades have escaped my notice–till now. When I went looking for it tonight, I saw his entire application to Harvard–a photocopy that’s in the Kennedy Library archives. And I was surprised by what I discovered! There Continue Reading »
I bet Joan Didion’s college app essay to Stanford was pretty darn good. But it wasn’t enough to get her admitted to the Farm, as it’s known. I’ve known this story for most of my adult life. Joan Didion, one of the most influential writers of the late twentieth century — who meant the world Continue Reading »
Looking for college app essay help? I’ve got a confession to make: I love the Common App Essay prompts. As a coach for 18 years, I’ve seen the prompts evolve. Nine years ago they changed dramatically. Every year, the list is studied and analyzed by colleges and the Common App Organization. Fortunately, the consensus is Continue Reading »
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