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Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be...

It's a special thrill when I get to work with kids who are writers. They bring unique insights into the essay process, they love to brainstorm, and they want to own every single word. Such was the case with David, a NYC-based private school senior. David was a writer...

Tyler came to me late in the admissions season. He had written an essay which no one - his family, his guidance counselor, even Tyler himself - liked very much. Tyler was a recruited baseball player who had loads of interest from D1 schools. He had the grades, he had...

This is another in a series of posts about some memorable applicants, their essays, and how we found them together. Alisha was a BA/BS-MD applicant from last year. Bright, funny, and very motivated to enter medicine, she was also quiet and introspective. Together, we...

This is another in a series of posts about some memorable applicants, their essays, and how we found them together. Mariana cold-called me late one night, a hint of desperation in her voice. She had tried for months to write her personal statement. Draft after draft,...

This is another in a series of posts about some memorable applicants, their essays, and how we found them together. Generally speaking, there are several topics applicants should avoid writing about in their personal statements. Politics for one. Religion is another....

The University of Notre Dame Writing Supplement consists of one (1) essay response to a required question and two (2) essay responses to questions you select from the options provided. In total, you will write three (3) essay responses. The recommended word count is...

In addition to the primary components of the Common Application and Coalition Application, applicants are asked to respond to Columbia-specific questions to tell the Admissions Committee more about their academic, extracurricular and intellectual interests. We review...

Describe when and how you became interested in art, design, writing, architecture, or the particular major to which you are applying. Describe how this interest has manifested itself in your daily life. The essay must be 250–500 words.

When the Common Application goes live August 1, 2019, applicants will be able to see the prompts for the personal essay requirement. The Common Application personal essay is sent to every college to which the applicant applies. To create an account, visit The Common...