Blog
Robert Schwartz And YBCE In The News
A few months ago, Business Insider did a profile of my writing career and my transition into the college essay admissions business. Here is the link, I hope you enjoy reading it....
College Essay Q&A: The Parent
I get questions all the time. Here’s a popular one I receive from a parent... Q: Are summer programs really worth it? A: Yes, and no. Here's the deal with summer programs...on an activities list, they look good. The applicant spent part of the summer on a college...
College Essay Q&A: The Applicant
I get questions all the time. Here’s a popular one I receive from applicants... Q: Do I really need to take the SAT/ACT and submit a good score? A: Yes! (Sorry) You do! Sure, schools are going test optional ((Harvard for another two years, UC test blind for the...
College Essay Q&A: The Applicant
I get questions all the time. Here’s a popular one I receive from applicant... Q: I am at the top of my class, my GPA is 4.2, my ACT score is 35, and I have awesome extra curriculars...why did I get denied by UPenn? A: Ugh. I get this question ALL THE TIME! And...
College Essay Q&A: The Applicant
I get questions all the time. Here’s a popular one I receive from applicant... Q: I think my personal statement story is a little mundane, but it's all I have. How can I make it stand out? A: Great question! Don't automatically refer to your essay as "mundane." Sure,...
College Essay Q&A: The Parent
I get questions all the time. Here’s a popular one I receive from parents... Q: What can we do to prepare for a "Why" essay? A: A few things...1) Visit the school for either and official or unofficial visit. Spend an entire day there, visit everything. Take notes. The...
College Essay Q&A: The Applicant
I get questions all the time. Here’s a popular one I receive from applicants... Q: I just got rejected by my Early Decision school. Should I rewrite my essay? A: Don't make any rush decisions. Take a deep breath. Look, you don't know if your essay hurt your chances,...
College Essay Q&A: The Parent
I get questions all the time. Here’s a popular one I receive from parents... Q: What makes one essay better than another? A: Great question! Complicated answer. Creating a college essay is a creative endeavor - not unlike painting a portrait or making a movie. What...
College Essay Q&A: The Applicant
I get questions all the time. Here’s a popular one I receive from applicants…. Q: When should I start writing my personal statement? A: Great question! Here's the answer: January is too early and July is too late. Let me explain. In January, you might not have the...
College Essay Q&A: The Applicant
I get questions all the time. Here’s a popular one I receive from applicants... Q: Is it okay if I write a funny essay? A: Not only is it okay, it is appreciated by AO who will love the break and the risk. Being funny in an essay is hard, you don't want it to sound...