Blog
YBCE In The News
With SCOTUS recently gutting affirmative action in college admissions, everyone (most importantly, the applicants) are trying to determine what they can and should write about in their essays. Inside Higher Ed interviewed me about my thoughts on the topic. You can...
2023-2024 Harvard Supplement Essays
Harvard has their essays out – same as last year. Honestly, Harvard, time to revamp these. The 150 word extracurricular, and the 150 optional intellectual life are back. Don’t feel like you have to answer the optional essay just to fill a box. You really should have...
2023-2024 Dartmouth Supplement Essays
The new Dartmouth prompts are out, very similar to last year's but there are some new ones, and they’ve grouped the short answers. “…nerdy side,” is a surprise. They’ll see a lot of tech, so find something else that’s nerdy. The Kermit the Frog quote could be fun, a...
2023-2024 Yale Supplement
The new Yale supplement is out. And once again, Yale has only made meh prompts even more so. Instead of just teaching a course, you can write a book or create apiece of art. I guess that's more choice. Significant influence? These questions always become a love letter...
2023-2024 UC PIQs: A Guide for College Applicants
As the academic year comes full circle, the University of California (UC) application season is again upon us, bringing the annual challenge of crafting compelling Personal Insight Question (PIQ) responses. These six prompts stand as the heart of the application,...
2023-2024 UChicago Essay Prompts
If you aren't familiar with the UChicago essay prompts, you are really missing out. While many schools go the simple "Why" essay route, Chicago marches to its own drummer. As a college essay consultant, I love these essays so much. They are fun, challenging, and make...
College Essay Q&A
Q: What makes for a good college essay advisor? A: Someone who asks a lot of questions, waits for good answers that will make the basis for a solid college essays. Also, one who has a proven track record working with hundreds of applicants who have been accepted to...
2023-2024 UPenn Writing Supplememnt
Prompt 1: Write a short thank-you note to someone you have not yet thanked and would like to acknowledge. (We encourage you to share this note with that person, if possible, and reflect on the experience!) (150-200 words) Be clever here. Choose someone wisely. Please,...
2023-2024 Common Application Essay Prompts
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...
College Essay Q & A
Q: How do I know when to start writing my essay? A: Only after you have put so much thought into what you want to say, and have identified a story from your life you just can't stop thinking about, are you ready to start writing.