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Kevin McMullin

Kevin McMullin is the founder and Head of Talent at Collegewise. He is the author of If the U Fits: Expert Advice on Finding the Right College and Getting Accepted and pens at least one entry every day here on his blog. Kevin is a graduate of UC Irvine with majors in English and history (where he answered, “What will you do with those majors?” approximately 783 times), and he has a college counseling certificate from UCLA.

College Admissions

Soul helps you stand out
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By Kevin McMullin
March 27, 2025 | 3 minute read

One of the best ways to stand out in college admissions is to put some soul into your activities.

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College Admissions

Why ChatGPT is the new Facebook in college admissions
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By Kevin McMullin
March 10, 2025 | 4 minute read

For a period of several years in the mid-2000’s when Facebook grabbed hold of the high school audience, I heard the same question from at least one student or parent at every college...

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College Essays

Common App Essay Topic Prompts
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By Kevin McMullin
March 3, 2025 | 6 minute read

Let change be your guide. Every college applicant has a story worth sharing. And the Common App’s 2025-2026 essay promptsoffer seven different options to share yours. But that variety of...

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College Essays

5 College Essay Examples & What to Avoid
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By Kevin McMullin
January 23, 2025 | 7 minute read

College essays need to start strong. They’re competing for an admissions officer’s attention, and you don’t want to lose your reader before your story ever really gets going. Here are five...

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Life Advice for Teens

Engaged Without Worry
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By Kevin McMullin
December 15, 2021 | 2 minute read

It would be easy, particularly for a new reader to this blog, to get the sense that I’m encouraging kids to be less engaged with their college planning.

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College Applications Life Advice for Teens

Skirt This Law
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By Kevin McMullin
December 8, 2021 | 2 minute read

Parkinson’s Lawstates: “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” For students with college applications that still need to be completed over the winter break, I...

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