Essay Guide: Our Best Advice for the Most Common Essay Prompts
Essays are where a student’s voice, values, and personality come to life. Discover proven ways to structure, refine, and elevate every draft from idea to submission!
Our tips will help families understand the importance of college essays, how to approach writing, and what makes college essays noticeable to admissions officers!
Expert guidance you can trust Written by veteran college counselors and former admissions officers, plus real examples and checklists that make the process clear, authentic, and purposeful.
Four foundational essay tips The core tips that lift any essay, with guidance on finding your voice, choosing the right story, what admissions officers look for, common mistakes to avoid, and quick-start structures to move from idea to polished draft.
Reusable playbooks for the most common prompts Strategies for “Why Us,” “Why Major,” activity, and community essays, along with UC PIQs.
Targeted school strategies to show real fit School-specific guidance for Stanford, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Cornell, George Washington, and American, plus thoughtful advice for faith-based prompts.
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