One applicant wrote his entire essay as a forensic analysis of the random items in his backpack. Gum wrappers, crumpled notes ...

(MoneyWatch) Writing the college essay can often be the most agonizing part of the college admission process. This all-important essay is supposed to convince admission officers, whom teenagers have ...

(CBS MoneyWatch) If your teenager is a high school senior, now is the time to get started on those college essays. Nearly all the schools that use the Common Application are private, and they include ...

Not only is the college essay a place to showcase writing skills, it's one of the only parts of a college application where a student's voice can shine through. Unlike test scores and transcripts, the ...

This article appears in College Prep 2019. Teachers know it, guidance counselors know it, even colleges know it: High school students dread writing the personal college essay. The pressure is high, ...

BOSTON, Sept. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As college application season kicks into gear, students are once again being warned to steer clear of the “life-changing service trip” essay—often seen as ...

Writing a college essay is a rite of passage for many students applying to attend a college or university in the United States. Although each institution has its own application requirements, most ...

What do colleges want to know about you? That’s a good place to start when you’re brainstorming your college essay. You know colleges don’t want you to tell your life story in 500 words. But, you keep ...