Here you'll learn strategies for writing stellar college admissions essays, and you'll find critiques of sample essays.
Common App Short Answer -- Doug writes about a lawn-mowing business he founded for his response to the short answer question on the Common Application. Doug's response if followed by a critique.
What is the ideal short answer length on the Common Application? The instructions state that the essay should be no more than 150 words long, but is this the ideal short answer length?
This list helps you learn the ins and outs of each of the personal essay options the Common Application.
A bad essay topic can have disastrous results when applying to a selective college. Avoid these ten topics...
To make sure your short answer shines, steer clear of these five common problems.
The Common App instructions state that the essay should be no more than 150 words long, but is this the ideal short answer length?
Gwen writes about soccer for the short answer section of the Common Application, but her essay has several problems.
This article presents a sample short answer essay (and critique) on running written for the Common Application.
College admissions officers see the five mistakes describe here all too frequently...
Supplemental College Essay - This sample supplemental college essay for admissions was written for Oberlin College. The essay provides a strong example of a short and effective essay. Here you can read the supplemental college essay and a discussion of its strengths.
Sample Supplemental Essay - This sample supplemental essay for college admissions shows a good example of a short and effective essay. Here you can read the supplemental essay and a discussion of its strengths.
An essay about an ethical dilemma
This sample college admissions personal essay - Give Goth a Chance - was written for the Common Application essay option 5. Here you'll find the essay and a critique of the essay.
This sample supplemental essay for Duke University's application makes many common mistakes. Read the essay and a discussion of its problems.
This sample college admissions essay tackles personal essay option number three of the common application--writing about an influential person.
This sample application essay talks about Lisa Simpson and vegetarianism. Felicity wrote the essay for the Common Application.
Read Lora's essay, a critique of the essay, and the results of her college search.
Before responding to the first essay option on the common application, be sure to consider these 5 tips.
5 tips for an essay on an issue and its importance to you
6 tips for an essay on an influential person
7 tips for an essay on a fictional character, historical figure or creative work
5 tips for an essay on diversity
4 tips for an essay on a topic of your choice
A sample college admission essay written for the Common Application by a student applying to several highly selective colleges. Here you'll find the essay, a critique of the essay, and the results of the student's college application process.
Nearly every college rates the essay as either important or very important in their admissions process. A poorly executed essay can cause a stellar student to get rejected, while an exceptional essay can help a student with marginal scores get accepted. These tips will help you avoid some of the pitfalls of the admissions essay.
High school senior Courtney Duffy chose an unusual focus for her admissions essay: milk. Note how her essay carefully navigates the thin line between being serious and ridiculous. The essay is certainly unusual, but we learn enough about Courtney's passions and interests to prevent the essay from seeming flippant or superficial. Courtney got into her first-choice college: Trinity in Connecticut.
Some advice on choosing a topic for your college admissions essay.
