College essay tips and college admission essay advice
Short, honest advice for the part of the application you actually control. Written for students, and for the parents and guardians quietly reading over their shoulders.
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College Essay Templates for Every University: Common App, UC, Supplements and More
Free fill-in college essay templates for every application type, from the Common App personal essay to University of California Personal Insight Questions and "Why this college?" supplements.
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How to Write a College Essay Step by Step: A 10-Step Guide for 2026-27
The whole college admission essay process in ten plain steps, from checking requirements to the final proofread, with a realistic four-week timeline.
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Can You Use AI (Artificial Intelligence) to Write Your College Essay? What Admissions Readers Notice
What admissions readers notice, where artificial intelligence tools actually help, and the one line you shouldn't cross with your college essay.
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How to Start a College Essay: 5 Steps to Write Your College Admission Essay
Forget the perfect opening line. A practical way to find your college essay topic and write a first paragraph that sounds like you.
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Common App Essay Prompts: How to Choose the Right One for Your College Essay
How to pick between the Common Application personal essay prompts without overthinking it, plus the question to ask before you commit to a topic.
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How to Write the "Why This College?" Essay (With an Example)
The supplemental essay most students rush. How to research, what to leave out, and how to make a short answer sound specific to you and the school.
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7 College Essay Mistakes to Avoid (and How to Fix Them)
The habits that flatten good college essays, from the thesaurus voice to the tidy moral at the end, and what to do instead.
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UC (University of California) Personal Insight Questions: Tips for Choosing and Answering Your Four
How the four University of California Personal Insight Questions differ from a Common App essay, how to choose yours, and how to use 350 words well.