How to Find a Killer Topic

  The first step to writing a winning college application essay is to find that perfect topic. This is the most important step, and often the hardest. Once you land on one, you are ready to roll. Things fall in place. You map out a simple outline, sit down and...

How to Write a College Application Essay: In 3 Easy Steps

  After working with thousands of students from all over the world on writing the dreaded college application essay for the last eight years, I’ve finally been able to boil down the process to three simple steps. Yes, just three steps. If you follow these...

Waving the Red Flag on College Application Essays

  Last week, a new student came to my home for help on his college application essays. I asked this eager senior about his target schools. He told me Stanford was his top pick, but he was applying to most of the ivies, along with a couple UCs (Cal and UCLA). Then...

Should You Write About Your Job?

  Colleges Encourage Students to Write About $ and Work in College Application Essays   The New York Times today published the seven college application essays it liked the best for its contest about writing on the topic of money. Most of the winners wrote...

Essay Hell’s 2015 Spring Webinar Series

  Not many images are more daunting than a blank page. The horror! But starting next month (March), I’m launching a weekly Webinar series to assist more students and families with starting their college application essays. I write this blog, peddle my three...

Think Your Topic is Too Broad? It Probably Is…

 How to Focus Your College Application Essay! I love all the comments students make about my posts. The most common ones ask about topics for the Common App or other core college application essays, including the University of California prompts. Students want to know...