by j9robinson | Mar 21, 2015
To welcome in spring, I’m offering my inspiring collection of sample college application essays free to all teachers now through the end of this month (April). In recent years, I’ve had English teachers from all over the country contact me about my...
by j9robinson | Nov 20, 2014
My friend, Lynn O’Shaughnessy, who is a national expert on helping families afford higher education, interviewed me recently about how to write standout college application essays. If you are struggling to figure out how to pay for your college or university,...
by j9robinson | Aug 14, 2014
Oops. Not again! We are talking about supplements for college application essays. Not vitamin supplements. Geez! Even though supplemental essays usually are short—usually a paragraph or two—many students are stumped on how to structure them. Or on just how...
by j9robinson | Jul 6, 2014
Parke Muth, a veteran college admissions counselor and writer from Virginia, interviewed me recently about my opinions and advice regarding college application essays. I thought I would share the interview, which he featured on his own highly informative blog. ...
by j9robinson | Nov 3, 2013
UPDATE: The University of California announced NEW essay prompts for 2016-17. Read about how to answer them HERE. The following content in this post is no longer relevant and is outdated! About three years ago, I wrote a post to try to help students applying to the...
by j9robinson | Oct 30, 2012
College Admissions Essays: Samples Samples of College Admissions Essays and Personal Statements– and Why They Can Help You Write Yours!! I always tell my students that one of the best ways to find great topic ideas is to read the essays of other...
by j9robinson | Oct 27, 2012
College Admissions Essays: Five Tips for the Perfect Topic Still looking for a college application essay topic that will set you apart from the pack? Here are my Top Five Tips on finding compelling and memorable topics: 1. Start with a defining...
by j9robinson | May 27, 2010
I have mentioned these titles before, but these are my three favorites: There are a jillion of these how-to books on the market, and all have helpful things to say. However, the advice in these books is spot-on, and they include helpful sample essays and are...
by j9robinson | Mar 12, 2009
Mark Twain, one of the best prose stylists ever ever ever, wrote, “As to the Adjective: when in doubt, strike it out.” When we are writing narratives and striving for “descriptive” prose, many of us reach for those juicy adjectives....
by j9robinson | Jul 28, 2022
Are you stuck in Essay Hell yet? The season is upon us. Woot woot! Finding a great topic can be challenging. And then turning that into a written piece that sets you apart from other college applicants, and reveals your unique personality and character, even harder....
