Should You Write About Your Job?

by | May 21, 2015

  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...

“If you want to ‘show’ something, ask, ‘Can you prove it with an example?'”

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5 Reasons to Write Your Own College App Essay

by | Feb 22, 2015

  With all the hype and pressure surrounding college admissions, I don’t blame students and parents for looking for shortcuts or anything that can give them an edge in the selection process. While I believe students should take the helm of figuring out...

Essay Hell’s 2015 Spring Webinar Series

by | Feb 13, 2015

  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…

by | Nov 8, 2014

 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...

Essay Hell’s Top 10 Tips

by | Oct 25, 2014

  Feeling a Bit Underwater About Your College Application Essay? It’s that time of year. Most “early decision” deadlines are counting down by the day, and other major deadlines aren’t far behind. Stay calm. Read my blog. Target your essay...
Essay Hell Tips Shared in USA Today Article!

Essay Hell Tips Shared in USA Today Article!

by | Oct 24, 2014

 Photo via USA Today and iStock My Essay Advice in USA Today Article! A young reporter from USA Today interviewed me the other day to collect some of my tips on writing college application essays. She included advice from other top college experts as well. If...

Great Student; Not a Great Essay

by | Oct 20, 2014

I’ve been meaning to write about the hubbub around the high school student who got accepted into all eight Ivy League schools last April. It was an amazing and well-deserved accomplishment for Kwasi Enin, a 17-year-old from Long Island, New York. Because of his...
5 Reasons College App Essays Don’t Suck

5 Reasons College App Essays Don’t Suck

by | Sep 8, 2014

If you are struggling with your college application essay right about now, you might be cursing the entire process. And I don’t blame you. You’re supposed to think up some fascinating topic that will grab the attention of those bored-to-tears admissions...

The Prospect Cooks Up Delicious Essay Recipes!

by | Aug 26, 2014

If you’ve been looking for help with your college application essay, I assume you have discovered the mountains of information (some helpful; a lot no so much) out there on the Web. One of my favorite resources for students is The Prospect, which is an...