Start Your College Application Essay: Brainstorm Guide

Find Your Problems and You Will Find Your Best Stories   Every year, I write a post for all you students who are ready to start your college application essay. All you need is to find that one magic topic idea. There are many ways to brainstorm ideas for college...

How Many Common Application Essays Should You Write?

Short Answer: ONE College Application Essay for The Common App   The Common Application comes out officially August 1. But they already announced the changes for this coming 2015-16 season. The most important were changes to the five essay prompts. (You can write...

How to Answer Common Application Prompt 4: Free Tutorial Video

  The folks at The Common Application added a new prompt this year and I love it. It asks you to write about a problem. What’s so great about a problem? Problems = Stories = Great Essays! This may be the only time having a juicy problem is a good thing. So take...

How To Find the Best Essay Help: Part One

If you landed on my Essay Hell blog, there’s a strong chance you are in search of help on writing your college application essay. Yes, that’s what I do, and I’m happy to help you. But I was thinking of how I would advise a student or parent who is...

Is Your Privilege Showing?

  College Application Essays Humility Goes a Long Way   Many of the students I work with are from privileged backgrounds. (Hey, it’s expensive to hire a tutor!) They live in affluent communities, go on extravagant vacations and enjoy pricey hobbies and...

How to Answer Prompt #1 of the New Common Application

College Admissions Essays: The Common App. Prompt #1  My Favorite  Out of the seven prompts you can chose from to write your application essay for The Common Application, I like the first one a lot. (UPDATE: As of 2017, you can now write about any topic you want. See...