by j9robinson | Apr 6, 2015
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...
by j9robinson | Apr 1, 2015
How to Answer Prompt 4 for the Common App for your College Application Essay Prompt 4: Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is...
by j9robinson | Mar 31, 2015
The Five Prompts to Write your College Application Essay for The Common Application (Same prompts for 2016-17!) The folks at the Common Application announced the five essay prompts students will choose from to write their core essay for the coming college...
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 | Mar 13, 2015
Columist Frank Bruni of the New York Times just published one of the most timely and convincing articles today on the issue of students vying for the most elite colleges—often at the expense of their sense of self-worth. It’s a dangerous trend, and...
by j9robinson | Mar 10, 2015
A good selfie can define and shape your personal image that you blast out to the world. The same goes with your college application essay. Both selfies and personal statement essays are supposed to capture your essence on some level, and reveal what makes you...
by j9robinson | 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...
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 | Nov 18, 2014
This hilarious video is making the rounds on the Internet (my niece’s husband shared it with me on Facebook) just in time for many college application essay deadlines. It’s funny because the outrageous statements made by students are painfully true. A...
by j9robinson | Nov 11, 2014
UPDATE: as of March 23, 2016 The University of California announced NEW essay prompts for 2016-17. Read about how to answer them HERE. This post is now outdated. The information is no longer relevant!! If you are working on your two college application essays...
