University of California
Ethan Sawyer
How to Write the UC Essay Prompts 2025/2026 (+ ...

This guide covers how to write the UC essay prompts (or PIQs) with exercises and essay examples to help you along the way.

Common App, Student Resources
Ethan Sawyer
How to Write a Successful Common App Activities ...

Write an impressive college activities list for your common app using this step-by-step guide and awesome activities list for college applications example, with notes on how to select the right verbs and to decide how many hours per week to list. 

How to Write a Successful Common App Activities List
Personal Statement
Ethan Sawyer
27 Outstanding College Essay Examples From Top ...

Use these outstanding college essay examples to learn how to write your personal statement and supplemental essays for the college application.

Supplemental Essays
Ethan Sawyer
Why This College Essay Guide + Examples

Stand out on your Why This College essay. Read our Why This College essay examples and follow our clear guidelines to make sure you avoid potential pitfalls, include essential details in your Why This School essay, and use our tried-and-true research tools.

Student Resources
Andrew Simpson
How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation for ...

Learn how to ask for a letter of recommendation for college with my comprehensive step-by-step guide and real-world examples

Common App

Common App Essay Formatting & Style Guide + Common Grammar Mistakes

This guide will help take some of the guesswork out of punctuation, style, grammar, and even the Common App essay formatting. We’ll also share common college essay grammar mistakes and show you how to fix them.

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The 2025-2026 Common App Prompts (and 7 Example Essays & Analysis)

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Learn how to navigate which common app essay prompt to use for writing your personal statement when applying to college. Which common app prompt is best? How do you choose? Learn more here.

How to Use the Common App Additional Information section and Challenges and Circumstances section: Guide + Examples

Guidelines and tips for how to write your common app additional information section, analysis of a few additional information examples, and answers to whether you should include a resume and if you should write about issues related to low grades or low GPA.

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How to Write a Great Extracurricular Activity Essay: Complete Guide + Examples 2025/2026

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A college asks you to tell them more about one of your extracurricular activities. How do you show them what years of work look like in just a few hundred words? Check out this complete guide for how to write an extracurricular activity essay, plus get inspired by tons of example essays from students like you.

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How to Apply to College: A Step-by-Step Guide

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How to Apply to College: A Step-by-Step Guide

Our step-by-step guide uses a student’s real experience to teach you how to apply for college, including choosing colleges, taking standardized tests, writing essays, and hitting the submit button.

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10+ Outstanding Common App Essay Examples 2025/2026

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10+ Outstanding Common App Essay Examples 2025/2026

Learn to write a successful common application essay by reading and analyzing these awesome common app essay examples from winning applications.

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80+ Real Examples for Writing Your Extracurricular Activity List

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Study these extracurricular activities examples and samples that you can learn from when writing your activities list for the common application.

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How to Write your Extracurricular Essay without Rockstar Achievements

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Even if you don’t have rockstar achievements, writing your extracurricular essays for the college application process can shine a light on what you are proud of. Follow along with College Essay Guy’s How-To blog on writing extracurricular essays.

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5 Ways to Make Your Activities List Awesome

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Craft a phenomenal activities list by speaking in the present tense, utilizing action verbs, saving space on the page, and much more.

Which Common App Prompt is Best?

The Common Application Essay prompts and a breakdown of which one you should answer and why.