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

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.

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How to Write the UCAS Personal Statement (Guide + Examples)

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This guide will show you everything you need to know about the UCAS personal statement, including how it’s different from the US personal statement, exercises for brainstorming your college essay, and UCAS essay examples to get inspired.

How to Write the "Why this Major" College Essay

This guide gives examples and step-by-step tips for how to write any supplemental essay that asks “Why do you want to pursue this major?”

How to Write the Stanford Supplemental Essays: Examples + Guide 2025/2026

This guide covers each of the eleven Stanford supplemental essay prompts with exercises and examples to help you along the way.

How To Start a College Essay: 9 Effective Techniques

How To Start a College Essay: 9 Effective Techniques

How do you start a college essay? In this post, we’ll discover ways to start a college essay, with tips and examples for making your college essay beginning stand out.

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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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Should I Come Out in My Personal Statement? (And If So, How)?

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Should you consider coming out in your college essay? Here are tips and advice for coming out when writing your college application essays, plus example essays of students who chose to come out in their personal statement.

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College Application & Admissions Timeline (AKA What Should I be Doing Right Now?)

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Here it is - a complete college application and admissions timeline. This one-stop show will show you how to prepare for college, when to start applying for college, and so many more details you haven’t thought of (yet)

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21 College Essay Topics & Ideas That Worked (Guide + Examples)

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21 College Essay Topics & Ideas That Worked (Guide + Examples)

Looking for some amazing college essay topics and ideas? We’ve got all the brainstorming exercises and sample topics to help you generate you write an amazing college application essay.

How to Make Your Personal Statement Introduction Attention-Grabbing

How do you start a personal statement introduction in a way that grabs the reader? Click here for great ideas and tips for making your personal statement introduction amazing.