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

How to Write a Great Letter of Continued Interest: Guide + Example

How to Write a Great Letter of Continued Interest: Guide + Example

Being waitlisted or deferred isn’t the end of the world. This guide covers how to write a letter of continued interested plus an example and useful tips to help guide you along the way.

How to Write a College Essay: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

How to Write a College Essay: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to write a college essay, step-by-step. Find a topic, structure your essay, write and revise a college essay all with our best guide.

Applying to College as an Athlete: 10 Important Questions

Learn the answers to 10 important questions you should be asking as an athlete applying to college.

How to Apply to Art School: The Essential Guide

Why is art important? What tips should I follow to apply to art schools? How should I organize my portfolio? This essential guide contains expert opinions on the arts college application.

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How to Write a Scholarship Essay: Complete Guide + Examples

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How to Write a Scholarship Essay: Complete Guide + Examples

How do you write a scholarship essay? What are colleges looking for? In this guide, I’ll share with you a series of step-by-step mini-guides to answering the top 10 most common scholarship essay question prompts (plus tons of essay examples).

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What to Do When Your College Application is Deferred

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So you’ve been deferred from one of your top choice colleges. What now? What does this mean? Here are 4 tips to give you an idea and, hopefully, ease your mind.

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SAT & ACT Optional Schools for International Students

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Our friend Sarah Loring de Garcia created an amazing list of all the schools that are ACT and SAT test optional for international students. Applying to college in the US? Check out this list before you head to the testing center.

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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.

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.