It’s November, and we are starting down the home stretch of the college application season. As we enter the regular admissions cycle, additional deadlines are looming. Congratulations if you applied Early Action or Early Decision using the Common Application. Now you can turn your attention to Regular Decision deadlines, which will vary somewhat over the…
Four Mistakes Successful College Applicants Don’t Make
As simple as this advice might seem, avoiding preventable mistakes is the best way to improve your outcome in the increasingly competitive college admissions process. The preparation of a successful college application does not happen overnight. In fact, it is the culmination of years of work throughout high school. The most successful college applicants take…
Tips for Answering the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essay Prompts [2024 – 2025]
The University of Pennsylvania, or Penn, was established in 1790 and is one of the oldest universities in America. This prestigious Ivy League school is known for its top-notch research as well as its undergraduate programs that focus on practical applications grounded by a strong liberal arts foundation. Penn accepts both the Common Application or…
Tips for Answering the Yale University Supplemental Essays and Short Answer Questions [2024-2025]
This will come as no surprise: Yale University is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world. It accepts the Common Application, Coalition Application, and QuestBridge Application, all three of which require a personal statement essay plus additional Yale-specific short answers and a Yale writing supplement. This prestigious Ivy League school prides itself on…
Tips for Answering the Common Application Essay Prompts
Tips for Answering the Common Application Essay Prompts 2024-2025 Whether you are applying to be a first-year student or a transfer student, you will find that many undergraduate universities and colleges use the Common Application. There are more than 1,000 Common Application member schools in the United States, Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, and worldwide….
Tips for Answering the University of California System Personal Insight Questions [2023 – 2024]
The University of California System consists of ten schools on separate campuses – commonly known as the UCs – that all use the same application: UC Berkeley (Cal), UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC Merced, UC Santa Barbara, UC Los Angeles (UCLA), UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC San Francisco, and UC San Diego. (Note, however,…
Tips for Answering the University of Chicago Supplemental Essay Prompts [2023-2024]
![Tips for Answering the University of Chicago Supplemental Essay Prompts [2023-2024]](https://blog.accepted.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Tips-for-Answering-the-University-of-Chicago-Supplemental-Essay-Prompts-2023-2024.png)
Question 1 (Required) How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago. (Recommended 250–500-word limit) The key to responding effectively to this prompt is demonstrating your knowledge…
Tips for Answering the Princeton University Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022 – 2023]
It will come as no surprise that Princeton University is among the top schools in the nation and is recognized globally for academic excellence. This Ivy League school is renowned as a major research university as well as an outstanding liberal arts college. In addition to the Common Application, Universal College Application or Coalition Application…
Tips for Answering the Cornell University Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022 – 2023]
While Ivy League schools require the Common Application or Coalition Application essay, they also require supplemental essay responses. These help you to convey in greater detail how the specific school and program of study to which you are applying are a good fit for you and how you can contribute to the collegiate environment. This,…
Tips for Answering the Dartmouth College Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022 – 2023]
Dartmouth College utilizes the Common Application. It requires the main Common Application essay and additional supplemental Dartmouth-specific essay responses. The additional essays help the admission committee round out the overall picture of you as a prospective student by providing insight into your personality. Don’t approach this as just another essay you have to write. Look…
Tips for Answering Brown University Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022 – 2023]
Along with the basic Common Application essay, the Ivy League schools require supplemental essay responses. These additional essays help these elite schools gain a deeper understanding of you as an applicant. It’s also your chance to explain how the school is a good match for you and how you can enhance their unique college community….
Tips for Answering the Harvard Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022 – 2023]
It comes as no surprise that Harvard consistently ranks among the top universities in the world. Its highly regarded reputation and academic chops attract the best and brightest. The alluring Harvard brand coupled with its extraordinary education cannot be ignored. It is important to keep in mind throughout the application process that your focus should…
Tips for Answering the University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022 – 2023]
The University of Michigan is a large (over 40,000 students), predominantly residential campus located in the small city of Ann Arbor. This well known school has an outstanding reputation for research, academic rigor and athletic spirit—it is often referred to as a public-Ivy. It offers a non-binding Early Action option with an application deadline of…
This Is the 11th Grade College Planning Timeline That You Need to Get Accepted
This Is the 11th Grade College Planning Timeline That You Need to Get Accepted
Tips for Answering the NYU Supplemental Essay Prompt [2021 – 2022]
Located in the middle of bustling lower Manhattan, New York, NYU’s campus is intertwined with the city. It is not a campus in a traditional sense – its buildings and lifestyle are organized around Washington Square Park, enabling students and faculty alike to take advantage of everything offered by this energetic area. NYU grants degrees…
Tips for Answering Columbia University Supplemental Essay Prompts [2020 – 2021]
Ivy League schools require supplemental essay responses in addition to the basic Common Application or Coalition Application essay. These elite schools try to gain a deeper understanding of the applicant through these supplemental responses. Think of them as your opportunity to explain how this particular school is a good match for you and vice versa….
Planning College Visits: 5 Questions to Ask
Here are some questions and answers to consider as you plan your college visits: #1 When is the best time of year for high-school students to visit colleges? In general, the best time to visit is while college classes are in session (avoid finals and breaks whenever possible) so you can experience what the campus…
What College Applicants Need to Know about AP and Other Advanced Level Courses
There are a number of benefits to taking on additional academic challenges during high school. Let’s explore some of these options and their pros and cons. What are AP classes? AP refers to Advanced Placement classes. These are high school classes taught with college-level curriculum and expectations. If completed successfully, AP courses can set you…
How to Make Your College Application Stand Out: Beyond Test Scores and GPA
Assuming your test scores and GPA are in the competitive range for your top choice schools, what else can make you stand out in a positive way? In my five years of reviewing undergraduate applications for admission to the University of Michigan, I considered a number of additional factors in determining overall fit. 4 ways…
What You Can Do During Your Senior Year to Boost Your Chances of a College Acceptance
If you are beginning your senior year of high school, you might be worrying about how you can possibly increase your chances of getting accepted to your top college choices. You’ve worked earnestly for the last three years and that work has all been excellent preparation. Now it’s time for the next stage – the…