A large number of universities and colleges use the Common Application across the United States and in many countries around the world. There are over 800 Common Application members in the United States, as well as in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Qatar, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. These institutions are united…
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…
Tips for Answering the NYU Supplemental Essay Prompt [2019 – 2020]
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. It grants degrees…
Tips for Answering the University of California System Personal Insight Questions [2019 – 2020]
The University of California System or UC’s, as they are commonly known, consist of 9 campuses that utilize the same application. They are: UC Berkeley (Cal), UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC Merced, UC Santa Barbara, UC Los Angeles (UCLA), UC Irvine, UC Riverside, and UC San Diego. You will use the same responses for…
Tips for Answering the University of Michigan Supplemental Essay Prompts [2019 – 2020]
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…
3 Mistakes Successful College Applicants Don’t Make
The preparation for applying to college successfully does not happen overnight. In fact, it is the culmination of years of work throughout high school. The most successful college applicants avoid these three mistakes: Mistake #1: Blowing off essay responses Successful applicants know that strong GPA and test scores are simply not enough. They invest time…
Tips for Answering the Dartmouth College Supplemental Essay Prompts [2019 – 2020]
Dartmouth College, like the other Ivy League schools, accepts both the Common Application and the Coalition Application. Regardless of the application you select to use, you will be asked to respond to the same essay prompts. In addition, Dartmouth also requires supplemental essay responses. The additional essays help the admission committee round out the overall…
Tips for Answering the Cornell University Supplemental Essay Prompts [2019 – 2020]
Although the Ivy League schools review 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 are a good fit for you and how you can contribute to the collegiate environment. The additional essay questions are…
Tips for Answering the Yale University Supplemental Essays & Short Answer Questions [2019 – 2020]
Not surprisingly, Yale University is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world. It accepts the Common Application, Coalition Application, and QuestBridge Application. All three applications require a personal statement essay plus additional Yale-specific short answers and a Yale writing supplement. For applicants interested in engineering or computer science, there is a third optional…
Tips for Answering the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essay Prompts [2019 – 2020]
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 in a strong liberal arts foundation. It accepts the Common Application or the…
Tips for Answering Brown University Supplemental Essay Prompts [2019 – 2020]
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. They are your opportunity to explain how the school is a good match for you and how you can enhance the college community. These…
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…
Tips for Answering the Princeton University Supplemental Essay Prompts [2019 – 2020]
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 Harvard Supplemental Essay Prompts [2019 – 2020]
It will come 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. It accepts the Common Application, the Universal College Application, and the Coalition Application (with no preference). All of these applications require an essay response. The alluring…
Tips for Answering Columbia University Supplemental Essay Prompts [2019 – 2020]
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 the school is a good match for you and vise versa. Your…
Last Minute Common Application Tips
It’s November, and we are starting down the home stretch of the college application season. That’s right, final deadlines are looming. The UC system’s undergraduate (non-transfer) applications are due November 30 by 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time (2:59am Eastern Standard Time). Many colleges using the Common Application have January 1 as their regular decision deadline. Although…
Tips for Answering the Brown University 2016-17 Supplemental Essay Prompts
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. They are your opportunity to explain how the school is a good match for you and how you can enhance the college community. These…
Tips for Answering the Columbia University 2016-17 Supplemental Essay Prompts
Ivy League schools require supplemental essay responses in addition to the basic Common 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 the school is a good match for you and vise versa. Your goal is to…
