
How much do extracurriculars really matter for your college application?
Do extracurriculars really matter for your college applications? They can, for some students more than others.

How to set up your Common Application account
You may know what the Common App essay is, but do you know how to actually use the Common Application portal? You'll need to by the time you're done.

How to build a great college school list
The way you construct your list matters (a lot).

The power of a cohesive college application
The way you balance your application narrative across multiple essays matters - a lot. You'll build a better application if your writing is cohesive.

How to write the best UC essays possible
The UC essays take honesty, clarity, and straight-forward writing. Avoid the biggest mistakes applicants make when writing theirs.

How to write an amazing "Why Us" supplemental essay
I'm going to share some ideas about how to craft a great answer to one of the most common supplemental essays, the "Why Us" supplement.

Using themes to anchor your common app essay
All good essays (especially the common application essay) need to be based around strengths. Let's look at how to anchor yours.

How to pick a common app essay topic for the 2022-23 cycle
Let's talk about how to evaluate and select a common app topic for the 2022-23 cycle. Gather round!

A primer on common app and supplemental essays
A quick introduction to the two biggest essay genres - the common app and the supplemental essays

How to find great safety schools using teaching quality
You need to find better safety schools for your college list. Here's a great way to do just that.

How to avoid diminishing returns across your college application
Diminishing routines can ruin your application (and your life!). Know how to avoid them during your college admissions journey.

Thinking like a startup to create great extracurriculars
How do you create meaningful extracurriculars from scratch? Let's talk through some entrepreneurial thinking and how it applies to college...

Write brilliant sentences that give your college essays punch
Write knock-out sentences that drive your admissions readers wild. Well, at least ones that keep them awake.

Why You Absolutely SHOULD be Reading Essays that Worked
My (controversial?) advice: read college essays to improve your own!