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Expert College Essay Tips & Strategies – IvyWise Blog

Student Looking at Majors

What if I Don’t Know What I Want to Major In?

In this episode of Just Admit It!, IvyWise counselor Alecia and host Tasha explain why being undecided is common, how to explore academic interests without getting overwhelmed, and what “major selection” really means on a college application.

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Student Writing a College Application Essay

Do I Need a Dramatic Topic for My College Application Essay?

On this episode of Just Admit It!, IvyWise counselors Tasha and Victoria explain why choosing a dramatic college essay topic is not necessary and how being authentic and engaging in your essays is more important.

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Cropped image of female college student working on laptop

How Many Colleges Should I Apply To? Find Your Magic Number

With colleges receiving record-breaking numbers of applications and acceptance rates hitting historic lows, many students feel pressured to “shotgun” their applications — applying to dozens of schools to hedge their bets.

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High school student working on her Common App essay

2026-27 Common App Essay Prompts

The Common Application has announced the personal statement essay prompts for the 2026-27 admissions season.

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What Vanderbilt Admissions Officers Look for in Essays

If Vanderbilt University, also known as Vandy, is one of your top-choice schools, you may be wondering how to craft your admissions essay to help you stand out. Vanderbilt is incredibly selective, so they look for students who demonstrate what they can contribute to the diverse campus community academically and otherwise. Your response to the essay prompt contributes to the holistic review of your application, so it’s important to give it a lot of thought.

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NYU Washington Square Park

How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay 2025-26

NYU has long been a top-choice school for many students. More than 120,000 students submitted applications for fall 2025 admission, but only 7.70% of those applicants were admitted, making NYU exceptionally competitive.

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How to Write the 2025-26 Yale Supplemental Essays

With its lengthy history and unparalleled academic rigor, it’s no surprise that Yale tops many students’ best-fit lists, with an acceptance rate that has dipped below 5% in recent years. Given the competitive nature of Yale’s admissions process, every component of your college application is going to be crucial, including supplemental essays.

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Stanford University campus

Stanford University Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide 2025-26

If Stanford is one of your top-choice schools, you may be wondering how you can make your application stand out. Your responses to Stanford’s supplemental essay questions are a significant way to set yourself apart from other applicants. However, these essay prompts require you to be both concise and creative, which is not an easy task. Keep reading to learn more about Stanford’s supplemental essays for the 2025-26 admissions cycle and how to craft them.  

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Harvard University Supplemental Essay 2025-26 Prompt Guide

If Harvard is one of your top-choice schools, you may be wondering how you can make your application stand out to the admissions committee. This is where your college essays come in. If done well, they can set you above other applicants. However, these essay prompts require short, creative answers, which is not an easy task. Keep reading to learn more about Harvard’s supplemental essays for the 2025-26 admissions cycle and how to craft them.    

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How to Write Princeton Supplemental Essays

If Princeton is at the top of your list for best-fit colleges, you know that every component of your application counts. With an acceptance rate of 4.62% for the class of 2028, it’s clear that applicants are going to have to submit their best work to be competitive, and that includes writing compelling supplemental essays.

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