Tag: College Essay Tips
IvyWise On-Demand: College Admissions 101 Series: Common App and Essays
Events College Admissions 101 Series: Common App and Essays DATE AND TIME On Demand Free Register ABOUT THIS EVENT With over 1,000 colleges and universities available on the Common Application, most high school seniors will use the application to apply to the colleges on their list. While the Common App may seem straightforward, there are many tips you can use to showcase your best self when applying to college. In this webinar, IvyWise college admissions counselors walk event attendees through each step of the Common App, including the activities section and the optional community disruption question, sharing their expert insight on how students can stand out to admissions officers when using the Common App.
Tips for Practicing Essay Writing Over Spring Break
Tips for Practicing Essay Writing Over Spring Break For many students, essay writing is one of the most intimidating parts of the college application process. While the Common Application essay is open-ended and leaves a lot of room for interpretation, some supplemental college essays are extremely specific. Whatever the prompt, students must rise to the occasion and submit the strongest applications possible.
Spring Into Self-Expression: Developing Your Writing Voice Through Journaling
“Today was a good day at school. Ingrid and I played at recess.” And so began my very first journal entry.
Getting a Jump Start on College Applications
What's the best college prep that rising seniors can be doing this summer? Preparing their college applications! Checking things off your college application to-do list this summer is a great way to stay busy and will help relieve added pressure and stress in the fall of senior year.
Books to Help With Essay Writing and Story Telling
As a former high school English teacher, I always tout the importance of reading as a means to improve one's writing, especially when it comes to the college essay. Author Annie Proulx perhaps sums it up best: "Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write." Reading exposes you to different writing styles, diction, and sentence syntax which can influence, improve, and even inspire your own writing style.
The Ultimate College Admissions Guide for Procrastinators
Are you still struggling to decide where you’ll apply to school? Did finding time to research or attend information sessions manage to escape you? Are you staring at a blank screen, just days away from the deadline to submit an essay to your dream school?
3 Common College Application Essay Mistakes
IvyWise counselors Tasha and Robin discuss how students should approach their college essay prompts on the college admissions podcast, giving listeners expert insight from former admissions officers. Listen Now! Your college essay is like your personal introduction to the admissions office and will say a lot about you.
How to Write a Personal Statement [Tips + Essay Examples]
It's one of the most critical, confusing, and stressful parts of the college application: the personal statement. As a component of the Common Application, the personal statement gives students the most control and the best opportunity to let the university get to know a little more about them. The predetermined prompts are broad enough that students can pretty much write about whatever they want, as long as it relates to their chosen essay question.
College Application Essay Writing 101: The Writing Process
For students that have already selected an essay topic, starting on the actual writing process can be just as intimidating. “Process” is the key word here. Writing takes time, and you must set aside at least several weeks to work on the personal essay.
College Application Essay Writing 101: Selecting a Topic
Superman pajamas, summer road trips in an RV, driving a carriage, a Cuban grandfather. All seemingly disparate topics, yet these subjects happen to be from some of the most memorable college essays I read as an admissions counselor. Selecting a topic for your college application essay can be one of the most daunting tasks, and finding the right topic takes creativity and soul-searching.
College Essay Timeline for Rising Seniors
The Common Application and the new Coalition application have already released their essay prompts for the 2023-24 application season, so when should rising seniors get started on their college application essays? As soon as they can! While it’s important to spend the summer participating in an activity of interest, it’s also a great time for rising high school seniors to get a head start on their college applications.
College Essay Writing Tips for Rising Seniors
By Christine, IvyWise Premier College Admissions Counselor Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. 124 was spiteful. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
How to Improve Your Writing Skills Ahead of College Application Season
By Tasha, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor If you’re wrapping up junior year of high school, there’s a lot to think about: college tours, signing up for standardized tests, applying to summer programs – the list goes on. There is one more thing you should be prioritizing as you look toward your senior year: developing your writing skills. Your personal statement and writing supplements are a chance for you to showcase your best writing—the kind of writing you would do in classes and on campus.
How to Write Great Supplemental College Application Essays
IvyWise counselors Eric and Zach discuss what admissions officers are looking for in supplemental essays and what students can do to stand out on the college admissions podcast, giving listeners expert insight from former admissions officers. Listen Now! Aside from grades, standardized test scores, and your high school courses, one of the most important elements of the college application is the essay.
Juniors: How to Kick Off the College Admissions Process
IvyWise students often begin working with their counselors on the college admissions process in the spring of 11th grade. Although college may seem far away, it's much closer than students think! If you are a junior, over the next few months you should conduct extensive research and develop concrete ideas about where you want to go to college, visit colleges, and make sure that your course load, test scores, and extracurricular activities will help your application stand out.
Last-Minute College Application Mistakes Students Frequently Make
With admit rates at historic lows and more students applying to more colleges than ever, it’s important for students to make sure they’re submitting the best applications possible. Early Decision and Early Action deadlines are quickly approaching, and as students work to finish up their college applications there are a number of last-minute applications mistakes that they should be mindful to avoid. Before entering the final stretch of the college application process, take time to make sure you’re not making these common application mistakes.
College Application Tips for Regular Decision Applicants
College application season is always a busy time for students. Between essays, test scores, and letters of recommendation, there's no doubt that you have a lot to keep track of. If it's getting down to the wire and your regular admissions deadlines are approaching, don't panic.
Life After Early Application Submission
If you applied early (Early Action (EA), Early Decision (ED), or Single Choice Early Action (SCEA)) to one or more of the colleges on your list, you no doubt feel relieved that the major November deadlines have passed. And, you should! Finishing an early application is a huge accomplishment, so congratulations on all of your hard work.
QUIZ: Do You Know The Truth About College Admissions?
With all of the stress, pressure and confusion surrounding the college admissions process, it's no wonder that people start to develop their own theories on how it all works. You've likely heard a "secret" admissions rumor from a friend of a friend that has made you panic. But what is the truth?
Rising Seniors, Get Ready for Application Season
Many IvyWise students have been working with their counselor to finalize their college lists and build resumes. They will begin drafting their personal essays later this summer. However, if you have not gotten started on any of these items, you can use the summer to catch up on the application process and even get ahead!
Setting Academic and College Prep Goals
Setting academic and college prep goals now is a great way to get students excited about their college prep and alleviate some of the stress commonly associated with planning for college. While it may not be time to apply to college yet, starting to think about academic and college prep goals now will make it easier for students to identify solid goals by the time application season rolls around. It will also allow them to relax over any upcoming breaks, rather than stressing about what they need to accomplish before school is back in session.