A Parent's Guide to the College Essay
The first thing to understand about the college application essay is that it is unlike any other piece of writing a high school student...
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Beth & Tim Manners
Nov 19, 20201 min read
The Essay May Count More Than Ever
Ed Source: "Since SAT/ACT scores are optional or totally off the table during the pandemic, many colleges say that the personal and...
Beth & Tim Manners
Oct 13, 20201 min read
The Best Essays ...
“The best essays are the ones where we don’t just want to admit the student, we want to take them out for coffee once they’re here. We’re...
Beth & Tim Manners
Apr 9, 20201 min read
Video: 10 Tips for College Essays
The Wilton Library asked us to create a short video featuring 10 tips on writing your college essay (certified COVID-19 safe).
Beth & Tim Manners
Feb 19, 20201 min read
Admissions Tip: Character Matters
Brennan Barnard: "When it comes to college admission, everyone seems to be watching and according to a recent survey, character counts....
Beth & Tim Manners
Nov 6, 20191 min read
Moving Boulder: Tell Us What We Don't Know
Denver Post: "If it eases any anguish, Clark Brigger said he and the other CU Boulder admissions officers are not looking for perfection...
Beth & Tim Manners
Oct 3, 20192 min read
The Secret of Supplemental Essays
So much energy is expended on the “main essay” that the supplemental questions sometimes get short shrift. This is likely exacerbated...
Beth & Tim Manners
May 16, 20194 min read
U Chicago: Where Fun Goes to Thrive
Looking for the admissions office, walking through a grand archway, not knowing exactly what was to come, we were stunned by the...
Beth & Tim Manners
Feb 11, 20191 min read
I Am Williams: Voices of the Undergrads
Williams College math major Ariana Ross ’17 discusses the symmetry between diving and mathematics and the importance of respect and...
Beth & Tim Manners
Jan 31, 20191 min read
Successful Applications Are Matter of Fact
Daily Pennsylvanian: “Like most universities, Penn does not have a standard system for fact-checking applications. Admissions officers...
Beth & Tim Manners
Jan 17, 20192 min read
Prompt Attention: Common App Questions for 2019
CommonApp.org: “The Common Application has announced that the 2019-2020 essay prompts will remain the same as the 2018-2019 essay...
Beth & Tim Manners
Oct 24, 20181 min read
How Duke Decides
Duke Today: “Here’s a tip for high school seniors wondering how to ace the essay portion of the college application: Just be yourself.”...
Beth & Tim Manners
Jun 26, 20181 min read
Seinfeld Style: The Essay About ‘Nothing’
Bates: Darryl Uy, an admissions officer at Bates College, suggests a ‘Seinfeldian’ approach to writing your college essay. He explains:...
Beth & Tim Manners
Jun 16, 20181 min read
Unlocking The Mysteries of The Essay
The New York Times: “Documents showing that Harvard rated Asian-American applicants lower on personality traits than applicants of other...
Beth & Tim Manners
Jun 30, 20172 min read
What is ‘The Essay’?
Lit Hub: “As accommodating as they are to subject matter and formal experimentation, essays permit no substitutes; every piece of short...
Beth & Tim Manners
Jun 1, 20171 min read
Essay Advice: Fortune Favors the Bold
Business Insider: Ross Galloway “decided to answer Harvard Business School’s (HBS) sole essay question in the voice of an ESPN anchor on...
Beth & Tim Manners
Mar 26, 20171 min read
When Followers are Leaders
Susan Cain: “If college admissions offices show us whom and what we value, then we seem to think that the ideal society is composed of...
Beth & Tim Manners
Feb 8, 20172 min read
Common App Update: Big Changes This Year
Washington Post: “The Common Application, used by nearly 700 colleges and universities in the United States and abroad for admissions,...
Beth & Tim Manners
Sep 16, 20161 min read
Quote of the Day: Jessica Yaeger
“I probably kept one sentence from my first draft of my personal statement. Students can get really attached to specific wording or...
Beth & Tim Manners
Aug 30, 20161 min read
Admissions Officers Offer Essay Advice
The Washington Post asked dozens of college admissions officers for insights into what they like to see in essays. Here are a few...
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