Totally pulling a blank as to what to write about for your main college essay? These 15 prompts will help you find the perfect topic for you.
The Best Way to Choose a Common App Essay Topic
An excellent college personal statement needs an organizing principle—a guiding light that tells colleges who you are and displays your self-awareness and maturity. So what exactly IS an organizing principle? Let me explain.
2026 Guide to Superscoring on the Digital SAT and ACT
What’s a “Superscore”? If you’re applying to colleges—or if you’re a parent of someone who is—it’s essential you understand how this scoring system works and how it affects your college applications. I’m breaking down the details of super scoring on the Digital SAT and Enhanced ACT in this post!
Common App vs. Coalition App: Which Is Best for You?
If you’re a high school Senior (or younger), the Common App and Coalition App can save you a TON of time on your college applications. But what are the differences between these two options, exactly—and which is the better fit for YOU? This blog post brings you the answers.
What Should I Write My Common App Essay about?
Do You Need a Perfect Score to Get Into a Top College?
If you want to get into an elite college, you need a perfect SAT or ACT score…..right? Actually, this week’s post explains why a perfect score is NOT always required for admission to Harvard, Stanford, or Yale….and how you should be using your college prep time instead of cramming for that 1600 or 36.
Which Is More Likely To Get You into College: the SAT or ACT?
Given how much time goes into prepping for standardized tests, you want to make sure you’re taking the right test to begin with. So which one gives you a bigger advantage in college admissions—the Digital SAT or the ACT?
How to Protect Your Mental Health during Test Prep
You can't just cram for a standardized test! Nor can you grind your body and mind into the ground all of junior year and expect to still perform well on the SAT or ACT. Here are some of the top tips I give clients about the mindsets and habits that will keep you on pace for a strong finish.
Guide to Common App Resources
Those deadlines are looming and your stress level is rising. Don’t panic! This Common App resources roundup has got links that will help you answer any question, and overcome any hurdle, standing in the way of clicking “submit.”
The Most Important Parts of a Test-optional College Application
So, you’re thinking about skipping the ACT or SAT because some (or even all!) of the schools on your list went test-optional during Covid-19. Before you actually commit to skipping, let’s take a look at how it affects the way the rest of your application is evaluated.
When to Submit SAT/ACT Scores to Test-Optional Colleges
Should you submit your SAT or ACT scores to that test-optional school? Will they help you or hurt you? This is a tricky question, but this blog post offers you three ways to make this important decision.
Improve Your College Admissions Chances with "Demonstrated Interest"
If I told you there were easy things you could do to move your application from the “rejected” pile to the “admitted” one, you’d take those steps right away, no? Well, “Demonstrated Interest” is exactly that! This post explains WHAT Demonstrated Interest is in college admissions—AND gives you nine ways to show that interest to the schools on your list.
Submitting the Common App: Your 6-Step Checklist
There’s more to calling your Common Application complete than dotting every I, crossing every T, and catching every typo. My six-step checklist will have you hitting submit with confidence!
Is There Still a COVID Question on the Common App?
In recent years, the Common Application has featured an optional question asking about students’ experience during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Is this question still on the Common App? And if not, what’s taken its place?
How to Write Your Common App Activities List
Everyone knows that the Activities List is a super important section of the Common App…so why do so many people flub the chance to maximize its impact? Let me show you how to avoid that pitfall with these six steps to a winning Activities List.
10 Things *Not* to Do in Your College Applications
I get it: college admissions is a pressure cooker, and it’s tempting to take some shortcuts to success. But there are some supposed “hacks” that backfire big-time. Here's what NOT to do when you're applying to college.
How to Improve Your College Apps with an Organizing Principle
So you know you need an Organizing Principle to show your dream school who you are…but how do you find yours? Especially on your own? I’m giving you a road map to articulating the hidden sense of self that will help you show colleges who you are.
Making Your College List: Factors to Consider
Before you start applying to colleges, you need to figure out which ones you’re applying TO. Sounds simple, right? But there are so many factors to consider that making a college list can seem intimidating. Don’t worry! This week I’m giving you a straightforward five-step guide to drafting your list of dream schools….so you can start working on getting INTO them.
How to get the most out of College Visits
If you approach your college visits proactively, you can come home from them WAY further along in your application process than you left. Here's how.
Common App Updates: 2025-2026
The Common App is the cornerstone of most students’ college application process. And it’s about to undergo some notable updates come August 1! Read on to find out exactly what’s changing…and what isn’t.
Totally pulling a blank as to what to write about for your main college essay? These 15 prompts will help you find the perfect topic for you.