In a typical year, it takes courage for teenagers and families to ride the roller coaster of emotions leading to college. But these are...

Last fall, I met with Marc, a high school dynamo. You name it, he had it going on. Except for one thing. He couldn’t write. I mean, he...

February is the month for hearts. I heart chocolate. I heart friends. I heart writing personal statements. Say what? For high school...

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. That's not going to be the best way to choose a prompt and topic for the Common App essay. Just sayin'. So how...

Every year I meet students who dive into the University of California Personal Insight Questions without doing their homework. Yikes!...

Your WHY is the purpose, cause or belief that inspires you. Knowing your WHY gives you a filter to make choices -– at school, at work,...

Are you a rebel who resists the status quo? If so, there's a good chance the traditional essay format is not for you. Don't despair! ...

Have we met? You’re the kind of person who shows up, does great work, and is there for your friends. You don’t like a lot of attention...

We all have a place – a kind of sacred space – where we just plain feel like ourselves. ~ In the woods ~ On a baseball diamond ~ Around...

Successful supplemental essays (the “Why Us” essays) connect your interests and passions to the unique offerings of individual colleges....

High school students: Did you ever experience a serious sense of envy – the kind that turns your eyes three shades of green? It can...

Summer. It’s a season, and a state-of-mind. And it means something different to every high school student. Modern college admissions...

"Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest...

Ever wonder how much pressure the red pencil feels – to be like the blue ones? To think and act like the blue ones. Interesting things...

Curiosity. It’s a trait Engineering students have in common. You’re curious about how things work, and how they can work better. And...

In kindergarten, it was so easy to answer this question: What do you want to be when you grow up? The dress-up clothes, toys and books...

How many times during the school day do you find yourself thinking - That’s not me! That’s not me – I don’t raise my hand during class...

Here's a question for the busy, college essay-writing high school student: What’s your secret-sauce – the academic ingredients that...

You’re wearing a smile today, along with your t-shirt and jeans. Then, it happens. Emotions, just below the surface, rise up: ~ The grade...

Some students freak out at the mention of the word passion. It’s overused and the fizz is gone. Agreed. But until we find a better word –...