The Scourge of the Montage
Over 150 years have passed since Walt Whitman told us that he contains multitudes. Presumably, so do the rest of us. College applications…
Using New Common App Sections: Additional Info and “Challenges & Circumstances”
The Common Application’s combination of essays, objective questions, and the option to submit supplemental materials typically provides…
Avoiding the College Application “Trauma Dump”
This year, a surprising preponderance of students have asked me a certain question, each using the same phrasing: should they attempt to…
Going to College Before You Go to College
Among my high school’s roundabout virtues was its unrelenting emphasis on academic research. I’m not kidding.
A Playlist for College Applicants
It seems quaint to think that, just a few decades ago, rock music drew disdain for being sordid, louche, and Satanic. The nation’s kids…
Making the Most of College Essay Feedback
High school students aren’t likely to ask friends or relatives to review their workaday expositions on the causes of the War of 1812, the…
How AI Undermines Thought
The most important book in the world right now is Writing to Learn, by William Zinsser. It is followed closely, in no particular order, by…
College Essay Rhetorical Trends 2024
Everyday rhetoric, whether it’s in school, on social media, or in edited texts, relies increasingly on cliches — overused words and stale…
College Applicants Under the Influence of Social Media
I’m not exactly a dinosaur. But I’ll admit that, like most other adults, I don’t keep up with app-based pop culture trends. I’m more into…
College Essays and the Anonymous Reader
A student once came to me wanting to write a college essay about her experience learning how to waterski barefoot. Fun, right? She…
The True Value of “Safety Schools”
Some students recoil “safety schools.” They shouldn’t. A healthy respect for safety schools makes for stronger applicants.
The Supreme Court College Admissions Decisions Should not Influence Applicants — Yet
The Supreme Court has limited versions of affirmative action. Here’s what the decision means, and doesn’t mean, for applicants.
The Purpose of College
Many students apply to college automatically. They would do well to take a moment to consider why they actually want to go to college.