The Common App personal statement doesn't have to be overwhelming. In this guide, you'll learn how to brainstorm essay topics, reflect on your experiences, and write a personal statement that shows admissions officers exactly who you are — starting this summer.

When is the best time for Juniors to create their Common App account and get to work? Does your college list have schools on it that use the common app? And are you sure you will be applying to those or others like them? Your decision lies in the answer to that question.

How do we help students realize what a big or small college actually is?

With my own process and some new perspective, it’s been highly enlightening

Your Activity List still has time to grow!

It’s time for the last college search for the Oppens…

It’s going to be a long line.

Early admits aren’t taking deferred applicants’ seats, even though it is mainly thought that they do.

Building a college list sounds simple until you're staring at a blank page. Where do you even start? The truth is, a great college list isn't just a random collection of schools you've heard of — it's a carefully balanced set of options built around you: your goals, your stats, and the places you'd genuinely be excited to call home for four years. Here's the step-by-step process that takes you from zero to a ready-to-apply list of 10–15 schools.

Parents need to separate themselves from the application process.

University of Texas made a hole for itself…

When college admissions officers review an application, the high school transcript is often one of the most important documents they evaluate. Beyond your grades, colleges look closely at the rigor of your coursework—how challenging your classes were compared to what was available at your school.