At its core, Irena Smith’s job as an independent college counselor means being a writing coach. With a PhD in comparative literature, the former Stanford admissions officer helps her teenage clients ...

Amid a sea of applications, college hopefuls have just a few opportunities to stand out: grade-point average and test scores; extracurricular activities; and, of arguably increasing importance, the ...

This Q&A first appeared in Write at the Edge, a newsletter from Mallary Tenore Tarpley featuring tips and best practices for seasoned and amateur writers who want to hone their craft. Subscribe to ...

There are basically two things every high school student needs when it comes time to apply for college; a transcript of your grades and your essay. The transcript is a straight forward record of your ...

ABOUT 25 MINUTES AS WELL. THE FIRST DEADLINE FOR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS IS NEXT MONTH. IT’S JUST DAYS AWAY AND HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS ARE WRITING PERSONAL STATEMENTS AND ESSAYS. KCRA 3 IS DEIRDRE ...

Writing the personal essay for your college application can be tough, but we’re here to help. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started, but the sooner you begin, the more time and thought ...

You know the feeling. You open a blank document, reread the assignment for the fifth time, and somehow an hour disappears without a single solid paragraph on the page. For many students and ...

I have been grading student essays for many years. Reading good essays is what every teacher wishes for yet rarely gets--a revitalizing and uplifting experience. More commonly I read bad essays.

In January, I raised my hourly rate to $300 before wondering if I could get away with charging anything at all. I teach high-schoolers how to write college essays, helping students claw their way out ...

Game on! It’s the fall of your senior year of high school and you are ready to apply for college. Or are you? The process actually begins well before. Weighted more heavily than ever before, the ...

This post was paid for by an advertiser. The Herald-Dispatch newsroom was not involved in its creation. Your college essay is one of the most personal and impactful parts of your application. While ...