鶹ԭ

Caroline Koppelman
Official Common App Essay Guide 2025-2026

We’ve spent the past few weeks breaking down each Common App essay prompt one by one, and now it’s time for the grand finale: our ultimate guide to writing the Common App essay. Sure, there are seven different prompts, but at the end of the day, every school is looking for the same thing: a story.

Caroline Koppelman
How to Write Common App Essay Prompt 7: Example ...

We’ve been waiting for this one: it’s finally time to dig into Prompt #7, the crown jewel of the Common App essay prompts.

Caroline Koppelman
Ultimate Guide to Letters of Continued Interest ...

Getting waitlisted or deferred from your dream school is hard. We know it’s hard! You feel rejected, but it’s this weird non-rejection rejection that can leave you feeling lost and confused. And while a lot of things in college admissions are totally out of your control, there is something you can do if you’ve been waitlisted or deferred to give yourself another chance. A letter of continued interest, sometimes known as a waitlist letter or deferral letter, is one of the few, actionable things you can control when admissions decisions seem so out of your control. It’s your only chance to make a good second impression, and we help students write them every single year.

Caroline Koppelman
Ultimate Guide to Getting Waitlisted 2025

Getting waitlisted is the ultimate limbo – it’s not not a rejection, but it’s not a full-on denial, either. And depending on your circumstances, you could be feeling everything from mild disappointment to full-on panic. Don’t get yourself into a tizzy just yet, because there are things you can do to give yourself a shot at getting off the waitlist and make sure that you have a plan in place for the next year.

Caroline Koppelman
Best Early Decision II (ED2) Schools 2024-2025

Hey, look, sometimes ED doesn’t work out the way we want it to, and we have to change strategies. If you just got rejected or deferred from your ED/EA option, we’d like to introduce you to our good friend, Early Decision 2. ED2 is just as binding as ED, and it signals to the school that you are serious about attending that school, and guess what? Schools like when you’re serious about them.

common app essay

How to Write Common App Essay Prompt 6: Example and Guide 2026-2027

We’re nearing the end of the road in our Official Common App Essay Guide this year, folks! That means you’re very close to being fully informed on your options when it comes to writing the personal statement for your college applications. If you need a quick reminder on why this is such a big deal, it’s because this essay is the bedrock of your application. With these 650 words, you need to introduce yourself, leave a memorable impression, and, most importantly, connect with admissions officers on a human level. The best test scores, grades, and extracurriculars in the world won’t matter if you sound like an AI agent or a walking red flag.

How to Write the Common App Essay Prompt 3: Example and Guide 2026-2027

It’s week three of our “How to Write the Common App Essay” breakdown blog! No curveballs here… This post’s subject is Prompt #3. We’re going one by one through all of your options because we know this is a big decision; it’s not only the first essay most applicants write, but it’s also the most important because it has to introduce who you are and it goes to every school on your list.

How to Write the Common App Essay Prompt 2: Example and Guide 2026-2027

Hello to our loyal readers who are back for the second installment of our Common App Essay “hot or not” guide, Prompt #2 edition. If you’re here after checking out our blog on Prompt #1 and deciding against it, first of all, congratulations, and welcome to the right side of history. If this is your first foray into this series, all you need to know is that we’re breaking down the pros and cons of every Common App prompt and walking through essay strategies for each one.

How to Write Common App Essay Prompt 6: Example and Guide 2025-2026

We’re nearing the end of our deep dive into the seven Common App essay prompts, and today we’re shining a light on Prompt #6. This might be one of our favorites! Sure, Prompt #7 will always be our top pick for its open-ended freedom, but we know that many students feel more confident with a bit of structure. If that’s you, Prompt #6 can be a fantastic option.

How to Write Common App Essay Prompt 5: Example and Guide 2025-2026

As summer marches on, so does our series breaking down each Common App essay prompt. If you’ve spent any time on our blog, you already know we’re big Prompt #7 people (the “write whatever you want” one). We love the freedom it gives you, but we also know that a structureless prompt can feel overwhelming for some students. So today, we’re diving into Prompt #5, sharing our honest takes along with tips and tricks to help you write it well.

How to Write Common App Essay Prompt 4: Example and Guide 2025-2026

We’re continuing our deep dive into each of the seven Common App essay prompts, giving you advice on how to brainstorm, write, and refine your Common App essay. If you’ve been here a while, you know we don’t always follow “conventional” college essay advice, and honestly, that’s why our students get results. Today, we’re tackling the newest Common App prompt: Prompt #4.

How to Write Common App Essay Prompt 1: Example and Guide 2025-2026

It’s time to apply to college! The 2025-2026 college application cycle is underway, which means we get to share with you our favorite part of the application: the Common App essay. If you’re just now learning what the Common App even is, we wish we could live in your world, but it’s a single application platform that lets you apply to up to 20 colleges at once. Sounds efficient, right? It is. Kind of. Except, notably, some big names (looking at you, UC system, Georgetown, MIT) don’t participate in the Common App, which is a little (a lot) annoying.

Ultimate Common App Brainstorming Guide 2025-2026

The Common App essay. Simply reading these words might send a shiver down your spine, but we’re here to tell you that the Common App essay doesn’t need to be scary – and it can actually be, dare we say, kind of fun? You heard the seniors before you talking about the Common App essay in hushed tones between classes, so you know how serious it is. And yes, the Common App is a serious factor in your application, but that doesn’t mean your Common App needs to be a serious essay. The essay is your one place to show off who you are as a person, beyond the numbers and the stats. 

Official Common App Essay Guide 2024-2025

We’ve spent the last few weeks breaking down the Common App essay prompt by prompt, and today we’re going to give you our ultimate guide to writing the Common App essay. There might be seven different prompts, but ultimately, all schools want the same thing from their applicants’ Common App essays: a story.

Common App Essay Prompt 6 Example and Guide 2024-2025

We’re almost through our series on all seven Common App essay prompts, and today we’re talking about Prompt #6. A sleeper hit prompt, we actually really love this one. As you all probably are well aware by now, our favorite prompt is always #7, but we know that a lot of students really value having the structure a traditional prompt offers them. If this prompt is right for you, we think it’s a great one to write.

Common App Essay Prompt 5 Example and Guide 2024-2025

As the summer continues, so does our series on various prompts of the Common App essay. If you’ve spent any time on our blog, you’re probably aware that we’re huge prompt #7 fans—aka, write an essay of your own design, but we know not all students are ready to embrace a structureless prompt. So today, we’re going to give you our takes on prompt #5, and give you some tips and tricks on how to write it.