Harry Bauld has been helping students write the college application essay for more than thirty years. For years, when I was Co-Director of College Counseling at Colorado Academy, we brought Harry in to lead an essay workshop for our seniors, and I watched him distill a lifetime of writing lessons into a couple of hours. Ironically enough, Harry Bauld is in fact bald. (And he wouldn't mind my joking about that!) His 1987 book, On Writing the College Application Essay, is still

There’s a lot of uncertainty in the college admissions experience, and a lot of factors you can’t control. Resist the temptations of clickbait posts and anecdotal advice in parent forums. Someone’s story of “how I got in” is not a blueprint for anyone else. Help your student stay focused on their own purpose for going to college, your priorities and limitations, and their evolving, evidence-based understanding of fit.

You did the research, you did the work, and now.... you're the decider! For some, this is the most challenging step of the process, and that's understandable. Ever heard of the Paradox of Choice? It's the part of the process nobody really talks about. Over years of college counseling, I've identified a set of factors to help make the decision. Read through these decision factors and consider them honestly —that's a challenge, too. If you find yourself twisting your brain in k

I am seeing ads lately for subscription services or downloads of step-by-step Common App guides to get you subscribed to be sold more...

Using AI prompt engineering, students can enhance their college search through interactive, guided conversations. The alternating...

From my insta... next steps after you send off those applications!

Last-minute tips to send those applications off with confidence!

Rick Clark of Georgia Tech is a source of lots of great college admission advice. In this piece for Grown & Flown, he cuts right to the...

Human nature and probability.

There's a lot of talk about using ChatGPT, as it gets more sophisticated, as a constructive tool. I had a wild thought and asked ChatGPT to summarize the best college application essay advice. As I tweaked the prompt, I decided to specifically ask it to pull from the guidance of 3 people I know: Janine Robinson, whose now-dormant Essay Hell blog crystallizes some of my favorite tips, Rick Clark from Georgia Tech, who you should follow wherever you can, and Harry Bauld, an Eng

Reflection, personal growth and confidence through 650-word mini memoirs.

There are better ways to spend time in high school than paid research opportunities and "branding" efforts.

Understanding teacher recommendations

"The data are in: we are not good at predicting what will make us happy. This is known and documented. So as we watch another class of...

My good friend and former colleague Sara Purviance of Mindset College Collective shares some good advice on making a low-stress entry...

I couldn't agree more with Brennan Barnard's latest blog post suggesting good habits for those in the college admission cycle this year--...

I'm grateful (see what I did there) to Sara for sharing these timely thoughts about gratitude. Sara was my colleague for several years,...

The conversation about college in the US continues to feel fraught with uncertainty, with changing admission practices post-pandemic,...

If you know a senior applying to colleges this year, here is some advice on what follows all that energy leading up to the celebratory...

Post 3 of 3 (Read Pt 1 & Pt 2) Writing an Effective College Admissions Essay: Honesty is the Best Policy Anne Elrod Whitney, Ph.D. My advice to be bravely honest isn’t just about style; it’s also about the content. Portray yourself clearly, showing readers who you are claiming to be rather than just making the claim. Let them know what it would be like to work together on something or to walk together on a journey. Let them see you. Tell a story to show your commitment to a v