Tips and Resources for Professionals

Expert college essay advice for high school counselors and education consultants. Find tips and resources to help students navigate the college admission essay.

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March 4, 2022

Susan Knoppow

Susan’s Crusade to Blow Up the Five-Paragraph Essay

“Students should be encouraged to see the FPT (five paragraph theme) for what it is: a helpful but contrived exercise.”

February 8, 2022

Sammy Saperstein

Wow’s Best College Essay Coaching Tips

In this Pro Chat, Susan Knoppow answers questions and shares tips with pros to support their students and families in college application essay-writing.

January 29, 2022

Joe Kane

5 Things We Learned from the Class of 2022 College Essays

These little litanies of joy help all of our writing coaches maintain our own enthusiasm, and they remind us...

November 13, 2021

Sammy Saperstein

Writing Standout College Essays

At Wow, our process is our magic for standout college essays. The Wow Method is simple, effective and has clear instructions to help students succeed, every time.

November 13, 2021

Kim Lifton

College Admissions Officer Essay Tips

I have discovered that whether admissions officers work at large, small, public, private or Ivy schools, they want reflective stories written by the student.

November 12, 2021

Kim Lifton

Help Students Ace the Why This College Essay

The why this essay really helps colleges determine if your student is a match. Colleges want to know why applicants want to be there.

November 12, 2021

Sammy Saperstein

College Essay FAQs for Professionals

There’s no such thing as a “best” essay topic. We want to help students write effective essays, which looks different for each student.

November 11, 2021

Sammy Saperstein

Interview: How to Write Good College Essays

In this interview by Cyndy McDonald, Founder of Guided Path, Wow's CEO Susan Knoppow shares her best tips to help students nail the college essay.

November 11, 2021

Sammy Saperstein

NACAC ’21: Writing Effective College Essays

Pay more attention to one question that helps us guide our students effectively through the college process: "Why?"

February 23, 2021

Kim Lifton

Mundane Moments Make Great College Essays

Frequently, we learn our enduring life lessons during ordinary moments.That's why some of the best college essays we read focus on the most mundane moments.

February 1, 2021

Kim Lifton

Is Your Student’s Essay Good Enough?

By paying attention to how a story has changed and improved, we know far better if a college essay is good enough. Learn more about that process here.

August 18, 2020

Kim Lifton

The New COVID-19 Prompt is an Opportunity

The COVID-19 essay prompt is new, and it is also an opportunity. Learn how to leverage it in your college essay.