Tips and Resources for Students & Parents

Expert college essay advice for students and parents. Tips and resources to help families navigate the college admission essay.

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July 11, 2026

Keren Thoms

Why Summer Is the Smartest Time to Start Your College Essay

Whether you're just beginning to think about your college applications or staring at a blank page, now is the perfect time to get started. By investing a few weeks this summer, you'll enter senior year with confidence, momentum, and one of the most important parts of your application already underway.

May 29, 2026

Erin Hubbman

Keep Summer Fun – Preparing For College

5 tips for students to help make their summertime both an investment into their future and rewarding for its own sake.

April 22, 2026

Keren Thoms

Our mantra: Process. Plan. Schedule.

College essays can seem overwhelming, but they don’t have to be. And neither do family discussions about essays.

April 8, 2026

Keren Thoms

Is it still okay to write about politics?

Encourage your student to step away from the topic and spend time making sure they know what a personal statement is, why they are writing it, how it fits into the application, who reads it, and what admissions readers are looking for.

March 5, 2026

Keren Thoms

Invest in Yourself: Why Professional College Essay Training Is Worth It

This is not generic editing. It is mentorship in storytelling — tailored to competitive admissions. The strongest applicants are rarely the ones who go it alone. They are the ones who seek guidance, refine their narrative, and present themselves with intention.

February 9, 2026

Keren Thoms

How Do Colleges Use the Essays?

Assuming you are qualified academically for the school, effective essays can make a difference, tipping the balance in your favor when colleges must choose between applicants with similar qualifications.

January 5, 2026

Keren Thoms

What Do Admissions Want?

Since Wow opened in 2009, the answer to the question, What do admissions officers look for in a college essay? has not changed. The college essay has always offered an opportunity to show someone you may never meet just what kind of person you are.

December 22, 2025

Keren Thoms

Essay 101 From the Pros

In general, no matter what prompt you’re answering, your essay should be a story about you, focused on you.

December 8, 2025

Keren Thoms

What Is a College Essay, Anyway?

As admission to the nation’s most selective schools becomes more and more competitive, the college essay has increased in significance as well. That means to gain admission to college today, it’s likely you will need to write at least one college essay—and probably more.

November 24, 2025

Keren Thoms

Trust the College Essay Process

Here’s some insight from David Bersell, who has been with us for more than seven years, has worked with hundreds of students, trained countless IECs and school counselors, and supervises training for our team of coaches.

October 10, 2025

Keren Thoms

College Essay Secrets Podcast – Crack The Code

Few writing tasks feel as overwhelming—or as high-stakes—as the college application essay. But what if crafting a compelling personal statement could actually be simple?

September 15, 2025

Keren Thoms

Theme: The Secret to a Great College Essay

A standout college essay isn’t about shocking drama or the “perfect” story—it’s about theme. Your theme gives your essay focus, purpose, and power. It’s what turns a simple story into a meaningful statement that captures who you are.