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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April 1, 2024

Kim Lifton

The Easiest Way To Write Your College Application Personal Statement (#ClassOf2025)

Beware of the gimmicks and promises surrounding the college essay writing process. We hope you’ll ignore them because there really are no shortcuts.

March 1, 2024

Joe Kane

Get Ready to Write Your Common App Essay

Senior Writing Coach Joe Kane shares his best advice for getting started on the personal statement.

January 8, 2024

Sammy Saperstein

Wow’s Best College Essay Writing Tips

Consider watching this whole video to gain even more insights into Wow's signature college essay-writing process.

October 1, 2023

Kim Lifton

Kim’s Tips for Trimming College Essays

Would you like a professional college essay review from the folks who train the other pros who guide students on college application essay writing?

October 1, 2023

Joe Kane

Tell Your Students: Don’t Revise College Essays When You’re Nervous!

When your college essay is done, reviewed, proofed - leave it alone. Don't revise your college essays when you are nervous - or about to click send on your Common Application!

September 29, 2023

Kim Lifton

How to Ace Michigan’s Essay Prompts?

Here are the prompts for the 2021-22 MIT college essay supplement, and some insight and prep questions to help you get started.

September 18, 2023

Kim Lifton

How to Parse the UC Personal Insight Questions

Wow shows you how to parse The University of California 4 supplemental admissions essays questions, chosen from 8 prompts.

August 30, 2023

Kim Lifton

How to Write the Common App Essay (2023-24)

What should I write about?" is one of the most common questions we get from students about the common app essay prompts.

August 5, 2023

Sammy Saperstein

What’s the Biggest Mistake Students Make in their College Essays?

How does telling your story add to your application? What do colleges already know? What do you want them to know? Why does this story matter?

July 31, 2023

Kim Lifton

How to Answer Any Supplemental College Essay

Many colleges require supplemental essays. Top of the list: The Why Us? college essay. Why should any college pick you?

June 21, 2023

Kim Lifton

Kate’s College Admissions Trends for 2023

Now that the 2022-2023 college application season is over, let's explore some of the latest admission trends and what they could mean for students applying to college this fall.

June 21, 2023

Joe Kane

The Personal Statement Needs No Hook

Focusing on hooks places too much emphasis on the beginning, not the whole story. Students don't need a hook to get attention in the admissions office.