In the 2026 admissions cycle, college essays are more influential than ever as test-optional policies persist and application numbers rise. Experts stress vulnerability, specificity, and demonstrating ...

Are students reading at all these days? Source: Liz Swan / author Every year, my writing program hosts a summer seminar in which faculty members introduce new teaching strategies (e.g., what is ...

Every year, prospective college students are challenged with writing an admissions essay that not only tells their story but also makes them stand out in a way that compels the admissions officer to ...

In a new study, researchers developed a series of artificial intelligence tools that can scan through essays in college applications, picking out evidence of key personal traits. That includes ...

“My Common App essay is one of the best things I’ve written,” Krishna says. “It is basically everything that I am in one piece of paper — a crash course to myself.” College essays loom large for high ...