Answers
Every question about college essays, applications, and admissions strategy — answered by Kenneth Offricht, Harvard Ed.M., MFA, 3,500+ hours of coaching.
AI & Technology
What Colleges Are Actually Looking For
Essay Craft: Fundamentals
- How to Make a College Essay Stand Out
- College Essay Voice
- College Essay Voice and Tone (Advanced)
- Show, Don’t Tell in the College Essay
- College Essay Hooks
- Best College Essay Introductions
- How to End a College Essay
- How Personal Should a College Essay Be?
- How Long Should a College Essay Be?
- Should You Use Humor in Your College Essay?
- Should You Start Your College Essay With a Quote?
Essay Craft: Process
Essay Strategy & Topics
- What Is an Identity Narrative and Why Do You Need One?
- College Essay Topics: How to Find the Right One
- College Essay Topics to Avoid
- The Anti-Cliche Checklist for Common App Prompt 1
- Best Common App Essay Prompts
- The Art of the Humble Brag in Your College Essay
- Tell Them You’re Passionate — Or Make Your Passion Unmistakable?
- You Need a Tragic Backstory — Myth or Truth?
- College Essay Examples That Worked: What to Learn From Them
- Common App Essay Examples That Worked
Supplemental Essays
- What Makes a Good Supplemental Essay?
- How to Write a Why Us Essay
- Why Major Essay Examples: What Actually Works
- Challenge Essay Examples: What Actually Works
- Diversity Essay Examples: What Actually Works
- How to Write About Diversity Without Using a Template
- Identity Essay Examples: What Actually Works
- Supplemental Essay Examples That Actually Worked
- How to Answer the Community Essay
- How to Write a 100-Word College Supplement
- Can I Reuse Supplemental Essays for Multiple Schools?
- Can I Reuse Supplemental Essays for Different Schools?
UC System
Activities & Application Materials
- College Activities List Examples: How to Write Yours
- How to Show Leadership If You Weren’t the President of a Club
- How to Quantify Impact for Community Service
- Does a Part-Time Job Count as a High-Signal College Activity?
- What to Do If Your Extracurriculars Were Cancelled or Cut
- How to Use the Additional Information Section on Common App
- How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter From a Teacher
- How to Use a Substack or Podcast as a Digital Portfolio
- Should You Submit an Optional Video Introduction?
- How to Update Colleges on New Achievements After You Submit
Showing the Right Qualities
Building Your College List
Timing & Decision Strategy
Market, Money & Advanced Strategy
The system behind the answers
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