The College Essay Advisors Podcast

Join Stacey and Becca as they dive into the nuances of AI in higher education, particularly its role in the college admissions process. They discuss evolving AI tools for students, share insights on university policies, and reflect on their own experiences (and those of their students) with AI. AI policies from the Top 30 Colleges and Universities: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/ai-use-in-co...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss The Uncommon College Essay: An Approachable Guide to an Intimidating Process, Stacey’s new book that walks students and parents through CEA’s step-by-step approach to drafting compelling, successful admissions essays. Stacey offers listeners insight into what they can expect from the book and how they can apply what they’ve learned to their own application ess...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss how STEM applicants can enhance their own natural writing abilities, differentiate themselves from other applicants with similar relevant experiences in this hypercompetitive field, and reimagine what it means to be creative in the context of college application essays. The Benefits, Cost, and Process of Working with a College Essay Advisor: https://www.colleg...

Join Stacey and Becca as they offer advice to parents and students searching for college essay assistance and share the questions you should ask to ensure you hire the right college essay coach for your family. The Benefits, Cost, and Process of Working with a College Essay Advisor: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/college-essay-advisors-the-benefits-cost-and-process-of-working-with-a-college-...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the purpose of the Impact Essay, review Impact Essay prompts from schools like Princeton and Northwestern, and offer guidance on how to write supplemental essays about community service that avoid common clichés while making an impact on admissions. More about the Impact Essay: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/the-impact-essay/ Watch some of our YouTube vi...

Join Stacey and Becca as they break down the medical school secondary essay process and provide helpful information regarding the timeline, the most common secondary essay questions that you can expect to see, and how to set yourself up for success before you become inundated with essay requests. (Hint: it helps to stay organized!)  Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our team: https://www.colleg...

Join Stacey and Becca as they offer insight on how medical school applicants can craft compelling personal statements for the AAMC application. They address the timeline of med school admissions and how to think strategically about the stories you tell, given common secondary application essay questions (which we’ll dive into more in our upcoming episode!). Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our...

Join Stacey and Becca as they explain the difference between being deferred and being waitlisted, what being waitlisted really means, and what you can do to increase your odds of securing an acceptance (hint: write a unique waitlist letter!).  Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our team: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-advising/ Follow us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the Transfer Objective Statement. They cover the most frequent mistakes transfer applicants make while writing their admissions essays, as well as advice for drafting transfer essays that stand out. Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our...

Join Stacey and Becca as they offer applicants tips for processing the disappointment of rejection, insight into the admissions decision process, and recommendations for how applicants can optimize their admissions essays ahead of Regular Decision deadlines. Sign up for your Rejection Review:  https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-advising/the-rejection-deferral-review/ Access CEA's...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss what being deferred means and what you can do to improve your odds of admission in the Regular Decision application round—both for your top-choice school and the remaining schools on your list.  Sign up for your Deferral Review:  https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-advising/the-rejection-deferral-review/ Access our Ivy League Deferral Guides: https...

Join Stacey and Becca as they offer listeners insight as to what applicants can expect upon signing up for an expert assessment of their college essay draft(s) and discuss their methods for constructively delivering feedback to young writers. Sign up for your college essay assessment: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-advising/assessment-and-revision-services/ Watch some of our YouTu...

Join Stacey and Becca as they walk you through one of their favorite ways of brainstorming for the personal statement: the object exercise! Take a look around your room and identify a few objects that are near and dear to you, then reflect on what they represent to you or remind you of. You may just identify a conduit to an impactful college essay topic! Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://w...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss strategies for writing essays about hardship that emphasize positive qualities that will empower you to succeed in higher education, rather than relying on common platitudes. They also touch on the pressure many marginalized students feel to “sell their pain” by sharing traumatic stories in their college essays and offer advice on how to avoid writing about ch...

Join Stacey and Becca as they review common Activity Essay prompts, discuss the purpose of the essay within the scope of the larger application, offer guidance on which of your activities to expand upon, and flag common pitfalls to sidestep.  Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Work one-on-one with an Advisor fro...

Join Stacey and Becca as they weigh the risks and benefits of writing about religion, faith, and politics in your college essay. Can applicants address potentially controversial topics without polarizing admissions? How should their school lists factor into the decision? Listen to get some expert advice from the people behind College Essay Advisors. Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.yo...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the risks that accompany reading too many college essay examples and ways students and parents alike can best set themselves up for success before starting the college essay writing process. Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our team: ht...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the dangers of writing about someone else in your college essay and what you can do to make sure the spotlight shines on you (your strengths, your character, your candidacy)!  Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our team: https://www.colle...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the challenges of writing about one of the most common college essay topics: summer camp. Is it possible to write about camp while still differentiating yourself from other applicants with similar stories? Learn how this common experience can be a featured player in your story without taking center stage. Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.c...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the role of the Additional Information Essay in the college application. They cover the purpose of this text box and the kinds of circumstances that warrant an essay, as well as the dangers of submitting a superfluous essay. Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Access our Supp...

Join Stacey and Becca as discuss whether to (and how to) write about mental illness in your college admissions essay. Read our Common App Prompt Guide: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/portfolio-items/2024-25-common-application-essay-prompts-guide/ Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Work one-on-one with an A...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the pros and cons of writing about neurodiversity in your college admissions essays. Whether you’re considering writing about your Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, learning differences, or ADHD, Stacey and Becca are here to offer some advice on how to write about your lived experience. Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsI...

Join Stacey and Becca as they talk all things twins! Distinguishing yourself from similarly qualified applicants is hard enough as it is, let alone someone who shares your DNA; luckily, Stacey and Becca have tips for twins (and triplets) writing college admissions essays that shine. Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiK...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the infamous Diversity Essay. They cover creative approaches to writing about identity and whether there are any risks involved with writing about race, sexuality, gender, etc. in a post-affirmative action admissions landscape.  Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Work one-on...

Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the 2023-24 Yale University supplemental essay prompts. Part 2 of 2! Access our 2023-24 Yale University Supplemental Essay Guide: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/supplemental-essay/yale-university-2023-24-supplemental-essay-prompt-guide/ Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeq...