Some people love the “gap year” idea (a year without formal schooling between high school and college).  Others say, “Nose to the grindstone! Get it done!” Fortunately for our daughter… read more →

The Common Application has announced that the 2016-2017 personal statement essay prompts will be the same as the 2015-2016 prompts. With these questions in hand, high school juniors can now… read more →

The search engine/content aggregator Spokeo announces their own Spokeo Connections Scholarship, as well as a site that is an ongoing list for scholarships. Fall Deadline: July 1st 11:59PM (PST) Winner… read more →

February 6, 2015  What can a psychology professor interested in the use of language find out when he runs 50,000 college admissions essays through a computer-programmed study? I was curious… read more →

January 27, 2015 The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation’s (AAACF) online scholarship application system is now accepting applications.  All applications are due on March 17, 2015 (unless otherwise noted on the… read more →

As a college application essay coach, I am starting to receive emails from my students, announcing good news about being admitted to early action schools like University of Michigan and… read more →

November 30, 2014. I love lists. I click, think, and explore new ideas.  Lists can lead to a fork in the road you didn’t know was there.  Thanksgiving stomachs full?… read more →

Oct 16, 2014. In my seventh year speaking in the St Clair County KnowHow2Go Ask an Expert Series, I presented “Seven Secrets for Writing a Standout College Application Essay.”  The… read more →

Sept 30, 2014.  Sitting in front of me these days—in my office and on Skype—are high school seniors and their parents who sometimes look worried, stressed or befuddled about the… read more →

For years I’ve been wrestling with this question:  What is the quickest, clearest way to describe what colleges want to learn about a student in his or her college application… read more →