University of California
Ethan Sawyer
How to Write the UC Essay Prompts 2024/2025 (+ ...

This guide covers how to write the UC essay prompts (or PIQs) with exercises and essay examples to help you along the way.

Common App, Student Resources
Ethan Sawyer
How to Write a Successful Common App Activities ...

Write an impressive college activities list for your common app using this step-by-step guide and awesome activities list for college applications example, with notes on how to select the right verbs and to decide how many hours per week to list. 

How to Write a Successful Common App Activities List
Personal Statement
Ethan Sawyer
27 Outstanding College Essay Examples From Top ...

Use these outstanding college essay examples to learn how to write your personal statement and supplemental essays for the college application.

Supplemental Essays
Ethan Sawyer
Why This College Essay Guide + Examples

Stand out on your Why This College essay. Read our Why This College essay examples and follow our clear guidelines to make sure you avoid potential pitfalls, include essential details in your Why This School essay, and use our tried-and-true research tools.

Student Resources
Andrew Simpson
How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation for ...

Learn how to ask for a letter of recommendation for college with my comprehensive step-by-step guide and real-world examples

Brainstorm

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The Roles & Identities Exercise

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The Roles & Identities Exercise

CEG’s Roles and Identities Exercise can be a great way for students to brainstorm topics and/or content for both personal statements and supplemental essays for their college application.

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What Should I Write My College Essay About? How to Brainstorm + Examples

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What Should I Write My College Essay About? How to Brainstorm + Examples

A guide + examples and analysis to the often-confusing process of how to brainstorm and write a college essay (AKA personal statement).

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4 Values-Focused College Essay Brainstorming Exercises

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4 Values-Focused College Essay Brainstorming Exercises

Try these values-focused college essay topic brainstorming exercises to stand out when applying to college through the common app.

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The Great Personal Insight Question Test

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The Great Personal Insight Question Test

Determine how good your Personal Insight Questions are and learn how to edit and improve your UC essays.

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The Values Exercise

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Brainstorming before writing is a MAJOR key to coming up with successful topics and ideas for your college essay. With the Values exercise, you can connect to your core values and beliefs in a way that inspires authentic sharing (and a pretty darn good essay).

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21 College Essay Topics & Ideas That Worked (Guide + Examples)

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21 College Essay Topics & Ideas That Worked (Guide + Examples)

Looking for some amazing college essay topics and ideas? We’ve got all the brainstorming exercises and sample topics to help you generate you write an amazing college application essay.

The Essence Objects Exercise - College Essay Brainstorming

The Essence Objects Brainstorming Exercise is a perfect way to get your creative juices flowing before sitting down to write your college essays. In this exercise from College Essay Guy, you will reflect on your life and generate a ton of content to bring your Personal Statement to life.

The Feelings & Needs Exercise

College Essay Guy walks you through the feelings & needs brainstorming exercise to learn how to add detail and structure your college application essay or personal statement.

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The Great College Essay Test

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The Great College Essay Test

College Essay Guy goes over how to write a great college essay and the five tips for revising a college essay. Will your essay pass The Great College Essay Test? Find out in this blog.

The "Everything I Want Colleges to Know About Me" List: A Brainstorm Exercise

Here’s another brainstorming exercise from College Essay Guy that helps you connect to your own life and present it in a way that will delight colleges in your essays, applications, and interviews.