by j9robinson | Sep 9, 2010
It feels like a set-up. First, you are supposed to reveal how wonderful you are in 500 words–about the number you can cram onto a postcard in your teensiest handwriting. Second, you must sell yourself to the college of your dreams—setting yourself apart from the...
by j9robinson | Sep 4, 2010
College Admissions Essays A Step-By-Step Guide to Telling Your Story Step 1: Write down 3-5 “defining qualities” about yourself. Think of how one of your parents would sum you up to a stranger. My Julie, why, she’s creative, ambitious, caring...
by j9robinson | Feb 4, 2010
I began this blog when my daughter was a junior in high school and starting her college application process. Like a lot of parents and applicants, I thought she needed some amazing experience in order to write a fabulous essay. The good news is that I was wrong! In...
by j9robinson | Oct 21, 2009
A new client, who I will call Sarah, met with me for the first time to talk about topic ideas. When I pressed her about her interests, her hobbies, her passions, she kept insisting that she was a well-rounded, strong student, but didn’t have any one thing that...
by j9robinson | Aug 25, 2009
From article in the New York Times: June 23, 2009, 12:22 PM As an inaugural post, Martha C. Merrill, the dean of admission and financial aid of Connecticut College, and a graduate of the class of 1984, encourages incoming high school seniors (with her Top Ten tips):...
by j9robinson | Jun 24, 2019
***Need in-person help getting starting? Check out my Jumpstart Webinars. Only $30! FREE if you can’t afford them. Two left this month! Tips on Turning Problems into Hot Topics So you have thought of a topic you want to write about in your college application...
by j9robinson | Jun 19, 2019
Need Help Starting Your Essays? I have a Jumpstart Webinar THIS Saturday morning, June 22! Only $30, includes my online essay writing course, too! Webinar Details Click Here! Keep Your Summer Chill! Many of you are already out for summer, or at the finishing line....
by j9robinson | Jul 20, 2018
Okay, so this is a bit of hyperbole on my part. All students have plenty to write about for their college application essays. However, from what I’ve seen working with college-bound students for the last decade, many of our most talented, driven and intelligent...
by j9robinson | May 1, 2018
Find Your Problems and You Will Find Your Best Stories Every year, I write a post for all you students who are ready to start your college application essay. All you need is to find that one magic topic idea. There are many ways to brainstorm ideas for college...
by j9robinson | Apr 23, 2018
What You Can Learn From Michael Brown’s College Application Essay I must have watched the viral video of Michael Brown learning he got into Stanford at least three times in a row. Such a feat and well-deserved accomplishment for what seems like an...
