The College Solutions Blog

Valuable insights from Lynn O’Shaughnessy
a nationally recognized college expert.

college essay
Featured image for “Why college essays are more important during COVID-19”
July 29, 2020

Why college essays are more important during COVID-19

College essays should be more important during the 2021-2022 college admission season than in any other admission cycle in modern times. Why would the college essay be so critical for this admission cycle? Simple. It’s because most colleges – including the vast majority of the most elite and prestigious institutions – have gone test-optional due to the pandemic. Without standardized...
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Featured image for “3 Steps To Writing a Winning College Essay”
August 6, 2016

3 Steps To Writing a Winning College Essay

This is the time to start your college essay. That’s why I am excited to share a three-step method to create a winning college essay. This guest post comes from Janine Robinson, who created Essay Hell, a phenomenal blog that’s stuffed with advice about creating college admission essays. By Janine Robinson After working with thousands of students from all over...
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Featured image for “College Essay Tips for Parents and Students”
October 26, 2015

College Essay Tips for Parents and Students

It’s college essay time. That dreaded stretch of the college admission process that high school seniors AND their parents often hate. I feel for everyone going through this right now, which is why I want to help. In this post, you’ll see a video that provides college-essay tips for high school seniors and another video that gives parents advice on...
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Featured image for “A favorite college essay tip”
June 14, 2015

A favorite college essay tip

I’ve looked at plenty of college essays over the years and the vast majority of them have been b-o-r-i-n-g. The mediocre essays that I’ve seen have usually been guilty of one or more of these no-no’s: 1. They lacked details. 2. They didn’t convey the student’s voice. 3. They covered too much territory. (Writing about something that lasted seconds, minutes...
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Featured image for “My Favorite College Essay Tip”
August 18, 2014

My Favorite College Essay Tip

I’ve looked at plenty of college essays over the years and the vast majority of them have been b-o-r-i-n-g. The essays that I’ve seen have usually been guilty of one or more of these no-no’s: 1. They lacked details. 2. They didn’t convey the student’s voice. 3. They covered too much territory. (Writing about something that lasted seconds, minutes or...
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Featured image for “What’s Happening In Your College Essay?”
November 1, 2013

What’s Happening In Your College Essay?

Since we’re in the midst of college essay season, I wanted to share some wonderful advice about how to write a great college essay. Janine Robinson, my go-to-person for the best college-essay tips, who shares her tremendous knowledge on her website – Essay Hell. What’s Happening In Your College Essay? Here’s one way to check if your college admissions essay...
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Featured image for “How To Avoid Essay Hell”
June 26, 2013

How To Avoid Essay Hell

I was thrilled recently when I discovered Essay Hell. I believe any teenager, who will have to tackle a college essay, should visit this EXCELLENT website for valuable tips on how to write a killer college essay. Janine Robinson, who is a former newspaper reporter and an essay coach, has stuffed her website with advice on how to write a...
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Featured image for “The Newest Change for the Common Application”
February 8, 2013

The Newest Change for the Common Application

Earlier this week the Common Application organization released its new college essay prompts. For months plenty of people (myself included) worried that the advisory board of 15 counselors in charge of revising the prompts were going to recommend killing off Option 6, which encourages applicants to write creatively. Sure enough, Option 6 that allows applicants to write on the topic...
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Featured image for “A Lovely College Essay Example”
December 21, 2012

A Lovely College Essay Example

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that most students dread writing their college essays. I fear that the task will become harder for many students beginning in the next admission season. As I mentioned in a previous post, the nonprofit that overseas the Common Application has announced plans to eliminate what many consider to be the best college...
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Featured image for “Uh Oh! Messing With the Common Application Essay”
December 19, 2012

Uh Oh! Messing With the Common Application Essay

Many of you probably aren’t aware of the changes that are in store next year for the main essay in the Common Application. The news isn’t good.  After conferring for 1 1/2 years, a committee of counselors decided to strike a blow against teenage creativity. If you’ve seen the Common Application, you can appreciate that there isn’t a lot of...
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