I had a friend when I was a kid who had Japanese fighting fish. One night, during a sleepover party at her house, one of them devoured the other. I remember staring at them for a long time before hitting the sack — their fancy, elaborate blue fins like diaphanous curtains swaying this way and […]
I am posting this in response to the many questions I get regarding the differences between the Common App essay and the essay for UK schools (UCAS). Indeed, they are different creatures! The Common App asks you to tell a story. UCAS asks you to describe your experiences. They are asking for two very […]
Gabrielle Glancy is featured in this article in Marin Magazine. Some useful information here. Click here for article. Anxiety has reached an all time high in college admissions these days. Gone are the times when a 4.0 grade point average and a 2400 on the SAT all but guaranteed a space at Stanford or an Ivy […]
Recently, I was interviewed by Indian Currents magazine on the role of Independent College Counselors in today’s world of admissions. Here is a transcript of that interview. I was happy to answer Kamini’s questions because these are often the ones I get asked by prospective students and their parents. The world of college admissions has gotten much more […]
Embarking on The College Process does not begin in senior year. On the contrary, there are many steps along the way that are very important. Here is an outline of what needs to happen when: Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors In reality, the college process begins freshman year when students choose their courses and begin to […]
ACT dates for the prompts for the Common App Essay. Remember you only have to pick one topic (or write on a topic of your choice). Word limit 650. ACT Test Dates 2018-19 As for tips on how to write that winning essay? The Art of the College Essay, written by yours truly, is a great place to start! […]
How do you begin writing your college essay(s)? I get this question all the time. Many people think you simply brainstorm a topic and start writing! Where’s the best place to start? The beginning, of course! NOT! It’s a grave misconception that writing is linear. It’s nearly impossible, starting from scratch, to […]
In my news feed this morning appeared an article in the Wall Street Journal that seemed to be aimed directly at me. You can tell a whole heck of a lot more about a kid by reading their essay(s) than by seeing their SAT scores. Entitled Some Elite Colleges Review an Application in 8 Minutes (or Less), the article […]
As you know, there are seven prompts this year for the Common App essay. And here they are: 2017-2018 Common Application Essay Prompts If I were to ask you to pick one prompt and set to writing on it, you might start to sweat with anxiety. 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or […]
It’s not just grades, SAT/ACT scores and extracurriculars that get my students into the colleges of their dreams. In fact, the college essays can make or break an otherwise excellent application. I am convinced that the extremely high acceptance rate my students achieve is directly related to the outstanding essays they submit. Crucial to […]