Ask Yourself, “What Can I Omit?” Cutting the narrative is a tricky beast in a personal essay, because you want to be thorough and tell your whole story.

I tell this to students not to depress them about their own chances of writing a memorable essay, but instead to give them relief against having to write The Great American College Essay.

As I revised my personal statement college essay for the ninth time, I grumbled in frustration. I had spent the past month editing, rewriting, and brainstorming topics that would hopefully let ...

Leslie Jamison's incredible new essay collection, The Empathy Exams, covers topics ranging from random violence to HBO's Girls to abortion to bad romance to stereotypes, proving she can write ...

That’s what supplemental essays are for. It’s Not an Academic Essay: This is a narrative essay, so focus on storytelling and be creative. It’s okay to use informal language and personal ...

A strong personal history statement begins with an authentic voice and personal narrative. This can reflect your journey to graduate school, any obstacles you’ve encountered, and how you've overcome ...

When I first taught personal narrative in my freshmen Literature and Writing course last year I planned a traditional unit. I practiced descriptive writing techniques by having them listen to the ...

How can you write an essay that helps advance you in the eyes of the admissions officers and makes a real impression? Here are some tips to get you started. Start early. Do not leave it until the ...

An essay can seem like a daunting assignment if writing isn't a strength for you. We've asked our writing coaches to provide tips on how to write an essay.

The Common App is the hub for students’ applications—including their activities lists, letters of recommendation, and ...