Resources
There is so much information and advice on the web regarding college applications and essay writing. Here is just a tiny taste of websites, articles and ideas to inform and inspire your college application process. I will continue to update, so please check back often.
College Selection
- National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) NACAC National College Fairs
Schedules for college fairs throughout the U.S.
- Unigo: College Matching and School Reviews
College search tools, student reviews and advice
- College Confidential
Sourced by students, it’s similar to a Zagat’s guide to college. If you’re not reading this, your kid should be.
- Big Future
Another useful plug-in tool to identify potential college matches.
- Colleges That Change Lives
A very interesting listing of only forty schools inspired by a book of the same name by Loren Pope, the late NY Times education editor. It could help with the log-jam feeling that there are only so many schools to choose from. It lists several lesser-known schools that turn out well-educated, highly accomplished grads.
Applications
- The Common Application
The Common Application serves over 1 million students and school officials annually through its free online First-Year and Transfer applications. Over 500 public and private four-year colleges and universities are members.
- The Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success
The Coalition is a diverse group of more than 130 U.S. colleges and universities that is committed to making college more accessible to students from all economic backgrounds.
- University of California Schools
Be aware that the UC schools have their own application and require four essays.
- The Universal College Application
The UCA administrators intended for their application to serve a wider applicant pool than the Common App reaches. Therefore, the UCA doesn’t require an essay or letters of recommendation. However, far fewer schools belong to the UCA than belong to The Common App. Check with your school guidance counselor for the best application provider for you.
- Naviance
Naviance provides comprehensive college and career readiness tools to middle and high schools.
Writing
- Connecticut College: Essays That Worked
If you want to see samples of successful college application essays, Google “college essays that worked” and you’ll find almost unlimited examples from a multitude of colleges and universities. Although it can be inspiring and informative to see others’ work, resist any urge to borrow specific ideas or phrasing. Use the examples here only to get your own creative juices flowing.
- About.com: College Admissions
The college application section of About.com is filled with useful and timely information on everything from college selection to applications to financing.
- Copy Editing Marks
Knowing the editing symbols can be very useful during the essay writing and editing process.
- Robots or Aliens as Parents? Colleges Gauge Applicants’ Creativity
- 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays
More successful college essays.
- Words Into Type
Words Into Type by Marjorie E. Skillin and Robert M. Gray, published by Prentice Hall, is the most definitive and easy to use of all the professional grammar and usage reference guides.
- The New York Times: Naked Confessions of the College-Bound
- The New York Times: Your Money 2017 College Application Essay Contest Winners
Although these topics may seem too personal or even off-limits, note how writing honestly about money, work and social status allowed these students to reveal their life stories.
General
- The New York Times: Go West, Young People! And East!
- The New York Times’ The Choice Blog
Although The Times discontinued this blog in 2013, its very valuable content is still available online and is filled with insights about everything from college selection and trends to essays that worked.
- The Learning Network: Teaching & Learning With The New York Times
For current thinking on learning and teaching, check The Times’ blog, The Learning Network.
- Chinese Teen’s Inspiring Essay on Instant Ramen Got Him Into the University of Rochester
One never knows what essay topic will push the right buttons, but this one seems to support the essential advice to always “write what you know.”