Many college applications require a personal essay, which can be daunting for students to write. But a few simple tips, some introspection and insight into what admissions officers are looking for ...

The sheer number of works written about these experiences made them a cliché in the college admissions community. Instead, Kim advises writing an essay about something personal: "We always said ...

founder of the College Essay Guy, a website that offers free and paid essay-writing resources. College essays and letters of recommendation, Sawyer says, are likely to carry more weight than ever ...