Instant English

Could the "why" essay become a thing of the past?

Cornell Removes Universitywide Essay Question for Fall 2027 Applicants Applicants to colleges for the 2026-27 application cycle will see a distinct change in how they apply to the No.1 school in New York — for the first time since 2024, Cornell’s application will not include a 350-word universitywide essay question. 

Tomorrow, August 1st, many colleges will have their applications ready! It's an exciting time for students and their parents, but can also be a stressful time. Hope this article helps minimize some of the stressors.

What Students Want Parents to Understand About the Admissions Process Incoming college freshmen say parents should understand the pressure of the application process and find a balance between giving support and giving space.

One thing I learned from touring colleges with my kids: what I wanted in a school was very different from what they wanted. Hope this article will be helpful to parents going through the process.

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Many students think that they should start the college application process once they start their senior year; however, if they finish their personal statement during the summer, it will make for a more stress-free senior year!

Student-to-Student Advice on the Summer Before Senior Year Recent high school graduates advise starting the college essay during the summer before senior year.

There seems to be lots of news about supplemental essays for current college applicants.

Some Colleges Drop Supplemental Essays for 2026–27 Administrators said the essays weren’t particularly helpful in making admissions decisions. But it’s too soon to know whether the changes are part of a larger trend.

Great news for students! I also wonder if this tendency may have to do with universities cutting staff.

Is The College Application Supplemental Essay Dying Out? In recent weeks, a wave of prestigious schools has announced that they will no longer require students to submit supplemental essays.

What this former Penn Director of Admissions thinks about some stereotypical essay topics.

Rating the MOST COMMON Admissions Essay Topics Common essay topics are not automatically bad.They are just harde...

Nice to see that some colleges want students to express themselves on their applications, even if it means describing some form of discourse.

What Dartmouth’s $25 Million Gift Signals To Applicants What Dartmouth's historic investment in dialogue reveals about college admissions, intellectual curiosity, and the applicants who stand out.

Helps to think ahead!

How Rising Juniors Can Best Prepare for College Admissions College Advisor Senior Admissions Officer Alvin Carter discusses the college essay, standardized testing, demonstrated interest and more.

Proof that college acceptances are not all about grades!

Ivy League admission decisions have been released. As a college admissions expert, here's what surprised me most. Ivy Day is when all Ivy League colleges release admission decisions. This year was historically competitive, as strong applicants were rejected.