The College Essay Advisors Podcast

Episod

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  43: How to Write an Uncommon Community Essay 23.07.2026 17min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they explore how applicants can think outside the box when choosing topics for their community essays. They share strategies for identifying authentic, meaningful communities and explain how a fresh perspective can help students present a fuller, more compelling picture of themselves to admissions. Order your copy of Stacey's new book: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/the-uncommon-college-essay-book/ Work with an Advisor one-on-one: https://www.collegeessayadvis...
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  42: Are Any College Essay Topics Off Limits? 16.07.2026 15min

  Students often hear that topics like mental health, loss, service trips, injuries, or family challenges are “too risky” for college essays—but is that actually true? Join Stacey and Becca as they unpack what makes a topic risky, what makes it work, and how to tell the difference before you start writing. Order your copy of Stacey's new book: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/the-uncommon-college-essay-book/ Work with an Advisor one-on-one: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-...
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  41: Using AI to Draft College Essays: Yay or Nay? 29.08.2025 13min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they dive into the nuances of AI in higher education, particularly its role in the college admissions process. They discuss evolving AI tools for students, share insights on university policies, and reflect on their own experiences (and those of their students) with AI. AI policies from the Top 30 Colleges and Universities: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/ai-use-in-college-essays-what-top-30-admissions-offices-will-and-wont-allow/ Order your copy of Stacey's ne...
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  40: The Uncommon College Essay (Stacey's New Book!) 15.08.2025 15min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss The Uncommon College Essay: An Approachable Guide to an Intimidating Process, Stacey’s new book that walks students and parents through CEA’s step-by-step approach to drafting compelling, successful admissions essays. Stacey offers listeners insight into what they can expect from the book and how they can apply what they’ve learned to their own application essays. Order your copy of Stacey's new book: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/the-uncommon-col...
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  39: How to Write College Essays as a STEM Applicant 17.07.2025 17min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss how STEM applicants can enhance their own natural writing abilities, differentiate themselves from other applicants with similar relevant experiences in this hypercompetitive field, and reimagine what it means to be creative in the context of college application essays. The Benefits, Cost, and Process of Working with a College Essay Advisor: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/college-essay-advisors-the-benefits-cost-and-process-of-working-with-a-colleg...
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  38: Questions to Ask When Choosing a College Essay Advisor 03.07.2025 7min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they offer advice to parents and students searching for college essay assistance and share the questions you should ask to ensure you hire the right college essay coach for your family. The Benefits, Cost, and Process of Working with a College Essay Advisor: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/college-essay-advisors-the-benefits-cost-and-process-of-working-with-a-college-essay-advisor/ Work with an Advisor one-on-one: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one...
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  37: How to Write a Strong Impact Essay (About Community Service) 19.06.2025 20min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the purpose of the Impact Essay, review Impact Essay prompts from schools like Princeton and Northwestern, and offer guidance on how to write supplemental essays about community service that avoid common clichés while making an impact on admissions. More about the Impact Essay: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/the-impact-essay/ Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Wo...
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  36: Medical School Secondaries: What to Know and How to Prepare 02.05.2025 16min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they break down the medical school secondary essay process and provide helpful information regarding the timeline, the most common secondary essay questions that you can expect to see, and how to set yourself up for success before you become inundated with essay requests. (Hint: it helps to stay organized!) Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our team: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/graduate-admissions/ How to Write a Strong Personal Comments Essay: htt...
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  35: Writing the AMCAS Personal Comments Essay for Medical School Applications 28.03.2025 13min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they offer insight on how medical school applicants can craft compelling personal statements for the AAMC application. They address the timeline of med school admissions and how to think strategically about the stories you tell, given common secondary application essay questions (which we’ll dive into more in our upcoming episode!). Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our team: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/graduate-admissions/ How to Write a Strong Personal...
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  34: How to Write a Distinctive Waitlist Letter to Your Top-Choice School 24.03.2025 12min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they explain the difference between being deferred and being waitlisted, what being waitlisted really means, and what you can do to increase your odds of securing an acceptance (hint: write a unique waitlist letter!). Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our team: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-advising/ Follow us on social: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeEssayAdvisors Twitter: https://twitter.com/CollegeEssayAdv Instagram: https://...
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  32: How to Approach the College Transfer Objective Statement 09.01.2025 13min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the Transfer Objective Statement. They cover the most frequent mistakes transfer applicants make while writing their admissions essays, as well as advice for drafting transfer essays that stand out. Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our team: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-advising/ Follow us on social: Facebook:...
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  30: What to Do if You Are Rejected in the Early Action/Early Decision Round 12.12.2024 12min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they offer applicants tips for processing the disappointment of rejection, insight into the admissions decision process, and recommendations for how applicants can optimize their admissions essays ahead of Regular Decision deadlines. Sign up for your Rejection Review: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-advising/the-rejection-deferral-review/ Access CEA's Expert Supplemental Essay Guides: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/supplemental-essay-guid...
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  29: Early Action and Early Decision Deferrals: What They Mean and What You Can Do About It! 10.12.2024 11min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss what being deferred means and what you can do to improve your odds of admission in the Regular Decision application round—both for your top-choice school and the remaining schools on your list. Sign up for your Deferral Review: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-advising/the-rejection-deferral-review/ Access our Ivy League Deferral Guides: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/deferral-guide/ Watch some of our YouTube videos: ht...
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  28: The College Essay Advisors Assessment Service Option (Bonus episode!) 29.08.2024 7min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they offer listeners insight as to what applicants can expect upon signing up for an expert assessment of their college essay draft(s) and discuss their methods for constructively delivering feedback to young writers. Sign up for your college essay assessment: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-advising/assessment-and-revision-services/ Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDe...
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  27: College Essay Brainstorming Exercises (Part 3: Objects) 22.08.2024 15min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they walk you through one of their favorite ways of brainstorming for the personal statement: the object exercise! Take a look around your room and identify a few objects that are near and dear to you, then reflect on what they represent to you or remind you of. You may just identify a conduit to an impactful college essay topic! Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Access our Suppl...
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  26: How to Write About Hardship and Trauma in Your College Essay 15.08.2024 19min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss strategies for writing essays about hardship that emphasize positive qualities that will empower you to succeed in higher education, rather than relying on common platitudes. They also touch on the pressure many marginalized students feel to “sell their pain” by sharing traumatic stories in their college essays and offer advice on how to avoid writing about challenges that may read as trivial to admissions. Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.y...
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  25: The Dos and Don’ts of the Activity Essay 08.08.2024 16min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they review common Activity Essay prompts, discuss the purpose of the essay within the scope of the larger application, offer guidance on which of your activities to expand upon, and flag common pitfalls to sidestep. Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our team: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-advising/ Follow us on social...
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  24: How to Write About Religion, Faith, & Politics in Your College Essay 01.08.2024 21min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they weigh the risks and benefits of writing about religion, faith, and politics in your college essay. Can applicants address potentially controversial topics without polarizing admissions? How should their school lists factor into the decision? Listen to get some expert advice from the people behind College Essay Advisors. Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Work one-on-one with ...
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  23: The Dangers of Reading College Essay Examples 25.07.2024 16min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the risks that accompany reading too many college essay examples and ways students and parents alike can best set themselves up for success before starting the college essay writing process. Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our team: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-advising/ Follow us on social: Facebook: https:/...
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  22: How to Write Your College Essay About Someone Else (While Still Centering Your Story) 18.07.2024 18min

  Join Stacey and Becca as they discuss the dangers of writing about someone else in your college essay and what you can do to make sure the spotlight shines on you (your strengths, your character, your candidacy)! Watch some of our YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MaLsIu1vdE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6VxiKDeqQc Work one-on-one with an Advisor from our team: https://www.collegeessayadvisors.com/one-on-one-advising/ Follow us on social: Facebook: https://www.faceb...