Collegiate Gateway Blog

Collegiate Gateway Blog2022-08-20T16:05:55-04:00

How to Write Your Personal Essay for College, Part I: Brainstorming

Are you feeling overwhelmed at the thought of writing your personal essay for the Common Application? We walk you through some tried-and-true tips for crafting a tight, captivating personal essay that will wow admissions officers. In this blog post, Part I: Brainstorming, we cover how to develop the best topics to write about. In our next blog post, Part II: Narrative Structures, we provide several options for how you can tell your story.

Teacher Recommendations: How and Who to Ask

Strong teacher recommendations for college applications personalize and differentiate you and place you within the context of other students. Select teachers who can create a picture of you as an individual, share your unique qualities, and tell the colleges how you will contribute to the academic world. Read our tips for choosing recommenders and suggested responsibilities for students.

What is a High School Profile and What Role Does It Play in College Admissions?

When your college application is considered, your transcript is evaluated side-by-side with your high school profile. This blog post will discuss the information included in the profiles, including GPA, grade and test score distribution, rigor of curriculum, and special programs. To illustrate how this information is shared, we will draw from the examples of five school profiles at public and private secondary schools.

The Role of Grades in College Admissions

Colleges view your academic performance in high school as the strongest predictor of your academic success in college. Find out which grades matter the most and why colleges weigh them so heavily in assessing your application. Read our tips for optimizing your academic coursework in high school as a foundation for successful college admissions.

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