by Nick L. Writer’s block. These two words have plagued writers ever since ancient Mesopotamians began scrawling ideas into clay tablets, and the advent of a long list of helpful writing tools— from the typewriter to the modern computer—haven’t made things any easier for writers who find themselves searching in vain for the next word. Whether you’re just beginning and trying to come up with an exciting subject for your
by Michelle After days of typing and staring blankly at a computer screen, you’ve managed to complete a first draft of a college essay! But upon rereading your draft, your brow furrows. Something seems to be missing—but what? What are some important details that students can miss and forget to include in their college essays? 1.Name of an event Once, a student working on an essay wrote a paragraph on
by Sarah M. Many students aim to be “well-rounded” when they apply for college. Great grades, high test scores, a sport, an instrument, and handful of clubs and some work experience all combine to create the complete package, right? I’m not here to say that any of those things are bad. Of course they’re not! But in general, the idea of the well-rounded student just doesn’t work that well, as
by Michelle One popular prompt that pops up often for college essays would be a question like ‘Describe a community you are a part of’ or ‘Describe how you have contributed to your community.’ These prompts can prove puzzling to many students, who may be unsure how to describe a community. Beyond the TV-perfect image of a community being made up of a group of friends in a fancy New
by Tony T. Summer is coming up soon, and what you do in summer may help you in many perspectives and also help you get into colleges. Thinking about finding a job, being a volunteer or doing some research this summer? There are many summer jobs high school students can do. Some popular high school summer jobs include swimming lessons instructor, lifeguarding, pool cleaning, starting a blog, tutoring, babysitting, pet
by Albert L. It. No, I’m not talking about the killer clown that preys on your deepest fears. However, overreliance on the word “it” in your writing should scare you. This seemingly harmless pronoun is the antithesis of clarity in writing. I understand the allure of this word for writers. It is a catchall to mean almost anything. You might say, EssayNarwhal Blogger, you just used it. And yes, I
by Jennifer L. Applying to college has become much more complex than in the past when parents applied. It can have a stressful impact on students with performance expectations and making all the “right” decisions for admission into their dream college. The most important role for parents and guardians in the college application process is one of SUPPORT. Here are some ideas for providing that support to your student: 1.
by Sarah M. As your junior year draws to a close, college applications are probably an undeniable, crucial, anxiety-inducing task that you plan to start… soon. But summer begins, and December starts to seem very far off. The task of writing can seem overwhelming, and it can be all too easy to push those essays back to the end of the summer, or the fall, or even beyond. Here are
by Tony T. Summer is a critical time for college applicants because it offers you a unique opportunity to take advantage of your free time and work on your application materials and to explore colleges. Here are a few reasons why: During the summer, you have the chance to reflect on academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and personal experiences. You can use this time to plan and strategize how you want
by Michelle At some point, an Essay Narwhal may find themselves needing to describe a setting in their essays. For prompts like ‘Why would you choose this college?’ (when you’ve had a chance to visit) or ‘describe your community and a problem you fixed in it’, knowing how to give readers a sense of place through your writing can be especially important. An earlier post, Chewing the Scenery, does give
by Jennifer L. Vising a college campus is one of the most important ways of discovering which campus is the best fit for you. You can experience the school behind the website and social media posts and truly get the “vibe” of the school. By visiting and looking at a college through your eyes, you begin to determine what college meets your specific needs. What is important to you in
by Michelle Pick up your pen and cross out those lines about a 1st place science award or winning a statewide music competition. While accomplishments and academic awards may have been hard-earned, they may not show the most attention-grabbing or important parts of your personality in the college application essays. So what are some stronger tips on how to stand out in college essays and show your unique self? 1.
by Tony T. The Year of 2023 has proven to be another incredible year in college admissions. With the test-optional policy in place for most colleges, dramatically increasing applications caused a dramatic drop of the admission rate for some schools. With a jaw-dropping 120,000 applications for Class 2027, NYU admitted 9,600 applicants with a historic low admission rate of 8%, compared to Class 2026’s 105,000 applications with the admission rate
