Thoughtful guidance for ambitious journeys.

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Parent Guidance

Can You Use AI For Your College Essays? Has AI Made College Essays Sound Better? Well... Polished writing is NOT really what makes you memorable. Here’s what does.

Can you use AI for college essays without losing the student behind the writing? AI can improve grammar, clarity, and structure, but it can also flatten voice, repeat generic ideas, and even conflict with a college’s policy. In this parent focused guide, we look at current research on AI assisted writing, explain what the findings do and do not prove, and show how parents can help daughters keep their thinking, stories, and personality unmistakably their own.

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Experiences & Opportunities

Years of Work But Only 150 Characters to Explain It: Why Most Extracurriculars Sound Forgettable on the Common App Activity List How to Make Yours Stand Out Even If They Seem Just... Ordinary

You spent years building your activities. Now the Common App gives you just 150 characters to explain each one. Learn how to decide what deserves the space, turn ordinary-sounding experiences into specific evidence of contribution and impact, and choose activities strategically across different college applications. BONUS: We show you how the same thinking can help you build better brag sheets so each recommender adds a distinct perspective to your application.

All About Colleges

The Research University Trap: Why a Famous Lab Is Not College Strategy & How to (Properly) Answer Your "Why This University" Essay? (Part 1 of 2)

If your “Why This University?” essay says you want to pursue research, how much do you actually know about the opportunities you're naming? A famous lab or an R1 label tells you surprisingly little about what YOU could actually do there. In Part 1, we show you how to research who can participate, when you can start, how students get involved, and what the path from your first semester to the opportunities you ultimately want could realistically look like.

Applications & Essays

Writing Tips: You’re Answering Your Dream College's Supplemental Essay (s) the Wrong Way (Probably...)

The 2026/2027 admissions season is changing, and last year’s application checklist is no longer enough. From essays that accidentally tell the same story 10 times to college lists built around acceptance rates instead of actual fit, small decisions can have bigger consequences than you think. Here are the first 3 of our 6 tips for building a stronger application. And yes, you’ll want Part 2 before deciding you already have this figured out!

Applications & Essays

Lower Test Scores Can Still Strengthen Your College Application. Not Sending It May Even Hurt Your Chances. The Full Guide On When You Should Submit Your SAT or ACT Scores

Think your SAT or ACT score is too low to submit? Not necessarily. A score below a college’s typical range can still provide valuable information when admissions officers consider the context in which you earned it. We look at what score ranges actually mean, surprising Dartmouth research on test-optional admissions, and how to decide whether to submit, retake, or spend your limited application time somewhere else.