The College Essay Guy Blog

Common App

Guide to Understanding Bridge Programs

Guide to Understanding Bridge Programs

College bridge programs? What are they anyhow? College Essay Guy gives an overview and explains how these programs help low income, first gen students succeed.

,

Common App vs Coalition App: Pros & Cons

,
Common App vs Coalition App: Pros & Cons

What’s the difference between the Coalition and Common Application? Which one should you choose? This guide will break the two platforms down and help you decide how to apply.

, ,

Common App Personal Statement vs. UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs)

, ,
Common App Personal Statement vs. UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs)

Applying to colleges via the Common Application and the University of California application? Wondering if you can just copy and paste your responses from one app to another, and be done with it? The short answer: We wouldn’t recommend it.

,

The 2025-2026 Common App Prompts (and 7 Example Essays & Analysis)

,

Learn how to navigate which common app essay prompt to use for writing your personal statement when applying to college. Which common app prompt is best? How do you choose? Learn more here.

,

How to Write a Great Extracurricular Activity Essay: Complete Guide + Examples 2024

,

A college asks you to tell them more about one of your extracurricular activities. How do you show them what years of work look like in just a few hundred words? Check out this complete guide for how to write an extracurricular activity essay, plus get inspired by tons of example essays from students like you.

Which Common App Prompt is Best?

The Common Application Essay prompts and a breakdown of which one you should answer and why.

,

How to Improve Your Mediocre Extracurricular Essay in 30 Minutes

,

Examples and analyses of extracurricular essays demonstrate that proving why your essay matters is the key to leaving an impression on admissions counselors.