I work with rising high school seniors to help them identify the meaningful, personal stories that make for standout admissions and scholarship essays. Subscribe to my newsletter to get the latest college admission and essay writing information.
Finals Week Chaos, Summer Planning & Free College Webinars
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Hi, Reader! Last week, my son's school was one of thousands affected by the Canvas LMS data breach. The timing was brutal — right in the middle of finals week. For 24 hours, many students couldn't access assignments, grades, or announcements. Teachers couldn't submit feedback. The entire system that schools and students had come to depend on was suddenly gone. It forced an uncomfortable question: What happens when the tech we rely on fails? We're more dependent on these systems than we realize. It definitely makes me think about how I store (and back up) critical information — whether it's about my business or they're family photographs. Students who were affected are advised to change their Canvas password and turn on two-factor authentication. For the full breach details and what you should know, read more from NPR. Graduation Parties Are ComingCaps and gowns, thank-you cards, celebrations. If you're stocking up on party supplies or gifts for the grads in your life, here's my curated list on Amazon. A little something for the parties, a little something for the students. Summer Is Your Gap-Closing WindowBy the end of junior year, most students have a sense of what's missing from their application. Are they a fit for their intended major? Have they shown real leadership? Done meaningful service? This summer is a great time to close any gaps they find. Students who want to show deeper engagement with their major might consider taking a free online course through Coursera, join a relevant project, or start research. If they need to demonstrate leadership, they can join a summer program or take on a role in a club when school starts back up. If service is the gap, there's time to identify a cause and commit to consistent work through senior year. Free Webinars Worth Your TimeFor Juniors: College Essay & Application Kick-off (2-part series)Join Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy) and former admissions officer Tom Campbell for a free 2-day webinar series designed specifically for juniors. Part 1: How to Write an Outstanding Personal Statement
Part 2: How to Create an Outstanding College Application
Can't make it live? Recordings will be available 1–2 business days after each session. For Parents: Supporting Your Teen Through the College Essay ProcessLearn how College Essay Guy approaches the college essay journey and how you can best support your child at home. Choose one of two live dates (recordings will be sent after the session, so register even if you're not sure you can attend!).
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Julia Byrd: Essay Coach
I work with rising high school seniors to help them identify the meaningful, personal stories that make for standout admissions and scholarship essays. Subscribe to my newsletter to get the latest college admission and essay writing information.
Hi, Reader! We hit a huge milestone this week: May 1. If you're a current senior who committed to a school — congratulations. That's a big decision, and you made it. Go celebrate. For everyone else, May 1 is a quieter kind of milestone. The season is shifting. AP exams are wrapping up, and finals are just around the corner ... as is summer! And if you're a rising senior, the countdown timer on your own essay season has just about started. So let me ask you something — and I mean this as an...
Hi, Reader! April is almost over, which means summer is closer than it feels — and the college prep clock is ticking (although admittedly a little louder for some of you than others). To help turn "to do" into "done," I put together a quick grade-by-grade checklist of what's most useful to do right now and over the next few months. Find your grade (or your student's), and take it one step at a time. 9th Graders Start building a summer reading list. Fiction, nonfiction, whatever you'll...
Hi, Reader! Spring is one of my favorite times of year in this work — not because things slow down (although I do love catching up on TV and hobbies), but because I'm seeing the students who want to have a smooth application season start to think about how they can make that happen. And, of course, planning out their main essay (also called the Common App essay or the Personal Statement) is a big part of having that smooth season. Here’s the truth about the college essay: it doesn’t write...