Long-form guides for every part of the application.
Essays. Recommendations. Activities. Awards. Common App. Written by founders who actually got in.
Writing the application
How essays, supplements, and the Additional Info section actually get read.
- 5 min read
The Common App Essay: a structure that actually works
Most college essays fail in the first three sentences. Here is the structure that does not, with real examples and the five mistakes that cost students offers every year.
- 6 min read
Supplement Essays: a strategy for writing twelve of them well
How to write the 'why us' essay so it reads like Wesleyan and not like a Mad Libs of the school's website. Plus the four supplement archetypes that show up everywhere.
- 4 min read
The Additional Information section: when to use it, when to leave it blank
Most students treat Additional Info as bonus space and shove a whole second essay in there. AOs read it as a flag. Here is what it is actually for.
Strategy
Activities, awards, recommendations. The pieces that frame everything else.
- 6 min read
The Activities Section: a Tier 1 to 4 framework
A simple way to evaluate your own extracurriculars the way an admissions officer does. Plus, the formatting moves that turn a weak description into a strong one in under fifty words.
- 6 min read
Letters of Recommendation: who to ask, when, and what to give them
Most students ask the wrong teacher and then send a one-line email three weeks before the deadline. Here is the version that actually gets you a strong letter.
- 4 min read
Awards and Honors: what counts and how to phrase it
Five slots, plenty of pressure to fill them, and a real difference between national and 'school-only' that AOs read every time. The framework, plus phrasing that does not sound like padding.
Planning
Building the list. Timing the cycle. Showing up well in interviews.
- 5 min read
Building Your College List: reach, match, safety, done right
Most lists are top-heavy because students cannot stomach including their actual safeties. Here is how to build a list you would still be excited about if you only got into the bottom half.
- 5 min read
Alumni Interviews: how to prep for one without sounding rehearsed
Most alumni interviews are conversations, not interrogations. Here is what they actually evaluate and the seven questions you should be ready for.
- 5 min read
General Tips: narrative cohesion, demonstrated interest, and the application as a whole
The application is not five separate documents. AOs read it as one story. Here are the threads that hold the strongest applications together.
From the journal
First-person notes from people who got in.
- 8 min read
Busting Top 5 College Application Myths
In the journey of higher education, the college application process is a critical milestone. However, with a myriad of details and nuances, it's no surprise…
- 12 min read
Extracurriculars Ranking List
Extracurricular activities form a key part of any student's college application, often serving as the platform to demonstrate skills, passions, and commitments…
- 15 min read
Reviewing my Harvard Admission's File
Hey! I'm Khoi Nguyen, one of the co-founders of Kolly and a current Harvard student! Venturing into the world of university applications can often feel like…