At its core, Irena Smith’s job as an independent college counselor means being a writing coach. With a PhD in comparative literature, the former Stanford admissions officer helps her teenage clients ...

If you talk to your friends — or worse, your parents talk to their friends — you might feel like you need to write a heroic narrative about overcoming monumental challenges while accumulating an ...

This Q&A first appeared in Write at the Edge, a newsletter from Mallary Tenore Tarpley featuring tips and best practices for seasoned and amateur writers who want to hone their craft. Subscribe to ...

This post was paid for by an advertiser. The Herald-Dispatch newsroom was not involved in its creation. Your college essay is one of the most personal and impactful parts of your application. While ...