application-essays

Getting into Columbia University is no picnic. How is it done? What’s the secret? Much of it, obviously, has to do with the application essays....

Prompt:

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud,...

Our Sparkler's essay:

I wipe my clammy hands on my skirt as I listen to the last notes of the Rondo alla turca by Mozart. I’m up...

The Essay:

Pressed against the house, I felt it bringing me closer. The sun beat across my back as I painted on my canvas. I recoiled...

This prompt is a pretty typical one: describe a significant experience. Basically, the school wants to know a little more about you, beyond your resume,...

Metaphors and similes are a part of any writer’s toolkit, and can transform a basic essay into a great story. However, it's easy to fall...