Amid a sea of applications, college hopefuls have just a few opportunities to stand out: grade-point average and test scores; extracurricular activities; and, of arguably increasing importance, the ...

On a gray November morning, stacks of essays sat on an admissions counselor’s desk at a New England liberal arts college. She had already read 60 that week. “I could tell within the first five lines ...

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 ...