essay review about app

25 Elite Common App Essay Examples (And Why They Worked)

Applying to competitive colleges? You'll need to have a stand-out Common App essay.

In this article, I'm going to share with you:

• 25 outstanding Common App essay examples
• Links to tons of personal statement examples
• Why these Common App essays worked

If you're looking for outstanding Common App essay examples, you've found the right place.

If you're applying to colleges in 2024, you're going to write some form of a Common App essay.

Writing a great Common App personal essay is key if you want to maximize your chances of getting admitted.

Whether you're a student working on your Common App essay, or a parent wondering what it takes, this article will help you master the Common App Essay.

What are the Common App Essay Prompts for 2024?

There are seven prompts for the Common App essay. Remember that the prompts are simply to help get you started thinking.

You don't have to answer any of the prompts if you don't want (see prompt #7 ).

Here's the seven Common App essay questions for 2022, which are the same as previous years:

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

The last prompt is a catch-all prompt, which means you can submit an essay on any topic you want.

Use the Common App prompts as brainstorming questions and to get you thinking.

But ultimately, you should write about any topic you meaningfully care about.

What makes an outstanding Common App personal essay?

I've read thousands of Common App essays from highly motivated students over the past years.

And if I had to choose the top 2 things that makes for incredible Common App essays it's these:

1. Being Genuine

Sounds simple enough. But it's something that is incredibly rare in admissions.

Authenticity is something we all know when we see it, but can be hard to define.

Instead of focus on what you think sounds the best to admissions officers, focus on what you have to say—what interests you.

2. Having Unique Ideas

The best ideas come about while you're writing.

You can't just sit down and say, "I'll think really hard of good essay ideas."

I wish that worked, but it sadly doesn't. And neither do most brainstorming questions.

The ideas you come up with from these surface-level tactics are cheap, because no effort was put in.

As they say,

"Writing is thinking"

By choosing a general topic (e.g. my leadership experience in choir) and writing on it, you'll naturally come to ideas.

As you write, continue asking yourself questions that make you reflect.

It is more of an artistic process than technical one, so you'll have to feel what ideas are most interesting.

25 Common App Essay Examples from Top Schools

With that, here's 25 examples as Common App essay inspiration to get you started.

These examples aren't perfect—nor should you expect yours to be—but they are stand-out essays.

I've handpicked these examples of personal statements from admitted students because they showcase a variety of topics and writing levels.

These students got into top schools and Ivy League colleges in recent years:

Table of Contents

• 1. Seeds of Immigration
• 2. Color Guard
• 3. Big Eater
• 4. Love for Medicine
• 5. Cultural Confusion
• 6. Football Manager
• 9. Mountaineering
• 10. Boarding School
• 11. My Father
• 12. DMV Trials
• 13. Ice Cream Fridays
• 14. Key to Happiness
• 15. Discovering Passion
• 16. Girl Things
• 17. Robotics
• 18. Lab Research
• 19. Carioca Dance
• 20. Chinese Language
• 21. Kiki's Delivery Service
• 22. Museum of Life
• 23. French Horn
• 24. Dear My Younger Self
• 25. Monopoly

Common App Essay Example #1: Seeds of Immigration

This student was admitted to Dartmouth College . In this Common App essay, they discuss their immigrant family background that motivates them.

Although family is a commonly used topic, this student makes sure to have unique ideas and write in a genuine way.

Common App Prompt #1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. (250-650 words)

I placed three tiny seeds, imagining the corn stalk growing while the pumpkin vines wrapped around it; both sprouting, trying to bear fruit. I clenched a fistful of dirt and placed it on them. “Más,” my grandpa told me as he quickly flooded the seeds with life-giving dirt.

Covered. Completely trapped.

Why This Essay Works:

Everyone has a unique family history and story, and often that can make for a strong central theme of a personal statement. In this essay, the student does a great job of sharing aspects of his family's culture by using specific Spanish words like "yunta" and by describing their unique immigration story. Regardless of your background, sharing your culture and what it means to you can be a powerful tool for reflection.

This student focuses on reflecting on what their culture and immigrant background means to them. By focusing on what something represents, rather than just what it literally is, you can connect to more interesting ideas. This essay uses the metaphor of their family's history as farmers to connect to their own motivation for succeeding in life.

This essay has an overall tone of immense gratitude, by recognizing the hard work that this student's family has put in to afford them certain opportunities. By recognizing the efforts of others in your life—especially efforts which benefit you—you can create a powerful sense of gratitude. Showing gratitude is effective because it implies that you'll take full advantage of future opportunities (such as college) and not take them for granted. This student also demonstrates a mature worldview, by recognizing the difficulty in their family's past and how things easily could have turned out differently for this student.

This essay uses three moments of short, one-sentence long paragraphs. These moments create emphasis and are more impactful because they standalone. In general, paragraph breaks are your friend and you should use them liberally because they help keep the reader engaged. Long, dense paragraphs are easy to gloss over and ideas can lose focus within them. By using a variety of shorter and longer paragraphs (as well as shorter and longer sentences) you can create moments of emphasis and a more interesting structure.

What They Might Improve:

This conclusion is somewhat off-putting because it focuses on "other students" rather than the author themself. By saying it "fills me with pride" for having achieved without the same advantages, it could create the tone of "I'm better than those other students" which is distasteful. In general, avoid putting down others (unless they egregiously deserve it) and even subtle phrasings that imply you're better than others could create a negative tone. Always approach your writing with an attitude of optimism, understanding, and err on the side of positivity.

Common App Essay Example #2: Color Guard

This student was admitted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Check out their Common App essay that focuses on an extracurricular:

Sweaty from the hot lights, the feeling of nervousness and excitement return as I take my place on the 30-yard line. For 10 short minutes, everyone is watching me. The first note of the opening song begins, and I’m off. Spinning flags, tossing rifles, and dancing across the football field. Being one of only two people on the colorguard means everyone will see everything. It’s amazing and terrifying. And just like that, the performance is over.

Flashback to almost four years ago, when I walked into the guard room for the first time. I saw flyers for a “dance/flag team” hanging in the bland school hallway, and because I am a dancer, I decided to go. This was not a dance team at all. Spinning flags and being part of the marching band did not sound like how I wanted to spend my free time. After the first day, I considered not going back. But, for some unknown reason, I stayed. And after that, I began to fall in love with color guard. It is such an unknown activity, and maybe that’s part of what captivated me. How could people not know about something so amazing? I learned everything about flags and dancing in that year. And something interesting happened- I noticed my confidence begin to grow. I had never thought I was that good at anything, there was always someone better. However, color guard was something I truly loved, and I was good at it.

The next year, I was thrown into an interesting position. Our current captain quit in the middle of the season, and I was named the new captain of a team of six. At first, this was quite a daunting task. I was only a sophomore, and I was supposed to lead people two years older than me? Someone must’ve really believed in me. Being captain sounded impossible to me at first, but I wouldn’t let that stop me from doing my best. This is where my confidence really shot up. I learned how to be a captain. Of course I was timid at first, but slowly, I began to become a true leader.

The next marching season, it paid off. I choreographed many pieces of our show, and helped teach the other part of my guard, which at the time was only one other person. Having a small guard, we had to be spectacular, especially for band competitions. We ended up winning first place and second place trophies, something that had never been done before at our school, especially for such a small guard. That season is still one of my favorite memories. The grueling hours of learning routines, making changes, and learning how to be a leader finally paid off.

Looking back on it as I exit the field after halftime once again, I am so proud of myself. Not only has color guard helped the band succeed, I’ve also grown. I am now confident in what my skills are. Of course there is always more to be done, but I now I have the confidence to share my ideas, which is something I can’t say I had before color guard. Every Friday night we perform, I think about the growth I’ve made, and I feel on top of the world. That feeling never gets old.

Common App Essay Example #3: Big Eater

This Common App essay is a successful Northwestern essay from an admitted student. It has a unique take using the topic of eating habits—an example of how "mundane" topics can make for interesting ideas.

This essay uses their relationship with food to explore how their perspective has changed through moving high schools far away. Having a central theme is often a good strategy because it allows you to explore ideas while making them feel connected and cohesive. This essay shows how even a "simple" topic like food can show a lot about your character because you can extrapolate what it represents, rather than just what it literally is. With every topic, you can analyze on two levels: what it literally is, and what it represents.

Admissions officers want to get a sense of who you are, and one way to convey that is by using natural-sounding language and being somewhat informal. In this essay, the student writes as they'd speak, which creates a "voice" that you as the reader can easily hear. Phrases like "I kind of got used to it" may be informal, but work to show a sense of character. Referring to their parents as "Ma" and "Papa" also bring the reader into their world. If you come from a non-English speaking country or household, it can also be beneficial to use words from your language, such as "chiemo" in this essay. Using foreign language words helps share your unique culture with admissions.

Rather than "telling" the reader what they have to say, this student does a great job of "showing" them through specific imagery and anecdotes. Using short but descriptive phrases like "whether it was a sum or Sam the bully" are able to capture bigger ideas in a more memorable way. Showing your points through anecdotes and examples is always more effective than simply telling them, because showing allows the reader to come to their own conclusion, rather than having to believe what you're saying.

This student's first language is not English, which does make it challenging to express ideas with the best clarity. Although this student does an overall great job in writing despite this hindrance, there are moments where their ideas are not easily understood. In particular, when discussing substance addiction, it isn't clear: Was the student's relationship with food a disorder, or was that a metaphor? When drafting your essay, focus first on expressing your points as clearly and plainly as possible (it's harder than you may think). Simplicity is often better, but if you'd like, afterwards you can add creative details and stylistic changes.

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Common App Essay Example #4: Love for Medicine

Here's another Common App essay which is an accepted Dartmouth essay . This student talks about their range of experiences as an emergency medical responder:

I never knew I had the courage to talk a suicidal sixteen-year-old boy down from the edge of a bridge, knowing that he could jump and take his life at any moment.

I never knew I had the confidence to stand my ground and defend my treatment plan to those who saw me as less than capable because of my age or gender.

This essay has lots of detailed moments and descriptions. These anecdotes help back up their main idea by showing, rather than just telling. It's always important to include relevant examples because they are the "proof in the pudding" for what you're trying to say.

This topic deals with a lot of sensitive issues, and at certain points the writing could be interpreted as insensitive or not humble. It's especially important when writing about tragedies that you focus on others, rather than yourself. Don't try to play up your accomplishments or role; let them speak for themselves. By doing so, you'll actually achieve what you're trying to do: create an image of an honorable and inspirational person.

This essay touches on a lot of challenging and difficult moments, but it lacks a deep level of reflection upon those moments. When analyzing your essay, ask yourself: what is the deepest idea in it? In this case, there are some interesting ideas (e.g. "when they were on my stretcher, socioeconomic status...fell away"), but they are not fully developed or fleshed out.

Common App Essay Example #5: Cultural Confusion

This student's Common App was accepted to Pomona College , among other schools. Although this essay uses a common topic of discussing cultural background, this student writes a compelling take.

This student uses the theme of cultural confusion to explain their interests and identity:

Common App Essay Example #6: Football Manager

Here's a UPenn essay that worked for the Common App:

This essay has lighthearted moments in it, such as recognizing how being a football manager "does not sound glamorous" and how "we managers go by many names: watergirls..." Using moments of humor can be appropriate for contrasting with moments of serious reflection. Being lighthearted also shows a sense of personality and that you are able to take things with stride.

The reflections in this essay are far too generic overall and ultimately lack meaning because they are unspecific. Using buzzwords like "hard work" and "valuable lessons" comes off as unoriginal, so avoid using them at all costs. Your reflections need to be specific to you to be most meaningful. If you could (in theory) pluck out sentences from your essay and drop them into another student's essay, then chances are those sentences are not very insightful. Your ideas should be only have been able to been written by you: specific to your experiences, personal in nature, and show deep reflection.

Although this essay uses the topic of "being a football manager," by the end of the essay it isn't clear what that role even constitutes. Avoid over-relying on other people or other's ideas when writing your essay. That is, most of the reflections in this essay are based on what the author witnessed the football team doing, rather than what they experienced for themselves in their role. Focus on your own experiences first, and be as specific and tangible as possible when describing your ideas. Rather than saying "hard work," show that hard work through an anecdote.

More important than your stories is the "So what?" behind them. Avoid writing stories that don't have a clear purpose besides "setting the scene." Although most fiction writing describes people and places as exposition, for your essays you want to avoid that unless it specifically contributes to your main point. In this essay, the first two paragraphs are almost entirely unnecessary, as the point of them can be captured in one sentence: "I joined to be a football manager one summer." The details of how that happened aren't necessary because they aren't reflected upon.

In typical academic writing, we're taught to "tell them what you're going to tell them" before telling them. But for college essays, every word is highly valuable. Avoid prefacing your statements and preparing the reader for them. Instead of saying "XYZ would prove to be an unforgettable experience," just dive right into the experience itself. Think of admissions officers as "being in a rush," and give them what they want: your interesting ideas and experiences.

Common App Essay Example #7: Coffee

This student was admitted to several selective colleges, including Emory University, Northwestern University , Tufts University, and the University of Southern California . Here's their Common Application they submitted to these schools:

I was 16 years old, and working at a family-owned coffee shop training other employees to pour latte art. Making coffee became an artistic outlet that I never had before. I always loved math, but once I explored the complexities of coffee, I began to delve into a more creative realm--photography and writing--and exposed myself to the arts--something foreign and intriguing.

This essay uses coffee as a metaphor for this student's self-growth, especially in dealing with the absence of their father. Showing the change of their relationship with coffee works well as a structure because it allows the student to explore various activities and ideas while making them seem connected.

This student does a great job of including specifics, such as coffee terminology ("bloom the grounds" and "pour a swan"). Using specific and "nerdy" language shows your interests effectively. Don't worry if they won't understand all the references exactly, as long as there is context around them.

While coffee is the central topic, the author also references their father extensively throughout. It isn't clear until the conclusion how these topics relate, which makes the essay feel disjointed. In addition, there is no strong main idea, but instead a few different ideas. In general, it is better to focus on one interesting idea and delve deeply, rather than focus on many and be surface-level.

Near the conclusion, this student tells about their character: "humble, yet important, simple, yet complex..." You should avoid describing yourself to admissions officers, as it is less convincing. Instead, use stories, anecdotes, and ideas to demonstrate these qualities. For example, don't say "I'm curious," but show them by asking questions. Don't say, "I'm humble," but show them with how you reacted after a success or failure.

Common App Essay Example #8: Chicago

Here's another Northwestern essay . Northwestern is a quite popular school with lots of strong essay-focused applicants, which makes your "Why Northwestern?" essay important.

To write a strong Why Northwestern essay, try to answer these questions: What does NU represent to you? What does NU offer for you (and your interests) that other schools don't?

This essay uses a variety of descriptive and compelling words, without seeming forced or unnatural. It is important that you use your best vocabulary, but don't go reaching for a thesaurus. Instead, use words that are the most descriptive, while remaining true to how you'd actually write.

This essay is one big metaphor: the "L" train serves as a vehicle to explore this student's intellectual curiosity. Throughout the essay, the student also incorporates creative metaphors like "the belly of a gargantuan silver beast" and "seventy-five cent silver chariot" that show a keen sense of expression. If a metaphor sounds like one you've heard before, you probably shouldn't use it.

This student does a fantastic job of naturally talking about their activities. By connecting their activities to a common theme—in this case the "L" train—you can more easily move from one activity to the next, without seeming like you're just listing activities. This serves as an engaging way of introducing your extracurriculars and achievements, while still having the focus of your essay be on your interesting ideas.

Admissions officers are ultimately trying to get a sense of who you are. This student does a great job of taking the reader into their world. By sharing quirks and colloquialisms (i.e. specific language you use), you can create an authentic sense of personality.

Common App Essay Example #9: Mountaineering

Here's a liberal arts college Common App essay from Colby College . Colby is a highly ranked liberal arts college.

As with all colleges—but especially liberal arts schools—your personal essay will be a considerable factor.

In this essay, the student describes their experience climbing Mount Adams, and the physical and logistical preparations that went into it. They describe how they overcame some initial setbacks by using their organizational skills from previous expeditions.

This Colby student explains how the process of preparation can lead to success in academics and other endeavours, but with the potential for negative unintended consequences.

Common App Prompt #2: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (250-650 words)

This essay does a great job of having a cohesive theme: mountaineering. Often times, great essay topics can be something simple on the surface, such as your favorite extracurricular activity or a notable experience. Consider using the literal activity as a sort of metaphor, like this essay does. This student uses mountaineering as a metaphor for preparation in the face of upcoming challenge. Using an overarching metaphor along with a central theme can be effective because it allows you to explore various ideas while having them all feel connected and cohesive.

Admissions officers want to see your self-growth, which doesn't always mean your successes. Often times, being vulnerable by expressing your struggles is powerful because it makes you more human and relatable, while providing the opportunity to reflect on what you learned. The best lessons from come failures, and writing about challenge can also make your later successes feel more impactful. Everyone loves to hear an underdog or zero-to-hero story. But counterintuitively, your failures are actually more important than your successes.

This essay has some nice ideas about focusing only on what's in your control: your attitude and your effort. However, these ideas are ultimately somewhat generic as they have been used countless times in admissions essays. Although ideas like this can be a good foundation, you should strive to reach deeper ideas. Deeper ideas are ones that are specific to you, unique, and interesting. You can reach deeper ideas by continually asking yourself "How" and "Why" questions that cause you to think deeper about a topic. Don't be satisfied with surface-level reflections. Think about what they represent more deeply, or how you can connect to other ideas or areas of your life.

Common App Essay Example #10: Boarding School

This personal essay was accepted to Claremont McKenna College . See how this student wrote a vulnerable essay about boarding school experience and their family relationship:

I began attending boarding school aged nine.

Obviously, this is not particularly unusual – my school dorms were comprised of boys and girls in the same position as me. However, for me it was difficult – or perhaps it was for all of us; I don’t know. We certainly never discussed it.

I felt utterly alone, as though my family had abruptly withdrawn the love and support thatI so desperately needed. At first, I did try to open up to them during weekly phone calls, but what could they do? As months slipped by, the number of calls reduced. I felt they had forgotten me. Maybe they felt I had withdrawn from them. A vast chasm of distance was cracking open between us.

At first, I shared my hurt feelings with my peers, who were amazingly supportive, but there was a limit to how much help they could offer. After a while, I realized that by opening up, I was burdening them, perhaps even irritating them. The feelings I was sharing should have been reserved for family. So, I withdrew into myself. I started storing up my emotions and became a man of few words. In the classroom or on the sports field, people saw a self-confident and cheerful character, but behind that facade was someone who yearned for someone to understand him and accept him as he was.

Years went past.

Then came the phone call which was about to change my life. “Just come home Aryan, it’s really important!” My mother’s voice was odd, brittle. I told her I had important exams the following week, so needed to study. “Aryan, why don’t you listen to me? There is no other option, okay? You are coming home.”

Concerned, I arranged to fly home. When I got there, my sister didn’t say hi to me, my grandmother didn’t seem overly enthusiastic to see me and my mother was nowhere to be seen. I wanted to be told why I was called back so suddenly just to be greeted as though I wasn’t even welcome.

Then my mother then came out of her room and saw me. To my immense incredulity, she ran to me and hugged me, and started crying in my arms.

Then came the revelation, “Your father had a heart attack.”

My father. The man I hadn’t really talked to in years. A man who didn’t even know who I was anymore. I’d spent so long being disappointed in him and suspecting he was disappointed in me, I sunk under a flood of emotions.

I opened the door to his room and there he was sitting on his bed with a weak smile on his face. I felt shaken to my core. All at once it was clear to me how self-centered I had become. A feeling of humiliation engulfed me, but finally I realized that rather than wallow in it, I needed to appreciate I was not alone in having feelings.

I remained at home that week. I understood that my family needed me. I worked with my uncle to ensure my family business was running smoothly and often invited relatives or friends over to cheer my father up.

Most importantly, I spent time with my family. It had been years since I’d last wanted to do this – I had actively built the distance between us – but really, I’d never stopped craving it. Sitting together in the living room, I realized how badly I needed them.

Seeing happiness in my father’s eyes, I felt I was finally being the son he had always needed me to be: A strong, capable young man equipped to take over the family business if need be.

Common App Essay Example #11: My Father

This Cornell University essay is an example of writing about a tragedy, which can be a tricky topic to write about well.

Family and tragedy essays are a commonly used topic, so it can be harder to come up with a unique essay idea using these topics.

Let me know what you think of this essay for Cornell:

My father was wise, reserved, hardworking, and above all, caring. I idolized his humility and pragmatism, and I cherish it today. But after his death, I was emotionally raw. I could barely get through class without staving off a breakdown.

Writing about tragedy, such as the loss of a loved one, is a tricky topic because it has been used countless times in college admissions. It is difficult to not come off as a "victim" or that you're trying to garner sympathy by using the topic (i.e. a "sob story"). This essay does a great job of writing about a personal tragedy in a meaningful and unique way by connecting to values and ideas, rather than staying focused on what literally happened. By connecting tragedy to lessons and takeaways, you can show how—despite the difficulty and sorrow—you have gained something positive from it, however small that may be. Don't write about personal tragedy because you think "you should." As with any topic, only write about it if you have a meaningful point to make.

This essay is effective at making the reader feel the similar emotions as the author does and in bringing the reader into their "world." Even small remarks like noting the the "firsts" without their loved one are powerful because it is relatable and something that is apparent, but not commonly talked about. Using short phrases like "That was it. No goodbye, no I love you..." create emphasis and again a sense of relatability. As the reader, you can vividly imagine how the author must have felt during these moments. The author also uses questions, such as "What did I last say to him?" which showcase their thought process, another powerful way to bring the reader into your world.

Admissions officers are looking for self-growth, which can come in a variety of forms. Showing a new perspective is one way to convey that you've developed over time, learned something new, or gained new understanding or appreciation. In this essay, the student uses the "sticker of a black and white eye" to represent how they viewed their father differently before and after his passing. By using a static, unchanging object like this, and showing how you now view it differently over time, you convey a change in perspective that can make for interesting reflections.

Common App Essay Example #12: DMV Trials

Here's a funny Common App essay from a Northwestern admitted student about getting their driver's license.

This topic has been used before—as many "topics" have—but what's important is having a unique take or idea.

What do you think of this Northwestern essay ?

Breath, Emily, breath. I drive to the exit and face a four-lane roadway. “Turn left,” my passenger says.

On July 29, [Date] , I finally got my license. After the April debacle, I practiced driving almost every week. I learned to stop at stop signs and look both ways before crossing streets, the things I apparently didn’t know how to do during my first two tests. When pulling into the parking lot with the examiner for the last time, a wave of relief washed over me.

This essay does a good job of having a compelling narrative. By setting the scene descriptively, it is easy to follow and makes for a pleasant reading experience. However, avoid excessive storytelling, as it can overshadow your reflections, which are ultimately most important.

This essay has some moments where the author may come off as being overly critical, of either themselves or of others. Although it is okay (and good) to recognize your flaws, you don't want to portray yourself in a negative manner. Avoid being too negative, and instead try to find the positive aspects when possible.

More important than your stories is the answer to "So what?" and why they matter. Avoid writing a personal statement that is entirely story-based, because this leaves little room for reflection and to share your ideas. In this essay, the reflections are delayed to the end and not as developed as they could be.

In this essay, it comes across that failure is negative. Although the conclusion ultimately has a change of perspective in that "failure is inevitable and essential to moving forward," it doesn't address that failure is ultimately a positive thing. Admissions officers want to see failure and your challenges, because overcoming those challenges is what demonstrates personal growth.

Common App Essay Example #13: Ice Cream Fridays

This Columbia essay starts off with a vulnerable moment of running for school president. The student goes on to show their growth through Model UN, using detailed anecdotes and selected moments.

My fascination with geopolitical and economic issues were what kept me committed to MUN. But by the end of sophomore year, the co-presidents were fed up. “Henry, we know how hard you try, but there are only so many spots for each conference...” said one. “You’re wasting space, you should quit,” said the other.

This essay has a compelling story, starting from this author's early struggles with public speaking and developing into their later successes with Model UN. Using a central theme—in this case public speaking—is an effective way of creating a cohesive essay. By having a main idea, you can tie in multiple moments or achievements without them coming across unrelated.

This student talks about their achievements with a humble attitude. To reference your successes, it's equally important to address your failures. By expressing your challenges, it will make your later achievements seem more impactful in contrast. This student also is less "me-focused" and instead is interested in others dealing with the same struggles. By connecting to people in your life, values, or interesting ideas, you can reference your accomplishments without coming off as bragging.

This essay has moments of reflection, such as "math and programming made sense... people didn't". However, most of these ideas are cut short, without going much deeper. When you strike upon a potentially interesting idea, keep going with it. Try to explain the nuances, or broaden your idea to more universal themes. Find what is most interesting about your experience and share that with admissions.

Stories are important, but make sure all your descriptions are critical for the story. In this essay, the author describes things that don't add to the story, such as the appearance of other people or what they were wearing. These ultimately don't relate to their main idea—overcoming public speaking challenges—and instead are distracting.

Common App Essay Example #14: Key to Happiness

Here's a Brown University application essay that does a great job of a broad timeline essay. This student shows the change in their thinking and motivations over a period of time, which makes for an interesting topic.

Let me know what you think of this Brown essay:

Common App Prompt #3: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? (250-650 words)

This student's first language is not English, which provides some insight into why the phrasing may not seem as natural or show as much personality. Admissions officers are holistic in determining who to admit, meaning they take into account many different factors when judging your essays. While this essay may not be the strongest, the applicant probably had other qualities or "hooks" that helped them get accepted, such as awards, activities, unique background, etc. Plus, there is some leniency granted to students who don't speak English as their first language, because writing essays in a foreign language is tough in and of itself.

It's good to be confident in your achievements, but you don't want to come across as boastful or self-assured. In this essay, some of the phrasing such as "when I was the best at everything" seems exaggerated and is off-putting. Instead of boosting your accomplishments, write about them in a way that almost "diminishes" them. Connect your achievements to something bigger than you: an interesting idea, a passionate cause, another person or group. By not inflating your achievements, you'll come across more humble and your achievements will actually seem more impactful. We all have heard of a highly successful person who thinks "it's no big deal," which actually makes their talents seem far more impressive.

This essay has some takeaways and reflections, as your essay should too, but ultimately these ideas are unoriginal and potentially cliché. Ideas like "what makes you happy is pursing your passion" are overused and have been heard thousands of times by admissions officers. Instead, focus on getting to unique and "deep" ideas: ideas that are specific to you and that have meaningful implications. It's okay to start off with more surface-level ideas, but you want to keep asking questions to yourself like "Why" and "How" to push yourself to think deeper. Try making connections, asking what something represents more broadly, or analyzing something from a different perspective.

You don't need to preface your ideas in your essay. Don't say things like "I later found out this would be life-changing, and here's why." Instead, just jump into the details that are most compelling. In this essay, there are moments that seem repetitive and redundant because they don't add new ideas and instead restate what's already been said in different words. When editing your essay, be critical of every sentence (and even words) by asking: Does this add something new to my essay? Does it have a clear, distinct purpose? If the answer is no, you should probably remove that sentence.

Common App Essay Example #15: Discovering Passion

Here's a Johns Hopkins essay that shows how the student had a change in attitude and perspective after taking a summer job at a care facility.

It may seem odd to write about your potential drawbacks or weaknesses—such as having a bad attitude towards something—but it's real and can help demonstrate personal growth.

So tell me your thoughts on this JHU Common App essay:

Common App Prompt #5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. (250-650 words)

This student uses vulnerability in admitting that they held preconceived notions about the elderly before this experience. The quote introduces these preconceived notions well, while the description of how this student got their job in the care facility is also engaging.

Admission officers love to see your interactions with others. Showing how you interact reveals a lot about your character, and this essay benefits from reflecting upon the student's relationship with a particular elderly individual.

It is good to be descriptive, but only when it supports your expression of ideas. In this essay, the author uses adjectives and adverbs excessively, without introducing new ideas. Your ideas are more important than having a diverse vocabulary, and the realizations in this essay are muddled by rephrasing similar ideas using seemingly "impressive," but ultimately somewhat meaningless, vocabulary.

This essay touches on some interesting ideas, but on multiple occasions these ideas are repeated just in different phrasing. If you have already expressed an idea, don't repeat it unless you're adding something new: a deeper context, a new angle, a broadened application, etc. Ask yourself: what is the purpose of each sentence, and have I expressed it already?

It's true that almost any topic can make for a strong essay, but certain topics are trickier because they make it easy to write about overly used ideas. In this essay, the main idea can be summarized as: "I realized the elderly were worthy humans too." It touches upon more interesting ideas, such as how people can be reduced down to their afflictions rather than their true character, but the main idea is somewhat surface-level.

Common App Essay Example #16: "A Cow Gave Birth"

This Common App essay for the University of Pennsylvania centers on the theme of womanhood. Not only is it well-written, but this essay has interesting and unique ideas that relate to the student's interests.

Common App Essay Example #17: Robotics

This Common App essay was for Washington University in St. Louis .

This student writes about their experience creating and using an engineering notebook to better document their robotics progress. They share the story of how their dedication and perseverance led to winning awards and qualifying for the national championships.

Lastly, they reflect on the importance of following one's passions in life and decision to pursue a business degree instead of a engineering one.

This essay touches on various lessons that they've learned as a result of their experience doing robotics. However, these lessons are ultimately surface-level and generic, such as "I embraced new challenges." Although these could be a starting point for deeper ideas, on their own they come off as unoriginal and overused. Having interesting ideas is what makes an essay the most compelling, and you need to delve deeply into reflection, past the surface-level takeaways. When drafting and brainstorming, keep asking yourself questions like "How" and "Why" to dig deeper. Ask "What does this represent? How does it connect to other things? What does this show about myself/the world/society/etc.?"

Although this essay is focused on "VEX robotics," the details of what that activity involves are not elaborated. Rather than focusing on the surface-level descriptions like "We competed and won," it would be more engaging to delve into the details. What did your robot do? How did you compete? What were the specific challenges in "lacking building materials"? Use visuals and imagery to create a more engaging picture of what you were doing.

The hook and ending sentences of "drifting off to sleep" feel arbitrary and not at all connected to any ideas throughout the essay. Instead, it comes off as a contrived choice to create a "full circle" essay. Although coming full circle is often a good strategy, there should be a specific purpose in doing so. For your intro, try using a short sentence that creates emphasis on something interesting. For the conclusion, try using similar language to the intro, expanding upon your ideas to more universal takeaways, or connecting back to previous ideas with a new nuance.

Common App Essay Example #18: Lab Research

Common app essay example #19: carioca dance.

Having a natural-sounding style of writing can be a great way of conveying personality. This student does a fantastic job of writing as they'd speak, which lets admissions officers create a clear "image" of who you are in their head. By writing naturally and not robotically, you can create a "voice" and add character to your essay.

This student chooses a unique activity, the Carioca drill, as their main topic. By choosing a "theme" like this, it allows you to easily and naturally talk about other activities too, without seeming like you're simply listing activities. This student uses the Carioca as a metaphor for overcoming difficulties and relates it to their other activities and academics—public speaking and their job experience.

Showing a sense of humor can indicate wit, which not only makes you seem more likeable, but also conveys self-awareness. By not always taking yourself 100% seriously, you can be more relatable to the reader. This student acknowledges their struggles in conjunction with using humor ("the drills were not named after me—'Saads'"), which shows a recognition that they have room to improve, while not being overly self-critical.

Common App Essay Example #20: Chinese Language

The list of languages that Lincoln offered startled me. “There’s so many,” I thought, “Latin, Spanish, Chinese, and French.”

As soon as I stepped off the plane, and set my eyes upon the beautiful city of Shanghai, I fell in love. In that moment, I had an epiphany. China was made for me, and I wanted to give it all my first; first job and first apartment.

Using creative metaphors can be an effective way of conveying ideas. In this essay, the metaphor of "Chinese characters...were the names of my best friends" tells a lot about this student's relationship with the language. When coming up with metaphors, a good rule of thumb is: if you've heard it before, don't use it. Only use metaphors that are specific, make sense for what you're trying to say, and are highly unique.

Whenever you "tell" something, you should try and back it up with anecdotes, examples, or experiences. Instead of saying that "I made conversation," this student exemplifies it by listing who they talked to. Showing is always going to be more compelling than telling because it allows the reader to come to the conclusion on their own, which makes them believe it much stronger. Use specific, tangible examples to back up your points and convince the reader of what you're saying.

Although this essay has reflections, they tend to be more surface-level, rather than unique and compelling. Admissions officers have read thousands of application essays and are familiar with most of the ideas students write about. To stand out, you'll need to dive deeper into your ideas. To do this, keep asking yourself questions whenever you have an interesting idea. Ask "Why" and "How" repeatedly until you reach something that is unique, specific to you, and super interesting.

Avoid writing a conclusion that only "sounds nice," but lacks real meaning. Often times, students write conclusions that go full circle, or have an interesting quote, but they still don't connect to the main idea of the essay. Your conclusion should be your strongest, most interesting idea. It should say something new: a new perspective, a new takeaway, a new aspect of your main point. End your essay strongly by staying on topic, but taking your idea one step further to the deepest it can go.

Common App Essay Example #21: Kiki's Delivery Service

Common App Prompt #6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? (250-650 words)

I spent much of my childhood watching movies. I became absolutely engrossed in many different films, TV shows, and animations. From the movie theatres to the TV, I spent my hours enjoying the beauty of visual media. One place that was special to me was the car. My parents purchased a special screen that could be mounted on the back of the headrest, so that I could watch movies on trips. This benefited both parties, as I was occupied, and they had peace. Looking back, I realize this screen played a crucial role in my childhood. It was an integral part of many journeys. I remember taking a drive to Washington D.C, with my visiting relatives from Poland, and spending my time with my eyes on the screen. I remember packing up my possessions and moving to my current home from Queens, watching my cartoons the whole time. I can comfortably say that watching movies in the car has been an familiar anchor during times of change in my life.

I used to watch many different cartoons, nature documentaries, and other products in the car, yet there has been one movie that I have rewatched constantly. It is called “Kiki’s Delivery Service” by Hayao Miyazaki. My parents picked it up at a garage sale one day, and I fell in love. The style of the animations were beautiful, and the captivating story of a thirteen year old witch leaving home really appealed to me. To be honest, the initial times I watched it, I didn’t fully understand the story but the magic and beauty just made me happy. Then, the more I watched it, I began to see that it was more about independence, including the need to get away from home and establish yourself as your own person. This mirrors how I felt during that period of my life,with mehaving a little rebellious streak; I didn’t agree with my parents on certain topics. That is not the end of the story though. As the years passed, and I watched it a couple more times, although with less frequency than before, my view of this movie evolved yet again.

Instead of solely thinking about the need for independence, I began to think the movie was more about the balance of independence and reliance. In the movie, the girl finds herself struggling until she begins to accept help from others. Looking back, this also follows my own philosophy during this time. As I began to mature, I began to realize the value of family, and accept all the help I can get from them. I appreciate all the hard work they had done for me, and I recognize their experience in life and take advantage of it. I passed through my rebellious phase, and this reflected in my analysis of the movie. I believe that this is common, and if I look through the rest of my life I am sure I would find other similar examples of my thoughts evolving based on the stage in my life. This movie is one of the most important to me throughout my life.

Common App Essay Example #22: Museum of Life

Using visuals can be a way to add interesting moments to your essay. Avoid being overly descriptive, however, as it can be distracting from your main point. When drafting, start by focusing on your ideas (your reflections and takeaways). Once you have a rough draft, then you can consider ways to incorporate imagery that can add character and flavor to your essay.

Admissions officers are people, just like you, and therefore are drawn to personalities that exhibit positive qualities. Some of the most important qualities to portray are: humility, curiosity, thoughtfulness, and passion. In this essay, there are several moments that could be interpreted as potentially self-centered or arrogant. Avoid trying to make yourself out to be "better" or "greater" than other people. Instead, focus on having unique and interesting ideas first, and this will show you as a likeable, insightful person. Although this is a "personal" statement, you should also avoid over using "I" in your essay. When you have lots of "I" sentences, it starts to feel somewhat ego-centric, rather than humble and interested in something greater than you.

This essay does a lot of "telling" about the author's character. Instead, you want to provide evidence—through examples, anecdotes, and moments—that allow the reader to come to their own conclusions about who you are. Avoid surface-level takeaways like "I am open-minded and have a thirst for knowledge." These types of statements are meaningless because anyone can write them. Instead, focus on backing up your points by "showing," and then reflect genuinely and deeply on those topics.

This essay is focused on art museums and tries to tie in a connection to studying medicine. However, because this connection is very brief and not elaborated, the connection seems weak. To connect to your area of study when writing about a different topic, try reflecting on your topic first. Go deep into interesting ideas by asking "How" and "Why" questions. Then, take those ideas and broaden them. Think of ways they could differ or parallel your desired area of study. The best connections between a topic (such as an extracurricular) and your area of study (i.e. your major) is through having interesting ideas.

Common App Essay Example #23: French Horn

This student chose the creative idea of personifying their French horn as their central theme. Using this personification, they are able to write about a multitude of moments while making them all feel connected. This unique approach also makes for a more engaging essay, as it is not overly straightforward and generic.

It can be challenging to reference your achievements without seeming boastful or coming across too plainly. This student manages to write about their successes ("acceptance into the Julliard Pre-College program") by using them as moments part of a broader story. The focus isn't necessarily on the accomplishments themselves, but the role they play in this relationship with their instrument. By connecting more subtly like this, it shows humility. Often, "diminishing" your achievements will actually make them stand out more, because it shows you're focused on the greater meaning behind them, rather than just "what you did."

This student does a good job of exemplifying each of their ideas. Rather than just saying "I experienced failure," they show it through imagery ("dried lips, cracked notes, and missed entrances"). Similarly, with their idea "no success comes without sacrifice," they exemplify it using examples of sacrifice. Always try to back up your points using examples, because showing is much more convincing than telling. Anyone can "tell" things, but showing requires proof.

This essay has a decent conclusion, but it could be stronger by adding nuance to their main idea or connecting to the beginning with a new perspective. Rather than repeating what you've established previously, make sure your conclusion has a different "angle" or new aspect. This can be connecting your main idea to more universal values, showing how you now view something differently, or emphasizing a particular aspect of your main idea that was earlier introduced.

Common App Essay Example #24: Dear My Younger Self

Common App Prompt #7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (250-650 words)

Younger Anna,

• Don’t live your life as if you're constantly being watched and criticized. Chances are, no one is even paying attention to you.
• Wear your retainer.
• Empathy makes your life easier. People who are inexplicably cruel are suffering just as much as the recipients of their abuse. Understanding this makes your interactions with these people less painful.
• Comparing yourself to your classmates is counterproductive. Sometimes you will forge ahead, other times you will lag behind. But ultimately, you’re only racing yourself.
• Speak up to your stepmom.
• Always eat the cake. I couldn't tell you how many times I’ve turned away a slice of cake, only to regret it the next day. If you really can’t commit, do yourself a favor and take a slice home with you.
• Cherish your grandparents.
• Forgive your mother. Harboring resentment hurts you just as much as her. All the time I spent being angry at her could’ve been spent discovering her strengths.

This essay chose a unique structure in the form of a letter addressed to themselves with a list of lessons they've learned. This structure is unique, and also allows the student to explore a variety of topics and ideas while making them all feel connected. It is tricky to not seem "gimmicky" when choosing a creative structure like this, but the key is to make your essay well thought-out. Show that you've put effort into reflecting deeply, and that you aren't choosing a unique structure just to stand out.

This essay is highly focused on lessons they've learned, which shows a deep level of reflection. Your ideas and takeaways from life experience are ultimately most compelling to admissions officers, and this essay succeeds because it is focused almost entirely on those reflections. This student also manages to incorporate anecdotes and mini stories where appropriate, which makes their reflections more memorable by being tangible.

Showing humility and self-awareness are two highly attractive traits in college admissions. Being able to recognize your own flaws and strengths, while not making yourself out to be more than what you are, shows that you are mature and thoughtful. Avoid trying to "boost yourself up" by exaggerating your accomplishments or over-emphasizing your strengths. Instead, let your ideas speak for themselves, and by focusing on genuine, meaningful ideas, you'll convey a persona that is both humble and insightful.

The drawback of having a structure like this, where lots of different ideas are examined, is that no one idea is examined in-depth. As a result, some ideas (such as "intelligence is not defined by your grades") come across as trite and overused. In general, avoid touching on lots of ideas while being surface-level. Instead, it's almost always better to choose a handful (or even just one main idea) and go as in-depth as possible by continually asking probing questions—"How" and "Why"—that force yourself to think deeper and be more critical. Having depth of ideas shows inquisitiveness, thoughtfulness, and ultimately are more interesting because they are ideas that only you could have written.

Common App Essay Example #25: Monopoly

Feeling a bit weary from my last roll of the dice, I cross my fingers with the “FREE PARKING” square in sight. As luck has it, I smoothly glide past the hotels to have my best horse show yet- earning multiple wins against stiff competition and gaining points to qualify for five different national finals this year.

This essay uses the board game "Monopoly" as a metaphor for their life. By using a metaphor as your main topic, you can connect to different ideas and activities in a cohesive way. However, make sure the metaphor isn't chosen arbitrarily. In this essay, it isn't completely clear why Monopoly is an apt metaphor for their life, because the specific qualities that make Monopoly unique aren't explained or elaborated. Lots of games require "strategy and precision, with a hint of luck and a tremendous amount of challenge," so it'd be better to focus on the unique aspects of the game to make a more clear connection. For example, moving around the board in a "repetitive" fashion, but each time you go around with a different perspective. When choosing a metaphor, first make sure that it is fitting for what you're trying to describe.

You want to avoid listing your activities or referencing them without a clear connection to something greater. Since you have an activities list already, referencing your activities in your essay should have a specific purpose, rather than just emphasizing your achievements. In this essay, the student connects their activities by connecting them to a specific idea: how each activity is like a mini challenge that they must encounter to progress in life. Make sure your activities connect to something specifically: an idea, a value, an aspect of your character.

This essay lacks depth in their reflections by not delving deeply into their main takeaways. In this essay, the main "idea" is that they've learned to be persistent with whatever comes their way. This idea could be a good starting point, but on its own is too generic and not unique enough. Your idea should be deep and specific, meaning that it should be something only you could have written about. If your takeaway could be used in another student's essay without much modification, chances are it is a surface-level takeaway and you want to go more in-depth. To go in-depth, keep asking probing questions like "How" and "Why" or try making more abstract connections between topics.

In the final two paragraphs, this essay does a lot of "telling" about the lessons they've learned. They write "I know that in moments of doubt...I can rise to the occasion." Although this could be interesting, it would be far more effective if this idea is shown through anecdotes or experiences. The previous examples in the essay don't "show" this idea. When drafting, take your ideas and think of ways you can represent them without having to state them outright. By showing your points, you will create a more engaging and convincing essay because you'll allow the reader to come to the conclusion themselves, rather than having to believe what you've told them.

What Can You Learn from These Common App Essay Examples?

With these 25 Common App essay examples, you can get inspired and improve your own personal statement.

If you want to get accepted into selective colleges this year, your Common App essays needs to be its best possible.

What makes a good Common App essay isn't easy to define. There aren't any rules or steps.

But using these samples from real students, you can understand what it takes to write an outstanding personal statement .

Let me know, which Common App essay did you think was the best?

Ryan Chiang , Founder of EssaysThatWorked.com

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People love to ask why. Why do you wear a turban? Why do you have long hair? Why are you playing a guitar with only 3 strings and watching TV at 3 A.M.—where did you get that cat? Why won’t you go back to your country, you terrorist? My answer is... uncomfortable. Many truths of the world are uncomfortable...

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Her baking is not confined to an amalgamation of sugar, butter, and flour. It's an outstretched hand, an open invitation, a makeshift bridge thrown across the divides of age and culture. Thanks to Buni, the reason I bake has evolved. What started as stress relief is now a lifeline to my heritage, a language that allows me to communicate with my family in ways my tongue cannot. By rolling dough for saratele and crushing walnuts for cornulete, my baking speaks more fluently to my Romanian heritage than my broken Romanian ever could....

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College Essay Review Services: Why You Need Them

Many students consider using college essay review services every year, but they aren't sure if their services are worth it. The short answer is yes; they are more than worth the cost. Whether you're trying to get into one of the  Ivy League Schools , a small college in your community, or one of the  best undergraduate business schools , you will likely be required to write at least one college admissions essay, and it will be an essential part of your application. This blog will talk about the different types of college essays, how important they are, and how college essay review services are your best bet for beating the competition and doing well with this application component. 

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Article Contents 7 min read

What exactly is a college essay.

There are several different types of college essays, but the most common college admissions essay is the personal statement or  common app essay . This is a short document that is supposed to tell the admissions board about who you are as a candidate and why you are a good fit for their college or university. 

Some schools provide a specific word count for the essays, but it should be between 400 and 650 words unless otherwise stated. It also doesn't follow the same structure as an academic essay. Even though it has an introduction, body, and conclusion, it is not about presenting and supporting an argument. Rather, it is supposed to tell a story that illustrates who you are as a person.

You can think of it as a cover letter for your college application. When you are applying for a job, your resume shows your work history and academic background in the same way that your school transcript and other application components show your GPA and grades for your college application. Your cover letter ( and personal statement) is a bit more personal. They communicate the soft skills and strengths that can't be easily quantified.

College essays also give you a chance to humanize your application and tell the admissions board about the person behind the grades and GPA. Many colleges, like  Columbia University  for example, have a holistic admissions process. This means that they care about your academic background and who are outside of your studies. Your personal statement allows them to learn more about your interests and what you could  contribute to your future campus community.  

College essays are an essential part of the college application process. According to the  National Association for college admission counseling , college essays are an important part of the decision-making process for most institutions in the united states. This information is not surprising considering the amount of information that the admission board can learn about a student from their personal statement and other supplemental essays.

Additionally, it is important to remember that college essays also give students an opportunity to talk to the admissions board. You get to share your story and tell the admissions board why you are a good fit for their school in your own words. You also get to address some of the weaker points of your overall application. For example, if you are trying to  get into college with a low GPA , you can use your college essay to explain the circumstances that led to your subpar grades and the steps you have taken to improve your grades.

College essay review services do a lot more than highlight grammatical inconsistencies in your writing (although this is one of the many things they can help with). They are actual human experts who can have a significant impact on the overall quality of applicants' college essays, thus increasing their chances of getting into college. College essay review services are typically offered by admission experts, such as  college essay advisors , who know the college application process inside and out. They review students' college essays and use their knowledge and training to provide personalized feedback and guidance to help students edit and polish their essays. The aim is to draft a final essay that will be more compelling, making the student a more attractive candidate to colleges.

Your college essays are a representation of you to the admission board. Except for college interviews, this is your only chance to talk to the admission board in your own words. This means that is also the first impression they will have of you. If you submit an essay with grammatical errors and typos, it tells the board that you either did not care enough to review your work or that you did not notice those errors when you did. Either way, it is not a good look for you.

This is where college essay review services come in. College essay advisors can thoroughly verify the grammatical syntax of your sentences, check that your essay is coherent and easy to follow and that it is free of grammatical or spelling errors. 

Highlighting relevant skills

Since college essay review services are run by admission experts, they have an in-depth understanding of the world of college admissions. These essay advisors have not only gone through the process themselves, but they have also helped other students go through it multiple times. Additionally, they are also trained to decipher all the "admissions talk" on college websites so they can actually help you figure out what values and traits specific colleges are looking for.

Furthermore, because they are an objective third party looking at the details of your academic background and experiences, they can easily see which activities and skills can make you a better candidate. For example, if you are applying for a philosophy major, you might think that your love for nature or hiking is irrelevant information to your application. College essay review services can help you understand how you can showcase your experience as a hiker in a way that will appeal to your chosen faculty.

Writing strategies

Writing college essays is not an easy task, and the truth is that most applicants aren't aware that their essay writing skills may be lacking. Unfortunately, high school classes rarely include lessons about writing academic admission essays or personal statements, so even gifted writers or A+ English students don't have the tools needed to write an essay that will impress the college admissions committee.

Without guidance, students often end up writing very generic essays that do not add to their overall application, or they simply go through the details of their high school resume without providing any new information. By working with college essay review services, students have someone at their disposal who can give them the tools and strategies necessary to brainstorm and write great, original college essays.

Developing skills

Most college students start improving their research and writing skills as they write essays in college. However, when you work with a college essay review service, you start with stronger skills than most in that department. Good college essay review services have advisors who will not write the students' essays for them. Instead, they will guide them through the entire process – from brainstorming to drafting and editing- and teach them how to research, write and edit. 

In other words, working with college essay review services allows students to not only improve the quality of their college essays, but also improve their research, writing, and critical thinking skills. All of which are skills that will serve them well during college and beyond.

Preparing college applications is a stressful process, and one of the most anxiety-inducing aspects of it for students is writing college essays. Not only is it time-consuming, but it can get quickly get overwhelming for applicants and those around them. Furthermore, because students do not have access to as much information about the college admissions process, they simply have to trust that the topic they chose and the tips they found online are not leading them astray. 

Working with a professional college essay review service can remove that extra layer of anxiety. Because you are working with an expert, you can rely on the tips and advice they give you because you know it comes from a good source.

Not sure where to start with your common app essay? This video can help:

College essays are a crucial part of the college application process, so if you want to maximize your chances of getting into a top college in this increasingly competitive climate, you need to do everything you can to ensure that you are submitting top-notch essays. The key to doing that is working with college essay review services. The college advisors who run these services can help you highlight your strengths and address any potential red flags in a way that still makes you look good. Furthermore, working with them will help you improve your research and writing skills, which you will definitely need when you get into college.

There are several types of college admission essays, and usually, at least one of them is compulsory. If you are applying to college through common app, for example, you will definitely need to write common app essay.

That will depend on the school you're applying to. Most colleges require one personal statement and one or more secondary essays. You should verify the admission requirements of the schools that you're interested in to find out how many college essays you will be required to write.

Not every Canadian university requires an admissions essay, but quite a few request one.  The University of Toronto , for example, is one of them.

You should stay away from advisors who will write your essay for you. This practice is unethical, and it can have severe consequences for both you, the applicant, and the person who wrote the essay for you.

We recommend that you spend at least six weeks on your college essay. That is enough time to brainstorm, write, review, edit and polish the essay before it is ready for submission.

These services are offered by admission experts who will review your essays and guide you through the process of editing and polishing them. The aim is for the essays you submit with your application to be as compelling as possible, thus increasing your chances of success.

Yes, there are. Not all college essay review services work with international students, but we here at BeMo certainly do. Schedule your free initial consultation to find out how our consultants can help you.

Good college essay review services have qualified advisors who care about helping students, good independent reviews, and a high success rate. Make sure you take the time to peruse the websites of the companies that you are considering.

Yes, they do. College essays are the only application component that tells the admissions committee how you see yourself. They give you a chance to show the admissions board the person behind the extracurriculars and the GPA and remind them that your application is a lot more than just a number.

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I have draft my colleage essay for common app(650 words). I would like to get your review services.

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Our experts are top college essay specialists who have supported hundreds of students in constructing meaningful essays that stand out about the competition. Our experts provide a highly comprehensive review with in depth suggestions — while assuring the student's work is their own and that their personal voice resonates to admissions officers who review essays in minutes. Our experts review:

The Common App Personal Statement

This critical essay is a major determining factor in top college admissions. The 650 word (max) essay can be extremely hard to master without the nuanced guidance of experts who have read thousands of essays and understand the difference between one that stands out and one that does not.

University of California Application Essay

If you’re planning to apply to schools in the University of California system, you’ll have to complete their Personal Insight Questions, choosing 4 out of the 8 questions to answer and writing up to 350 words for each prompt you choose. Each prompt requires a specialized approach, which our expert reviewers will help you identify and achieve.

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College-specific supplemental essays are vital in convincing admissions officers that you have researched what their institution offers and why you will be a great fit for their institution. Detail is incredibly important, as is knowing exactly how to construct an essay that will resonate with that particular school.

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Many merit scholarships require one or more essays asking why you have applied for this scholarship, how your life experience relates to your application, and what you will contribute to campus if successful. Our experts understand what each application requires and how to maximize your chances of success via creative expression.

UCAS Personal Statement

For students applying to top UK universities such as the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge, our UK experts understand the nuance of academically and experience driven essays that convince admissions officers that you are dedicated to their university and the qualified to undertake the course you are applying to.

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• If your submission includes more than 20 essays, but fewer than (or equal to) 10,000 words, then you're good to go!
• We will edit every essay you submit, up to 10,000 words total.

Essay Apps: Top 9

Today we strive for productivity more than ever. We make grand plans by writing down 10-15 tasks that we need to complete by the day’s end. Yet, we mostly can’t handle all of them as we intended and they keep piling up on our to-do list. This is especially true for academic assignments, which seem the hardest to find the time for. What if there was a chance to get those writing assignments solved on the go? What if it could be as easy as ordering an Uber through your phone or ordering pizza just in a few clicks? And it can be with the help of modern technology. Here’s the list of services among which you can find the best free ai essay writer to help you with an assignment. Since we are on the subject of progress, fortunately, digitalization ensured that this was possible. Now, there are homework help services that can guide you right through your phone. All you have to do is find the right application. To make it easier for you to make your choice, our A*Help team created a top list of best essay writer app solutions to become your pocket academic assistant . You can also use our buying guides to know which aspects need more attention during the search process. See  How We Test Essay Apps for more details about our testing approach.

How We Review the Best Apps for Essay Writing

For us, it’s crucial that you receive all the necessary and true details about the reviewed apps. Hence, we fact-check the information by testing these programs out during our mystery shopping projects.

We download each application from the App Store and analyze the experience from the beginning till the very end, including convenience and educational value . We examine whether you can expect to get a clear app store experience, convenient and secure usage, helpful customer support, quick purchases, and communicative writers ready to give you the help you look for. Besides that, we take into account the versatility of available features (free and those that come at an extra cost), the selection of discounts, and price. Our team places orders for a 2-page response paper for the English & Literature class with a 24-hour deadline. The written assignments are then sent to A*Help’s partner US college professor, Sybil Low, who checks them according to the generally accepted university standards. The works that receive grades lower than 60/100 pts are perceived as unsatisfactory.

Professor Sybil shared her opinion about the type of essay we chose to order from the apps:

“Response papers to the literary works (prose, poems, book critique, or analysis) are extremely popular types of assignments in English Literature classes. For these tasks to be successful, students need to carefully read through the chosen piece, highlight the main idea of the text, and find answers to posed questions. In the essay, they will also need to outline their own attitude and key takeaways from that literature. Some learners find it hard to keep track of what they are reading and that’s why they may further face difficulties when composing their paper.”

All of the reviewed aspects are then combined to form an A*Help score. We use it to rank the apps and create a rating of the best solutions for your essay writing purposes.

Number 1 Option – Essay Writing App

After organizing and carrying out our complex research, we compared 9 different providers of mobile software for homework assistance and came to the conclusion that the go-to choice should be SpeedyPaper: Essay Writer pros essay writer app . It’s highly convenient to use, offers a great selection of both discounts and services, and provides assistive customer support. According to our experience, there’s no reason for this application to land any lower than the 1st place.

TOP Essay Help App Reviews

Based on our mystery shopping, the following is the list of best apps that write your essay for you:

SpeedyPaper: Essay writer pros

You can’t miss SpeedyPaper on the App Store, as it’s the only mobile software with such a promising name. It assures you to turn your homework into an easy and fun activity with instant help from professional writers.

The application was pleasant to use. Quick loading time, easy-to-understand interface, and convenient order forms much contributed to our satisfaction. The platform also had a responsive customer support system which made the overall experience even more simple. What was a bit lacking was communication with the writer, as we didn’t get a chance to talk through the task at all.

In terms of the value-for-money index, on the other hand, the platform could benefit from an upgrade. It doesn’t provide any free features with your order, except for revisions. However, there is quite a selection of extra services that include but are not limited to speaker notes, soft copies of sources, plagiarism report, paper drafts, and summaries. As for the prices here, our 2-page essay cost $45.5. SpeedyPaper provided us with a pleasant surprise, giving us a 9% discount on the first order and adding a free PRO writer along the way. 

Having reviewed our paper, Dr. Sybil graded it 62.5/100 pts, which was just a small bit higher than the accepted minimum. Here, good results were noticed for punctuation (95%), word choice (87%), and spelling (82%). Aside from that the essay had seriously deficient reference and in-text citation formatting and got the lowest mark for efficiency – only 28%.

With SpeedyPaper: Essay writer pros app we didn’t get the paper quality we expected, but it did give us a great overall user experience and some interesting as well as helpful options for additional services. Thus it lands first on the list. 

AppStore – Yes, Google Play – Yes

• Convenient to use
• Budget-friendly
• Great customer support
• Vast selection of extra services
• No communication with the writer
• Limited free features

College Essay Writing Help

College Essay Writing Help, an app developed by Writera Ltd., positions itself as a multitool. It can help you plan your assignments, schedule the working process, and find assistance from professional writers so that your homework won’t take more time than it should.

The essay ordering tool was easy to find, instant to install, and adaptable in its usage. The loading times were quick and the order form was quite straightforward. And if we had any questions, we could definitely get them answered by the app’s support team as it proved to be responsive. The only inconveniences were that we couldn’t get to test the platform without registering first and that we didn’t get to talk out our task with the writer.

The platform also offered a few free and additional features. For example, revisions, plagiarism checks, and formatting were already included in the paper price. In our case, the response paper rounded up to $48. And if you want to get a writer’s sample, copy of used sources, or opt for progressive delivery, you would need to pay a little extra for that. College Essay Writing Help also included some discounts. For example, we could get 1 page written for free in case of the 3-page order. 

Our essay ended up receiving 70.0/100 pts. It had great document formatting, good grammar (97%), and punctuation (91%). It even got 100% for objectivity. Still, the word choice was lacking (52%) and there was a huge problem with in-text citations, as they were completely missing.

In general, as an app, College Essay Writing Help did a good job ensuring smooth use and  decent value for money. So, we put it 2nd on our list. AppStore – Yes, Google Play – No

• Convenient payment options
• Highly assistive support
• Order tracking opportunity
• Need to log in every time
• No connection with the writer

Essay Writing & Homework Help

Essay Writing & Homework Help is an educational application developed by, as stated, A. David Limited. It was designed to provide assignment help to those who needed it wherever they are. 

The application was quick and easy to install and use. However, it only included a form that specified all the necessary details about the assignment. It could be filled in without registration. After the payment, which was extremely convenient since it allowed us to use both card and wallet payments, the essay ordering tool directed us to the website. Only there we could receive help from customer support agents and keep track of our orders. The communication with the writers was also supposed to be done through the website, even though we didn’t get a chance to test it out. 

We need to stress here that, despite its simplicity and a satisfactory overall experience, a few points were taken down because the only thing you can do using this application is create a request for the completion of your assignment. All other manipulations like talking with support and experts, and receiving tasks and notifications are carried out through their website.

It also provided great value for money. When ordering our essay, we were given an opportunity to choose from a wide pool of additional services, which started with creating a table of contents and ended with the possibility of including an editor’s check. There also were a number of features, that were included for free, like revisions, formatting, title page, and quality check of used sources. All of that we received for the price of $66.96 for our essay. We also got a 7% discount on our first order. 

The paper quality also proved to be on point. After the evaluation, the response essay we ordered was marked with 82.8/100 pts. It received the highest scores (100%) for spelling, clarity, and objectivity. Other notably good results were for grammar (98%), punctuation (95%), and acuity (97%). The paper gained the lowest score in efficiency (54%) and also had some issues with formatting.

Seeing the results across all parameters, we can say that Essay Writing & Homework Help app can be proud of getting its 3d place in our rating.

AppStore – Yes, Google Play – No

• Easy to manage
• Good paper quality
• Versatile selection of extra features
• Just an order form in the app
• No customer-writer communication

Fast HW — College Writing App

According to the App Store description, Fast HW is a mobile platform designed to help students keep all their homework in one place. Here, you can set deadlines and reminders to stay organized with your assignments or search for some assistance on the side. 

The app turned out to be visually appealing and intuitive. We couldn’t use the platform without registration, though. As for the order process, it was quick and easy to follow. And our profile also allowed us to keep track of our assignment’s progress. We also received great support from the tool’s agents and the writer as they were ready to discuss every task’s details with us.

Fast HW  allows you to benefit from its great variety of free features when turning here with your homework. For example, you can expect to get a plagiarism checker, unlimited revisions, and title and reference pages created for your work, all at no cost. Still, that’s everything that the app has to offer, There are no extra services to make the completion of your assignment even easier. There is also no discount or loyalty points system in this essay writing software. The average price you can expect to see here can be around $53.40. That’s how much we paid for our response paper.

After the evaluation, the essay received 70.8/100 pts. A 100% mark was given for punctuation. Spelling gained 98%, objectivity 85%, and clarity 83%. The document formatting was also noted as good with the only issue in vertical spacing. The lowest results were for efficiency (43%) and acuity (48%). The work was also missing all in-text citations. 

Given the good overall experience and an acceptable paper grade, we placed Fast HW — College Writing App 4th on our list.

• Simple to work with
• Responsive support
• Communicative writers
• An extended list of free services
• No discounts
• No extra features

Writero: Hire pro writer

Writero is another application dedicated to providing writing assistance. It offers its users timely 24/7 help from various freelance authors. That’s something that every student would wish to have especially at the time of an upcoming deadline. 

We quickly downloaded the app on our phone and went straight to check out its features. Writero had a sleek design, with quick loading times, and bug-free use. The registration process was an essential step, as we couldn’t work with the service or request help without creating an account first. By the way, the order form was simple and quick to complete. We didn’t communicate with the chosen writer about our order, unfortunately. We got a chance to talk with customer support, though, which was quite assistive. That’s why we could say that the overall experience was good with this essay writing app.

Writero didn’t offer us much in terms of value for money. The only available free feature was requesting revisions. There were a few extra services as well, like adding a copy of used sources or opting for a progressive delivery, but those were it. There also weren’t any discounts, except for the first-order offer. It was a coupon to get 1 free page with your 3-page order. Considering we paid $60 for our response paper, we didn’t get much for that price. 

The paper quality came out to be decent. After the assessment by our partner professor, the work got 70.6/100 pts. Spelling and punctuation received 97%. Objectivity was also marked as good as it obtained 91%. The highest result was for clarity (100%). The lowest points in the essay were for efficiency and word choice, as they both were graded with only 51%. There also was an issue with reference formatting. 

In general, Writero ensured the assistance we looked for. Even though the service wasn’t on the highest level, this app still deserved its 5th place because of adequate results.

• Assistive customer support
• Versatile payment options
• Minimalistic design
• Limited discounts

HW Helper — Essay writing help

If you were worried about forgetting and not fulfilling your deadlines, HW Helper is here to help. It’s a mobile platform that can keep all your homework in one place and provide you with the assistance of professional writers so that it will always be done on time.

The application could easily be found in the App Store in the Education section. After the swift installation and required registration, we could see the platform’s interactive and bug-free interface. The form for the homework order was brief and therefore simple to complete. While filling out the instruction for our assignment we talked to one of the customer support agents who were ready to help right away. Our experience connecting with the writer was also good as he kept us posted about the task’s progress. Thus, we couldn’t complain about our experience using this app.

With value for money, however, there was a different story. We only saw two free features included in the service, which were a writer finder and a 100-word preview of the performer’s work. As for the extra features, there were no options at all. There also weren’t any discounts or coupons, as well as no loyalty programs. Considering the price at the platform averages $63 for a two-page essay, that’s not such a great collection of services.

The results of the completed paper were adequate. The evaluation showed that our task was graded 74.1/100 pts. 100% was given for spelling, clarity, and objectivity. Grammar and punctuation were also great receiving 97% and 96% respectively. Efficiency was the lowest only getting 51%. There were also issues with citation formatting (56%) and referencing. In-text citations were all missing.

HW Helper was a good app to use, even despite some shortcomings. Hence we placed this mobile software at the 6th position on the list.

App Store – Yes, Google Play – No

• Helpful support
• Free preview of writer’s work
• Decent paper quality
• No additional services

Essay Typer App

Essay Typer is a product of 24Task LLC and a global freelancing platform, where you can search for any type of professional to help with your assignments, including writing papers. So we decided to check whether you could really find good writers there. 

We quickly downloaded the app and had to register right away as it didn’t allow users without an account. The interface was smart but nothing special. It was hard to manage the service because of the bugs in the software and the long loading times. We contacted customer support with that problem alongside other questions and got an assistive representative to help us out. Still, we managed to place our order, as the form was short and straightforward. What was great as well, was our communication with the writer as they discussed all the task’s details with us directly. As such, the overall experience was good enough.

Essay Typer is a bidding platform that allows you to choose your specialist on your own depending not only on the task but also on your preferable budget. You can talk over any additional services with your dedicated expert but you can’t choose any options in the order form. On the other hand, this app provides its customers with a versatile retention system, that includes loyalty and referral programs. There’s also a first-order discount coupon for 10%. The prices here can get low. For example, we paid $36 for the 2 pages of our response paper. 

The quality of the final work wasn’t as great though. It came into our mailbox marked with only 61.3/100 pts, which wasn’t high above the grading minimum. Objectivity and spelling received 100%, and clarity got 91% which were the only high results here. Most other indexes, like efficiency, grammar, and word choice, received 51%. There were also issues with references and in-text citations.

As a bidding-based service, Essay Typer allows you to choose your own writer and an acceptable price which makes this app a perfect option for those on a budget. That’s why we include it as the 7th option on the list.

• Great discount programs
• Assistive support agents
• Easy customer-writer connection
• Long loading & bugs
• Low quality of work

MyWriter — Freelance Writers

MyWriter is another freelance bidding platform focused only on writing services. So, if you are looking for a way to complete your paper without spending much time, you might find the right expert here.

This app can be a bit harder to find as it’s located in the Productivity category in the App Store. We still found and quickly installed it without any problems. Having registered right away and started using the program, we experienced some bugs. Especially when talking with support which provided us with some advice. The order process was also easy, as the form was rather straightforward. We got a rather communicative writer who was ready to discuss all the details of our assignment.  There also was a chance to track the process of our expert’s work through the profile. Overall, we had a satisfactory experience using MyWriter

The value for money is an aspect that largely needs to be worked on. The app only provided two free features, such as revision and plagiarism check, and there were no extra services. There weren’t any coupons, loyalty, or referral points at all as well. We were a bit disappointed not to get any offers from the platform considering we paid $63 for our paper.

As for the quality of work, it was rather middling. The response paper received a grade just slightly above the accepted minimum – 62.5/100 pts. The highest result was for punctuation – 95%. The word choice and spelling were also adequate, getting 87% and 82%. The lowest points were for efficiency, as it only got 28%. There also were a lot of problems with citations and referencing. 

As such, MyWriter landed 8th place, considering good usability, but lower value for money and paper quality.

• Intuitive design
• Can choose a writer for a specific budget
• Free plagiarism check
• No additional features

EssayBot: Write Essay For You

EssayBot is another app from 24TASK LLC and so utilizes the identical platform as its sister program Essay Typer. 

It has the same easy-to-understand bidding system and an order form. It also faces the same problem with bugs that appear during usage. However, Essay Bot had a more clear app store experience with included screenshots and clear functionality descriptions. On the other hand, when using this app for our essay writing we didn’t get as smooth customer support guidance as we had hoped for. Although our writer was communicative enough. 

This app, sadly, didn’t have much to offer in terms of value for money as well. There were no free or additional services, however, there was the same amount of discounts and carbon-copy loyalty and referral programs. The price was even lower as this time we paid only $26 for the task.

Yet, the paper quality came out different. The work received only 53.8/100 pts, which was lower than the grading minimum. So, this paper could rightfully be called disappointing. There were some good indexes, for example, spelling (80%), punctuation (86%), and objectivity (75%). The poorest results were in efficiency and acuity as they both were marked with 38%. There were no in-text citations and big problems with reference formatting.

All in all, EssayBot lands 9th and last on this list, but the results of the app’s paper evaluation should speak bigger than its rating.

• Allows to choose writers
• Low paper quality

Choosing an App that Helps with Essay: The Bottom Line

Sometimes, it is hard to decide which writing support software you should install to get the assistance you are looking for. Our reviews are designed to make the process of choosing an app for essay help simpler and easier. We always gather full information on the platforms we review by conducting our own mystery shopping projects . You can use the described details to find the service most suitable for your specific needs. According to our experience, SpeedyPaper: Essay writer pros is the best app to make a quick order of your assignment and get back quality and timely assistance. However, the final word is always up to you.

Our Testing Methodology

Here is what we asked to write:

Buyer’s Guide to Help Find the Best App for Essay Writing

Reading through reviews is a great way to find out whether the app is suitable for your needs. Still, it can get quite confusing as to which services you need to look for in the first place. The app store has numerous mobile software options even within the same category, so how do you know which ones are worth your attention? We’ve created this list of features that you should pay attention to when looking for an application to write your essays.

Convenience & Usability

Apps are all about comfort. They should be user-friendly, meaning they need to be simple to manage. A pleasant interface is essential, as it makes half of the ease of use. The loading time shouldn’t take more than a few seconds. Also, look for apps that offer a smooth ordering process: forms should be straightforward and quick to fill in. If the option to track your task’s progress is on the table that’s a great plus. This way you can know that your work will be ready on time.

Support System

Customer support is an important aspect of any service, and application in particular. You need to be able to report issues (bugs for example) or ask questions when something is unclear. So, always make your choice in favor of those programs that have a chat (better if 24/7 available) or at least provide a way to contact a manager (via their system or email). This will ensure that you get any of your problems resolved quickly.

Discount Programs

Special offers are always a plus as they can make the service more affordable for you. They also show that the platform cares about its users and wants them to be able to stay. First-order discounts are good indicators, however, also notice if there are any opportunities to get some % off if you are a loyal customer. This will help you save some money in the long run.

Service Quality

Lastly, you need to find out whether the app you decide to use for your essay writing has skillful performers. It’s hard to learn that just from the first glance at the app store. To find out this information you will need to dig deeper and turn to reviews from previous clients. However, if you don’t want to go far, you can check out our A*Help reviews which are based on real-use experience.

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What apps help you write essays?

There are special essay writing applications that can help you handle this type of homework assignment. A lot of them are available for iOS users and can be easily downloaded through the App Store. Most can be found in the “Education” category, however, some programs can be found in the “Business” section. If you can’t choose the app that works best for you, you can use our top list to guide you in this process. You can take into account advice from our buyer’s guide as well.

What is the best essay writing tool?

The choice of the best essay writing tool depends on what exactly you are looking for. If you are searching for an app that could handle your narratives and literary analysis, then, according to our mystery shopping experience, the best choice for that is SpeedyPaper: Essay writer pros app. For those looking for an AI writing tool, that could help with creating, rewriting, or rephrasing texts, there will be another solution for that. Our A*Help team reviews many services that might become useful for completing your written assignments. You can use them to find the most powerful option for your needs.

Is there an app that writes an essay for you for free?

No, there are no apps that can write essays for free. All of them are just platforms that help find professionals to do the tasks for you. Those authors require payment for their job. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a way to get your essay ready for free, you can turn to AI text generation tools. There are options that don’t require any payments. To find these solutions you may refer to our A*Help reviews.

What app do most writers use?

We did thorough research and collected the most popular essay writing apps in this top list. These solutions proved to be the most useful for students in need of academic assistance. Just browse through the presented descriptions to find your own pocket writer.

What app should I use to write an essay?

There is a wide variety of websites that offer their help with academic assignments in different fields. You can check out our reviews, which are based on the A*Help score, and pick out the one and only service for you!

Is the an app that rewords essays?

You can find many rewording tools on the Internet, if you need to use one during your academic journey. While the best rewording can be done no by AI, but the person themselves, using such an app can significantly reduce precious time wasted on such a task.

Useful essay writing articles

• Plato’s Argument for Three Parts of the Soul Essay Sample
• Poetry Analysis Examples and Samples
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• Reflective Essay Examples and Samples

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., popular college application essay topics (and how to answer them).

Get help writing your college application essays. Find this year's Common App writing prompts and popular essay questions used by individual colleges.

The college essay is your opportunity to show admissions officers who you are apart from your grades and test scores (and to distinguish yourself from the rest of a very talented applicant pool).

2023–24 Common App Essays

Nearly 700 colleges accept the The Common Application , which makes it easy to apply to multiple schools with just one form. If you are using the Common App to apply for college admissions, you will have 250–650 words to respond to ONE of the following prompts:

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

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Read More: Get Expert Essay Advice From Former Admissions Officers!

Tackling the Common App Essay Prompts

Prompt #1: share your story..

Answer this prompt by reflecting on a hobby, facet of your personality, or experience that is genuinely meaningful and unique to you. Admissions officers want to feel connected to you and an honest, personal statement about who you are draws them in. Your love of superheroes, baking chops, or family history are all fair game if you can tie it back to who you are or what you believe in. Avoid a rehash of the accomplishments on your high school résumé and choose something that the admissions committee will not discover when reading the rest of your application.

Prompt #2: Learning from obstacles.

You're trying to show colleges your best self, so it might seem counterintuitive to willingly acknowledge a time you struggled. But overcoming challenges demonstrates courage, grit, and perseverance! That’s why the last piece of this prompt is essential. The obstacle you write about can be large or small, but you must show the admissions committee how your perspective changed as a result.

Prompt #3: Challenging a belief.

Your answer to this question could focus on a time you stood up to others or an experience when your own preconceived view was challenged. Choose this prompt if you have a relevant—and specific!—experience to recount (and reflect on). A vague essay about a hot button issue doesn’t tell the admissions committee anything useful about YOU.

Prompt #4: Reflecting on gratitude.

Colleges are looking for students with unique experiences that can enhance their future campus community, and this is your chance to share that by recognizing what someone else has done for you. Even though this prompt requires you to reflect on the action of another person, make sure that the focus remains on how the act of kindness impacted you and the way you live your life. This essay should make you and the reader smile.

Prompt #5: Personal growth.

Just like Prompt #2, the accomplishment or event you write about can be anything from a major milestone to a smaller "aha" moment. Describe the event or accomplishment that shaped you but take care to also show what you learned or how you changed. Colleges are looking for a sense of maturity and introspection—pinpoint the transformation and demonstrate your personal growth. 

Prompt #6: What captivates you?

This prompt is an invitation to write about something you care about. (So avoid the pitfall of writing about what you think will impress the admission office versus what truly matters to you). Colleges are looking for curious students, who are thoughtful about the world around them. The "what or who do you turn to when you want to learn more” bit isn't an afterthought—it's a key piece of the prompt. Make sure you explain how you pursue your interest, as well.

Read More: QUIZ: Test Your College Knowledge!

Prompt #7: Topic of your choice.

This question might be for you if you have a dynamo personal essay from English class to share or were really inspired by a question from another college’s application. You can even write your own question! Whatever topic you land on, the essentials of a standout college essay still stand: 1.) Show the admissions committee who you are beyond grades and test scores and 2.) Dig into your topic by asking yourself how and why. There isn’t a prompt to guide you, so you must ask yourself the questions that will get at the heart of the story you want to tell.

More College Essay Topics

Individual schools sometimes require supplemental essays. Here are a few popular application essay topics and some tips for how to approach them:

Describe a person you admire.

Avoid the urge to pen an ode to a beloved figure like Gandhi or Abraham Lincoln. The admissions committee doesn't need to be convinced they are influential people. Focus on yourself: Choose someone who has actually caused you to change your behavior or your worldview, and write about how this person influenced you .

Why do you want to attend this school?

Be honest and specific when you respond to this question. Avoid generalities like "to get a good liberal arts education” or “to develop career skills," and use details that show your interests: "I'm an aspiring doctor and your science department has a terrific reputation." Colleges are more likely to admit students who can articulate specific reasons why the school is a good fit for them beyond its reputation or ranking on any list. Use the college's website and literature to do your research about programs, professors, and other opportunities that appeal to you.

Read More: 5 Ways College Application Essays and High School Essays Are Different

What is a book you love?

Your answer should not be a book report. Don't just summarize the plot; detail why you enjoyed this particular text and what it meant to you. What does your favorite book reveal about you? How do you identify with it, and how has it become personal to you?

Again, be honest in answering this question—don't choose a classic from your literature class or a piece of philosophy just because you think it will make you seem smarter. Writing fluently and passionately about a book close to you is always better than writing shakily or generally about a book that doesn't inspire you.

What is an extracurricular activity that has been meaningful to you?

Avoid slipping into clichés or generalities. Take this opportunity to really examine an experience that taught you something you didn't previously know about yourself, got you out of your comfort zone, or forced you to grow. Sometimes it's better to write about something that was hard for you because you learned something than it is to write about something that was easy for you because you think it sounds admirable. As with all essay questions, the most important thing is to tell a great story: how you discovered this activity, what drew you to it, and what it's shown you about yourself.

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For just $59, students receive in-line essay edits, a comprehensive feedback report, and unlimited email support post-review.

“My writing advisor gave excellent feedback. It was almost as if he knew exactly what I was thinking about while writing the essay, and how I could express it in a better way.”

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Our personalized, expert feedback focuses on both process and product using our comprehensive, admissions-focused rubric. In-line edits will address mechanics and grammar, while summary feedback will cover bigger-picture components, including idea, voice, organization, and style. 

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What Teens Say About WtW Programs​

“This essay course was exactly what I needed to get my essay off the ground. Before this course, I barely knew what a college essay was let alone how to write one. Now, with the help of the amazing writing coaches, I have a start on my own essay and the feedback I need to perfect it in the coming year. Thanks WTW!!!”

— Daniel, 16

“Sincerely, before doing this, I was totally off about what I should include to make my essay compelling, but now I have great insight regarding what a strong college essay should carry. It was very different from what I had previously thought!”

— Bertrand, 18

“I didn’t think I was capable of showing a deeply personal aspect of myself in 500-700 words, and I wasn’t even sure what topic I could explore! Now that I’ve attended the workshop, I got the opportunity to brainstorm on a topic. In discussing with my peers, I realized that I wasn’t alone in my fear about writing a college essay. This was a huge relief for me… I feel more confident in planning for and writing my future college essay.”

– Lauren, 16

For just $59 , students gain the written guidance needed to pinpoint their unique voice and work through their essays   strategically. There is no word limit, so the price is the same whether students submit a short answer or full-length draft.

After signing up, students will receive an email that contains instructions on how to submit their draft. When ready to submit, students can follow the instructions outlined, as well as fill out our brief student questionnaire that will provide us with insight into their writing. This helps us customize every student’s experience as much as possible.*

Within 48 hours of submission**, students will receive a personalized feedback report with comprehensive in-line edits and commentary based on admissions requirements.

*College Essay Review must be used within 1 year of purchase, or it will be forfeited. Only one essay draft per submission will be accepted.  **Please note guaranteed 48-hour turnaround excludes U.S. federal holidays .

Our team of trained Advisors has a deep professional knowledge of college essay writing and college admissions standards, as well as a passion for mentoring. Our team will use admissions-focused rubrics and our in-text commenting tool to provide feedback on bigger-picture components of writing – such as style, tone, structure, and theme – as well as detailed line edits addressing mechanics, spelling, and grammar.

Totally okay – in fact, there’s no such thing as writing perfectly the first time! Whether students are on draft number one or four, we’ve had experience reviewing, editing, and supporting thousands of pieces of writing across the entire spectrum of “draft” to “done”. From minor grammar adjustments to reordering a paragraph to better “flow” with the entirety of the piece, there are always ways to  make essays as strong as possible . Through our proven rubric-based lens, we help students gain clarity on what exactly isn’t working about the draft so far, while being mindful of keeping student voices their own.

After purchasing a College Essay Review, students may submit one of the following per school:

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• Up to 5 supplemental essays

After submission, students will then receive in-line essay edits, a comprehensive feedback report, and unlimited email support post-review within 48 hours. 

With our college essay review service, the essays are returned via a personalized Google Doc report, so that students can easily review our margin edits, as well as iterate on their draft directly. If there’s anything that the student doesn’t understand they’re welcome to email our Advising team at [email protected] , where they will receive prompt (and unlimited!) email support. We’re committed to ensuring students are able to incorporate their feedback as smoothly and quickly as possible.

We’re here to help! Please reach out to our Product Manager of College Essay & Workshop Programs, Janelle Milanes at [email protected] .

Since its founding at Harvard University in 2013, Write the World—the online platform for writing instruction—has engaged 70,000 teens (ages 13-19), and 5,000 educators in 120 countries. We have years of experience guiding students to write and write well, and our college essay curriculums are no exception. Our students write great application essays and become stronger writers, better prepared for college and beyond.  See more about Write the World here .

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What You Need to Know About Apple's Journal App

If you've wanted to get in the habit of journaling, this app could help you out.

• Apple software beta tester, "Helps make our computers and phones work!" - Zach's grandparents

When Apple unveiled iOS 18 at its WWDC event on June 10, the tech giant showed a handful of new features, like home screen customization and upgrades to Messages . But the Journal app drew a lot of attention when it was announced a year ago alongside iOS 17 at WWDC 2023. While Apple didn't release the app with iOS 17 in September or with the iPhone 15 series , the tech giant did release it with  iOS 17.2  in December.

Journaling has been linked with many mental health benefits, including helping manage  anxiety , reducing stress and coping with depression . Some people might have a difficult time remembering to journal or figuring out what to write. Apple's Journal app makes it easy to jot down a few thoughts when you're on your phone, and it provides you with writing prompts and other reminders about what you've done in a day.

Here's what you should know about the Journal app and how it works. 

Read more:   Here's What to Know About iOS 18

What is Journal?

Journal is an app developed by Apple to help users write journal entries and easily insert pictures, videos and other content. Your entries are stored locally on your iPhone, and you can have backups on iCloud. 

Journal can suggest Reflections or other moments to write about.

Journal provides prompts, called Reflections, that you can write about. Some Reflections the app gave me included, "Think about something you love to do and why it brings you joy," and "Describe someone in your life who you really appreciate but forget to thank."

The app can also access certain data and give you suggestions about what to write based on that data. For example, on my first weekend with Journal, it suggested I write about a coffee shop and park that I visited. You can control what types of data and other apps Journal can access to create these suggestions. 

How do you get Journal?

Apple included Journal in the  iOS 17.2  update, so if you've downloaded the update -- or later updates like iOS 17.4 -- you should see the app on your home screen.

How secure is Journal?

According to Apple , the app has end-to-end encryption between your device and iCloud, and it uses on-device processes to create journaling suggestions including Reflections. That means the data it uses stays on your iPhone.

"No one but you can access your journal -- not even Apple," the company wrote online.

Beyond that, you can require the app to ask for your FaceID or passcode after it's been inactive for 1, 5 or 15 minutes. If you don't want to take any chances, you can set it to immediately lock when you switch apps or your iPhone goes to sleep -- you know, in case of snooping siblings or roommates.

How do you write an entry in Journal?

On the Journal homepage, you'll see your recent journal entries and a plus ( + ) sign across the bottom of your screen. Tap the plus sign and you'll be taken to a new menu.

You can also write about something you saw or thought about on your morning walk.

In this new menu, you'll see suggested Reflections as well as moments from your day that you can write about, like a picture you took or a Podcast you listened to. Tap any of these for a short overview of the suggestion, and then tap Start Writing . You'll be taken to a new page that looks similar to a new note in the Notes app, but the suggestion will show across the top of the screen. You can write your entry on this page, and you can add other content like photos, videos or voice notes.

You can also just write an entry without a suggestion. After tapping the plus sign on the Journal homepage, there is an option across the top of the new menu that reads New Entry . Tap this, and you can jot down any thoughts or feelings you're having at the moment, or you can add your own content here.

Once you're finished, tap Done in the top-right corner and the entry will be saved to the Journal homepage. You can also edit or update entries once they've been saved to the homepage. Tap the three dots ( ... ) in the bottom-right corner of the entry you want to edit, then tap Edit . 

What if I need help keeping a journaling schedule?

Have no fear: You can set the app to remind you to journal. A splash screen in Journal asks you to set a schedule the first time you open the app.

You can set reminders to journal in the app.

If you don't see this splash screen, or you want to change your schedule, go to Settings > Journal > Journaling Schedule and then tap the switch next to Schedule . A menu will appear below Schedule  that will allow you to set a reminder to journal every day -- or certain days -- at a certain time. 

Do You Know About These 17 Hidden iOS 17 Features?

For more on Apple, you can check out everything the company announced at  WWDC 2024  and all the features coming in  iOS 18 . You can also check out  how to download the iOS 18 developer beta  and  why you might want to wait .

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Harvard Business School Will Now Update Its MBA Essay

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A full month later than its normal release of application deadlines, Harvard Business School today (June 5) posted its cutoff dates for MBA applicants to the Class of 2027 . The application opens Tuesday, June 25.

Though a change in essays had been expected and sources confirmed that a proposed change went before the dean, Harvard initially stuck with the essay prompt it has used for more than a decade. The prompt with a limit of 900 words: “As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program?” (See MBA Essays That Worked At Harvard & Stanford ).

Two days after posting the new deadlines, however, Harvard said in a blog post that it would, in fact, reveal a new essay prompt on June 25th when the application goes live on the school’s website. “As part of this year’s application, you can expect some updates including changes to the essay prompt, which will be an opportunity for you to bring to life your journey and future aspirations,” according to the blog post .

For applicants who are invited to interview with admissions, the school also maintained its post-interview reflection requirement (see  Samples Of Harvard Business School Post-Interview Reflections ).

Speculation that the new managing director of admissions and financial aid, Rupal Gadhia , who arrived at Harvard last October, would change the application was rife. Some MBA admission consultants even posted videos suggesting a change was imminent. It now seems that will be true in another two weeks.

HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL MBA APPLICATION DEADLINE: SEPT 4 FOR ROUND ONE, JAN. 6 FOR ROUND TWO

For round one MBA applicants, Harvard set a September 4 deadline with final decisions out on December 10. Though the school did not post a date when R1 candidates would either be invited to interview or rejected outright, HBS typically notifies applicants in early October. Last year, the date was October 4.

For round two candidates, Harvard set a January 6 deadline, with final decisions out on March 26th. Last year, interview invites and rejections for this round came out on January 31.

Harvard posted the new deadlines without a blog post from Gadhia. (Update on June 7: Gadhia posted this update .)

The school said it would update the application dates for the 2025 2+2 deferred admission process in late summer of 2024.

Harvard Business School MBA application deadlines for 2024-2025

Harvard, of course, has one of the world’s most selective MBA programs. Last year, just 13.2% of the 8,149 people who applied were admitted. Application volume at HBS was down for the second straight year in 2023. Over the past three years, in fact, HBS app volume is down by 1,624 candidates. Only MIT Sloan has lost more applicants during that same time frame: 1,795 (see Acceptance Rates & Yield At The Top 100 U.S. MBA Programs ).

DON’T MISS: 2024-2025 MBA APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR THE WORLD’S TOP BUSINESS SCHOOLS or HOW FIVE INDIAN APPLICANTS OVERCAME THE ODDS AT HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL or READ THE ESSAYS THAT GOT THESE WOMEN INTO HARVARD’S MBA PROGRAM

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Boeing Starliner return delayed again for spacewalks, study of spacecraft issues

Boeing and NASA are once again "adjusting" the return home of two astronauts from the International Space Station on the Starliner spacecraft.

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were scheduled to stay at the ISS for just a week after docking there June 6 . Now they aren't expected to make the trip back to Earth until at least early July, following two scheduled spacewalks and continued assessments of reported issues on the spacecraft, Boeing announced in a June 21 update .

The space organizations have not announced a new return date after most recently saying the astronuats might come back Tuesday or Wednesday.

Here's what we know.

Starliner's return delayed for spacewalks, review of spacecraft issues

Moving the Starliner's undocking and landing from Wednesday deconflicts with "a series of planned (ISS) spacewalks while allowing mission teams time to review propulsion system data," the aerospace company said in the update.

The spacewalks were scheduled for Monday and July 2, NASA and Boeing said, meaning the astronauts wouldn't return until after those were complete. The spacewalk that was supposed to happen Monday was canceled following a spacesuit issue. NASA has not yet said how that will impact the planned spacewalk schedule or if it will further delay the astronauts' return.

USA TODAY contacted Boeing, who referred questions to be asked to NASA. USA TODAY contacted NASA on Monday morning but has not yet received a response.

The crew is also reviewing some issues with the Starliner spacecraft.

“We are taking our time and following our standard mission management team process,” Steve Stich, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager, said in the update. “We are letting the data drive our decision making relative to managing the small helium system leaks and thruster performance we observed during rendezvous and docking."

Stitch also said an "agency-level review" would be necessary due to the duration of the mission. He compared it to what was done ahead of NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 return after it spent two months in orbit.

US spacewalk 90 canceled

Although NASA and Boeing moved the Starliner's return to accommodate the spacewalks, U.S. spacewalk 90 was scrapped Monday morning due to "a water leak in the service and cooling umbilical unit on NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson’s spacesuit," according to NASA .

The water leak was noticed after Dyson and astronaut Mike Barratt set their suits to battery power Monday morning, NASA said.

Today's spacewalk was cancelled due to a water leak in the service and cooling umbilical unit on NASA astronaut Tracy C. Dyson’s spacesuit. More... https://t.co/Ibs0zCkABB pic.twitter.com/Oj5vB09Omd — International Space Station (@Space_Station) June 24, 2024

The spacewalk was initially scheduled for June 14, but that attempt was delayed due to a "spacesuit discomfort issue."

The spacewalk is planned to "remove a faulty electronics box from a communications antenna on the starboard truss of the space station," NASA said. The astronauts also would have collected samples for analysis to " understand the ability of microorganisms to survive and reproduce on the exterior of the orbiting laboratory," according to the government agency.

Are the astronauts stuck in space?

While Wilmore and Williams' return home continues to be delayed, Boeing said plenty of supplies remain for the astronauts and the station's schedule is "relatively open through mid-August." In case of an emergency on the ISS, the Starliner is cleared to leave orbit and return to Earth, the company added.

Boeing added the crew is "not pressed for time to leave" as the astronauts continue to help with station operations as needed and are completing NASA's add-on in-flight objectives.

“The crew’s feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and they know that every bit of learning we do on the Crew Flight Test will improve and sharpen our experience for future crews,” Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager of Boeing’s Starliner Program, said in the June 21 release.

“Starliner is performing well in orbit while docked to the space station,” Stich said. “We are strategically using the extra time to clear a path for some critical station activities while completing readiness for Butch and Suni’s return on Starliner and gaining valuable insight into the system upgrades we will want to make for post-certification missions.”

Boeing Starliner issues, including helium leaks

Helium leaks and a malfunctioning thruster valve hampered the Starliner's launch from Cape Canaveral , Florida on June 5. These same issues seem to be still affecting the spacecraft weeks later.

There's been a series of helium leaks in the Starliner's propulsion system, Stich said during a media teleconference on June 18 . So far, five leaks have been found since the Starliner has been docked at the ISS, he added.

"The path going forward is to continue to look at the helium system to try to understand what's happening, again look at simulations for the remainder of the flight… and then the operational techniques to manage the helium system," Stich said.

The defective thruster valve, which is still offline as of June 15, is another problem but Stich said the crew did not plan to use it during the return flight "out of an abundance of caution." The belief is that the valve went offline due to the extreme heat generated while the thruster system was firing "in rapid succession" to keep the Starliner on course with the space station, according to Stich.

Eato®: AI Calorie Counter 4+

Weight loss meal tracker, enerjoy pte. ltd., designed for iphone.

• #18 in Lifestyle
• 4.6 • 2.7K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

iPhone Screenshots

Description.

Eato® is a streamlined app for managing weight health through calorie tracking and meal planning, keeping you on the path to wellness. Here, Eato® takes you on a new path of weight loss and improves your body health with scientific and effective methods. FEATURES: · Lose Weight Planner: Select your plan, set your goals, and track your progress. With the simple tap of a button, you can start or conclude your journey. Our clear, user-friendly interface ensures you can monitor and navigate your path with ease. · Calorie Counter: Get customized daily caloric intake recommendations based on your body's needs and your weight loss ambitions. Log food and meal calories through various methods, including search, barcode scanning, or AI image recognition, to stay on course with your dietary goals. · Weight Tracker - keep an eye on your progress and let us supply you with the best plan tailored to you. Developing the habit of recording your weight is crucial for scientific weight loss and maintaining optimal health. · Step Counter - Set your daily step goals, and we'll assist you in achieving and tracking them. Staying active has never been easier or more rewarding. · Recipe Recommend - Enjoy three square meals a day, helping you maintain a normal diet during your eating window while maximizing nutrient intake. Based on your eating habits, we craft a personalized meal plan just for you. Lose weight plans: There are plans for beginners and experienced people. You can customize your plan. No matter your stage, a plan should always match your goal. Lose weight recipes: Knowing what to eat is the gateway to success. Eato® designs customized meal plans for you. We are not aiming to restrict your diet but to give you a nutritional supplement for your everyday meals. Three meals a day, guide you through hunger and satisfy your body at most in the eating window. Why Eato®: - The Most User-Friendly Calorie Tracker - Personalize weight loss plan - Helping you manage your eating window - Telling you what exactly you should eat in each meal - Wise weight loss method - Friendly reminders keep you on track - A step-by-step plan guides you to a good habit - Guiding you to stay healthy and feel well Apple Health: Apple Health integration to track steps for daily active goals. Subscription Information: Eato® offers a 7-day trial subscription service for $79.99/year, granting unlimited access to VIP features during the subscription period. Your payment will be charged to your iTunes account upon confirmation of purchase after the 7-day trial. During the trial period, you can manage your subscription and cancel by going to your 'Account Settings'. After being charged, you may turn off auto-renewal by visiting the same section. Your subscription will automatically be renewed unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. The renewal cost will be charged to your account 24 hours before the end of the current period. When canceling a subscription, your subscription will stay active until the end of the period. Auto-renewal will be disabled, but they will not refund the current subscription. If offered, any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when purchasing a subscription. Note: This app is developed for informational purposes only. You must always consult your physician or doctor before starting any fitness program. Results can vary. Terms of Use: https://enerjoy.life/terms-of-use Privacy policy: https://enerjoy.life/privacy-policy If you have any questions or suggestions, email us at: [email protected]

Version 1.1.3

Hi there! Eato is working hard to make calorie tracking easy for you. Here is the new version of Eato with the following updates to enhance your calorie tracking: 1. Enhanced Calorie Tracker: Eato makes keeping track of your food's calories more comprehensive than ever! Welcome to Eato and enjoy your Eato journey!

Ratings and Reviews

2.7K Ratings

Great app. Can’t wait to see some improvements.

Wow! I’m impressed with this app. I tested the AI calculations against other apps that make you type in each ingredient. I’d like to see a personal save or favorite list and also a recipe favorite too. I always lose my momentum with other apps because they’re so tedious and this makes it easier to stay on track. Thank You!

Developer Response ,

Dear SB-R, thrilled you love Eato! 🌟 Your suggestions for favorites are on our radar. Thanks for the high five! Keep enjoying & stay tuned for updates.

Released too quickly

This app is a great concept - take a picture and have AI figure out what it is and count calories for you. If you are completely new to calorie counting, not interested in learning how to do it properly, or just don't care much for accuracy, then maybe this will work for you. For anyone who is a seasoned calorie counter, this app is beyond frustrating. You cannot edit anything you log. You can't even delete it once you log it. As an example, I tested the app with a plain chicken breast, which I weighed beforehand (6 oz cooked). The app did, indeed, correctly identify my chicken breast. However, it asked me how many servings I wanted to log without indicating how much was one serving. If you enter chicken breast manually, it gives you plenty of choices, but if you use the AI tool, you have no control. I would potentially use this app over my preferred calorie tracker (Lose It) if it took the AI information and logged it by component in a meal AND if I could edit or delete those components from my log afterwards. I'm really surprised this app was released before this basic editing feature was added. It seems like they spent a lot of time developing the "meal plan" feature (which is kind of nice but not what I was looking for when I downloaded this app) and not enough time making the calorie tracker part usable, which I imagine is what most people probably want given that it's marketed as a calorie tracker app.

Dear tpourch, we appreciate your detailed feedback. We're refining the app's edit functions. For more insights, please email [email protected]. Help us reach 5 stars? ⭐

Good but could be Great

The main thing keeping me from giving this app a higher rating is that it lacks the ability to allow you to edit your food entries. So, the calorie counts are inaccurate. For example, I eat plain oats with fruit just about every morning. Now I selected no dairy when I first signed up on this app. Yet the AI logger still calculates that I have either yogurt or milk in my mixed fruit and oats. But I don’t, I use water. If I could edit/delete the wrong ingredient, it would give me a much better calculation. There has also been several times that it gave me zeroes across all three categories on foods it seemed to recognize when o know that it has some calories, proteins, carbs, etc. I also wish we could select one of our food entries and it would bring up the details/breakdown and let us edit it there. Again allowing for a much more accurate calculation of calories. The meal plan/suggestions also do not allow for any editing. This is not nearly as crucial as what I mentioned above but would be helpful. All in all, I like the app but I would really love it if it had more user editable for more accurate tracking.

Dear David Derr, we're refining the edit feature based on feedback like yours 🛠️. Please share more at [email protected]. Let's aim for 5 stars together! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

App Privacy

The developer, Enerjoy Pte. Ltd. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

• Identifiers

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Health & Fitness
• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• 1-Year Limited Offer $39.99
• 1-Year Eato VIP Plan $79.99
• 1-Month Eato VIP Plan $19.99
• 3-Month Eato VIP Plan $29.99
• Special Offer $29.99
• 1-Year One-Time Offer $19.99
• 1-Year Vip Membership $79.99
• 1-Year Membership $59.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, where can i get a free common app essay review.

Hey there, I'm almost done with my Common App essay but I'd like to get some feedback before submission. Is there any place I could get a free review or critique of my essay? It'd be a big help if you could share your resources!

Hi! It's great that you've completed your Common App essay and are seeking feedback. There are several resources available where you can receive free essay reviews:

1. Reach out to your high school English teacher or school counselor. They likely have experience in reviewing college essays and can offer valuable feedback.

2. Ask a friend, family member, or classmate to read your essay and provide suggestions. Keep in mind that it's best to ask someone who is knowledgeable about the college application process.

3. Look for online forums or communities where students help each other with essays. Some platforms, like the College Confidential and r/ApplyingToCollege subreddit, have users offering essay feedback.

4. Take advantage of CollegeVine's free essay review. CollegeVine offers comprehensive essay reviews by their Peer Essay Review Team. To access this service, you need to sign up on their website and submit your essay through their platform.

Remember that the key to receiving helpful feedback is to find those who have experience with college admissions and a good understanding of what colleges are looking for in a Common App essay. Good luck, and I hope you receive valuable input to polish your essay!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

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