August Reading List: Back-to-School Books for Parents Navigating College Admissions
By Lindsey Kundel, Editor in Chief, InGenius Prep August is a season of sharpened pencils, school schedules, and—for parents of high schoolers—a growing awareness that college deadlines are just around the corner. Whether your student is a rising senior in the thick of essay writing or a younger high schooler just beginning the journey, the […]
Your Brain on ChatGPT: What MIT’s Research Means for College Essays (and How to Use AI Without Losing Yourself)
When I first started working with students on college essays, the most common problem I saw wasn’t a lack of talent. It was a lack of trust—in their own stories, their own voice, their own ability to wrestle with the blank page. Neuroscience shows that the adolescent brain is still under construction well into our […]
When Colleges Shrink: What Students Should Know About Enrollment Decline and Campus Stability
If you’re building your college list, you’ve probably considered rankings, test score ranges, and perhaps even browsed a few glossy admissions brochures. But there’s a quieter shift happening in higher education that most students and families overlook—yet it could significantly impact your college experience. Across the United States, college enrollment is declining. This trend is […]
Why Narratives Stick: The Science of Storytelling
When I was teaching ninth-grade English in Chicago, I had a student who rarely spoke in class—until we reached the personal narrative unit. One afternoon, she turned in a piece that began in the midst of chaos: thunder cracking outside, her mother shouting in the kitchen, her hands trembling as she tried to calm the […]
How to Write the Notre Dame Supplemental Essays
If you are looking for a prestigious university in the Midwest, it is hard to ignore the University of Notre Dame. You might be drawn to the nationally recognized Mendoza College of Business, or inspired by the fact that 80 percent of Notre Dame’s pre-med graduates are accepted to medical school, nearly twice the national […]
How to Write the UC Essays
As the November 1st deadline creeps closer and closer, students scramble to gather all of their early admission materials together. But even once you’ve hit send on your early Common App schools, it’s not over if you’re applying to one or more of the Universities of California. The UC school application filing period begins November […]
How to Write the Yale Supplemental Essays
With its centuries-long legacy of excellence and a community built on curiosity, leadership, and service, Yale University is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world. From the residential college system to a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching, Yale offers students the chance to explore across disciplines and challenge themselves in and out of […]
How to Write the Best Supplemental Essays for Boston College Admissions
Are you ready to tackle the Boston College supplemental essay prompts? As one of the top universities in the country, Boston College is known for its rigorous academics and vibrant campus community. [1] But before you can join the Boston College family, you’ll need to capture the admissions committee’s attention with powerful, authentic writing. In […]
How to Write the Caltech Supplemental Essays
With an admission rate under 4 percent, Caltech is one of the most selective universities in the world. Known for its unparalleled research opportunities and small, collaborative community, Caltech attracts some of the most talented STEM minds from across the globe. Thousands of students apply each year for the chance to study at a place […]
How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay
New York University is a private research school with nearly 200 years of history. [1] With a curriculum originally founded on the tenets of secular education, NYU stands today as one of the top schools in the nation with a diverse community and competitive admissions process. To help students in their essay responses, here’s InGenius […]