Colleges already know what you did. Use the essay to show them why it mattered. Introduction: Haven't I Already Told Them About This? You've carefully condensed four years of soccer, theater, volunteering, debate, work, or student government into the tiny space provided by the Common App activities section. Then you open a supplemental essay and see: Tell us about an extracurricular activity that has been particularly meaningful to you. Wait. Didn't you just do that? Not exactly. Your activities list tells admissions officers what you did. Your extracurricular essay gives you the opportunity to show them why it mattered. At Kingfisher Prep, we encourage students to think of these as two completely different pieces of the application. Your activities list reports information. Your essay reveals something about you. If your extracurricular essay is simply a longer version of your activity description, you're missing the opportunity. Don't Automatically Pick Your Most Impressive Activity When students are asked to write an extracurricular essay, they often assume they should write about the activity with the biggest title or most impressive accomplishment. Not necessarily. Your strongest essay might be about the sport you've played since elementary school, your weekend job at a coffee shop, the Dungeons & Dragons campaign you've run for three years, cooking dinner for your siblings, an obscure club you genuinely love, volunteering at the same organization every Saturday, or playing guitar badly but enthusiastically with your friends. The question isn't "Which activity will impress admissions officers the most?" It's "Which activity gives me the most interesting opportunity to reveal something about myself?" Those are very different questions. Don't Summarize Four Years in 250 Words Suppose you've played soccer throughout high school. You could write: "I joined the varsity soccer team sophomore year, became a starter junior year, and was elected captain senior year..." There's nothing wrong with any of that. But most of it belongs in your activities list. Instead of summarizing several years, zoom in. Maybe there's a particular practice when you realized the freshman who kept making mistakes didn't need more criticism — he needed someone to stay ten minutes afterward and work with him. Maybe your most meaningful moment happened on the bench rather than on the field. Maybe your favorite tradition is the ridiculous song everyone sings on the bus after away games. A small moment can tell us far more than a chronological summary. This is the same principle behind every strong college supplemental essay — specificity beats breadth every time. Show Us Your Role Beyond Your Title "Captain." "President." "Founder." "Editor-in-Chief." Titles tell us something, but not nearly as much as students sometimes think. Two captains can play completely different roles on their teams. One might be the loud motivational voice before a game. Another might notice when a teammate is struggling and quietly check in afterward. Ask yourself: what would the people in this activity say I actually contribute? The answer is often much more interesting than your official position — and much more useful for your extracurricular essay. Tell Us Why You Keep Coming Back Why do you keep doing this? Not why did you join — why did you stay? Maybe you joined theater because your friend convinced you to audition, but you stayed because you discovered how much you loved the strange intimacy of building something with the same group of people every afternoon. Maybe your parents made you start piano lessons, but eight years later you still play because it's the only part of your day when you don't feel pressured to be productive. Maybe you started working at a restaurant for the money and discovered that you loved the controlled chaos of a Saturday dinner rush. The answer to "Why do you keep coming back?" often reveals much more than the activity itself — and it's where the best extracurricular essays find their real subject. Make Room for Other People Extracurricular activities rarely happen in isolation. Teams, clubs, workplaces, orchestras, and volunteer organizations matter partly because of the people we encounter there. Maybe the most important part of your job isn't the work itself but your relationship with a coworker forty years older than you. Maybe being the weakest player on a team taught you how to accept help. Maybe mentoring younger students changed the way you understand leadership. You are still the subject of the essay, but other people can help us understand you. Sometimes the best way to reveal someone's character is to show how they interact with others. This same principle applies to the college community essay — relationship and role often matter more than the activity itself. Avoid the Generic Life Lesson Certain extracurricular lessons appear in college essays constantly: "Soccer taught me teamwork." "Debate taught me confidence." "Volunteering taught me the importance of helping others." All of those things may be true. But they're only the beginning. What did teamwork actually mean in your experience? Maybe it meant learning that being useful sometimes requires stepping back rather than taking charge. Maybe debate didn't simply make you confident — it taught you to separate disagreement with an idea from judgment of the person expressing it. Maybe leadership meant discovering that the best solution wasn't yours. The more specific the reflection, the more personal the extracurricular essay becomes. Be Careful With Résumé Language Students often slip into application mode when writing about extracurriculars. Suddenly every sentence contains words like: led, founded, organized, managed, increased, achieved. Those are useful words for an activities description. In an essay, they can make you sound like you're writing a LinkedIn profile. Compare: "As president, I organized weekly meetings and increased club membership." with "By October, I realized that half our new members hadn't spoken once during a meeting." The second sentence creates a story. Now we want to know what you noticed, what you did, and what happened next. Accomplishments provide information. Moments create curiosity. Don't Force Growth Where There Wasn't Any Not every extracurricular activity needs to have transformed your life. Sometimes students try so hard to make an activity sound meaningful that the reflection becomes exaggerated. You don't necessarily need to conclude: "And that's when I realized I could overcome any obstacle." Maybe you simply became more patient. Maybe you discovered that you're surprisingly competitive. Maybe you learned that you love teaching beginners. Maybe you found people who make you feel completely comfortable being yourself. Small realizations can be much more believable — and revealing — than enormous ones. This is something we cover in depth in our post on how to make your college application stand out: authenticity consistently outperforms performance. Ask What This Extracurricular Essay Adds to Your Application Before choosing your topic, look at the rest of your application. Suppose your intended major is political science, your activities list is dominated by debate and Model UN, one recommendation comes from your history teacher, and another supplement discusses your fascination with elections. Do you really need another 250 words about Model UN? Maybe. But perhaps your weekend job at an ice cream shop reveals an entirely different side of you. Supplemental essays are valuable because they give admissions officers more opportunities to get to know you. You don't need every section of your application to prove the same thing. For more on how to approach the full set of supplemental prompts strategically, see our complete supplemental essay guide. A Simple Test for Your Extracurricular Essay When you've finished your draft, imagine the admissions officer already has your Common App activities list sitting beside it. Then ask: would this essay still be worth reading? Does it reveal why you care, how you think, how you interact with other people, something that surprised you, something you've learned or changed, or a side of your personality we haven't seen elsewhere? If yes, you've probably written a strong extracurricular essay. If not, you may have written a 250-word activities description. Go back and look for the story underneath the accomplishment. Conclusion: Tell Us Why It Matters Your extracurricular essay isn't an opportunity to prove that you've done enough. The rest of your application can show colleges what you've accomplished. This essay can do something more interesting. It can show us why you stayed late after practice. Why you kept showing up every Saturday morning. Why an activity you expected to tolerate became somewhere you belonged. Why a person you met there changed the way you think. Don't just tell admissions officers what you did. Show them why you're glad you did it. That's the part they can't learn from your activities list. Ready to get started? Explore our college application coaching packages or schedule a free consultation with Kingfisher Prep today.

You don't need your whole future figured out — you need to show what makes you curious. Do I Really Have to Know What I Want to Do With My Life? You open a college application and find some version of this question: Why are you interested in your intended major? Suddenly, selecting "Psychology" from a dropdown menu feels like signing a legally binding contract committing you to forty years as a psychologist. Don't panic. At Kingfisher Prep, we remind students that colleges aren't expecting most 17-year-olds to have their entire academic and professional futures mapped out. A "Why This Major?" essay isn't asking you to predict your future. It's asking you to explain your curiosity. Why does this subject interest you? Where did that interest come from? What questions do you want to explore further? Answer those thoughtfully, and you have the foundation for a much stronger essay. If you're still working through your broader application strategy, our college application coaching can help you build a cohesive picture across every prompt. You Don't Need a Perfect Origin Story Students sometimes feel as though they need to begin with: "Ever since I was five years old, I knew I wanted to be an engineer." If that's genuinely true, wonderful. But for most people, academic interests develop gradually. Maybe one class surprised you. Maybe a book introduced you to a question you'd never considered. Maybe a summer job made you curious about how businesses operate, or an argument with your grandfather sparked an interest in politics, or a science experiment didn't work — and figuring out why was more interesting than getting the right result. Your interest doesn't need a cinematic beginning. It needs an honest one. This is the same principle we cover in our post on how to choose the right topic for your Common App essay — authenticity consistently outperforms performance. Get More Specific Than "I Love Psychology" One of the biggest differences between a generic "Why Major?" essay and a compelling one is specificity. Consider: "I'm fascinated by psychology because I want to understand why people behave the way they do." That's perfectly reasonable — but thousands of prospective psychology majors could say exactly the same thing. Dig deeper. What about human behavior interests you? Maybe you're fascinated by why memories become unreliable. Perhaps you're curious about how group dynamics influence individual decisions. Maybe studying cognitive biases made you reconsider how rational people really are. Specific questions reveal genuine intellectual curiosity. Instead of simply telling a college what subject you like, show them what you want to understand about it. This same standard applies to every essay in your application — including your supplemental essays, where specificity is just as critical. Use Experiences as Evidence, Not a Résumé Your "Why This Major?" essay doesn't need to list every academic experience you've ever had. If you're applying for engineering, you don't need to write: "I took AP Physics, joined Robotics Club, attended engineering camp, and completed an internship." Admissions officers can probably find much of that information elsewhere in your application. Instead, choose one experience and explore it. What happened during robotics that made engineering more interesting? What problem did you encounter during your internship? What question from AP Physics followed you home after class? The experience matters because of what it reveals about your thinking — not because it adds another accomplishment to your essay. This is the same logic behind making your college application stand out: depth over breadth, every time. It's Okay If Your Interest Has Changed In fact, change can make for a great essay. Maybe you signed up for economics because you thought it was mostly about money and discovered you were fascinated by human decision-making. Maybe you entered a biology class convinced you wanted to become a doctor and discovered that genetics interested you more than medicine. Maybe studying history made you increasingly interested in political science. That evolution gives your essay movement. You can show: I thought X → I encountered Y → now I'm curious about Z. That's much more interesting than pretending you've always known exactly what you wanted. Intellectual growth often begins when our original assumptions turn out to be incomplete. Focus on Questions, Not Just Careers Another common mistake is turning the essay entirely into a career statement. "I want to major in biology because I want to become a doctor." Okay — but why biology? A career goal can certainly be part of your response, but colleges are admitting you to an academic institution. They want to know what you're interested in learning. Try asking yourself: What could I happily spend an afternoon reading about? What questions do I keep returning to? What do I want to understand better? What have I learned that made me want to learn something else? Curiosity creates a much richer essay than a job title. Connect What You've Explored to What Comes Next A strong "Why Major?" essay often creates a bridge between your past and your future. You've already encountered something that interests you. Now you want to go deeper. Perhaps studying statistics introduced you to predictive modeling, and now you want to explore how data can shape public policy. Maybe working at your family's restaurant made you curious about consumer behavior, branding, and why customers make the choices they do. The essay doesn't need to say: "Therefore, I will become a marketing executive." It can say: "Here's what I've begun exploring — and here's what I'm excited to understand next." That demonstrates direction without pretending you have certainty. For students who want help developing this kind of narrative across their full application, our comprehensive coaching packages are built exactly for this. If the Question Is "Why This Major Here?", Research Matters Pay close attention to the wording of the prompt. There's a difference between: Why are you interested in studying economics? and: Why are you interested in studying economics at our university? The second question requires another layer. Research the college's courses, professors, research opportunities, interdisciplinary programs, labs, and experiential learning opportunities. But don't simply list them — explain the connection. Instead of: "I'm excited about Professor Smith's Behavioral Economics Lab." — give us the because. Why does that research connect to a question you've already been exploring? The college-specific detail is only useful if it tells us something about you, too. This is the same principle behind the Why This College? essay — make the match specific and mutual, not one-sided. Don't Pretend to Be More Certain Than You Are Students sometimes worry that uncertainty makes them look less impressive. It doesn't. There's an important difference between being directionless and being curious. You can say, in effect: "I don't yet know exactly where this interest will lead me, but I know why I want to explore it." That's a perfectly reasonable place to be at seventeen. What matters is showing that you're eager to investigate, question, and learn. Discovering where your interests lead is part of what college is for. If you're finding it hard to articulate your interests on paper, our post on why comparing yourself to other applicants is a losing strategy is worth a read — the same principle applies here. Your path is the only one worth writing about. A Quick Test for Your "Why Major?" Essay Once you've written a draft, ask yourself: could someone applying to the same major easily write this exact essay? If the answer is yes, you probably need more specificity. Look for places to add a particular question, a specific moment, an unexpected realization, an experience that changed your thinking, or something you're genuinely excited to explore next. Your major may be shared by thousands of applicants. Your path toward it shouldn't be. Conclusion: Show Your Curiosity, Not Your Certainty A strong "Why This Major?" essay doesn't need to prove that you've had your future mapped out since childhood. It should show how you think. Tell colleges what has caught your attention. Show them the experiences that made you ask new questions. Explain what you're eager to understand next. You aren't being asked to know exactly where you'll end up. You're being asked to show why you're excited to start exploring. And that's a much more interesting essay. Ready to get started? Book a free consultation with Kingfisher Prep, or explore our college application coaching packages to find the right level of support for your student.

What colleges mean by “community essay”—and how to move beyond the generic answer. What Does “Community” Even Mean? If you've started working through your college supplemental essays, chances are you've encountered some version of this question: Tell us about a community that has shaped you. Or: Describe a community you belong to and how you would contribute to ours. It sounds straightforward—until you actually have to answer it. What counts as a community? Do you need to write about your culture? Your hometown? Your school? And how exactly are you supposed to make an essay about a group of people reveal something about you? At Kingfisher Prep, we encourage students to start with one important idea: The community is not really the topic of your community essay. Your relationship to that community is. The strongest responses don't simply describe where a student belongs. They show us how belonging somewhere has shaped the way that student thinks, acts, connects, or contributes. First: “Community” Can Mean Almost Anything in a College Essay When students see the word community, they often immediately think about geography, culture, religion, or identity. Those can absolutely make excellent topics. But they're far from your only options. Your community might be: your soccer team the restaurant where you work your theater cast your extended family your robotics club a religious organization an online gaming community the kids you counsel at summer camp a group of friends who share an unusual hobby A community is simply a group of people connected by something meaningful. Instead of asking: “What's my most impressive community?” Try asking: “Where do I genuinely feel that I belong?” That question usually leads somewhere much more interesting. Don't Spend the Whole Essay Describing Everyone Else This is one of the easiest mistakes to make. Students become so focused on explaining their community that they disappear from their own essay. Imagine an essay that spends 200 words describing the warmth, traditions, personalities, and history of a student's neighborhood—and only 50 words explaining the student's place within it. We've learned a lot about the neighborhood. We haven't learned much about the applicant. The community provides the setting. You are still the subject. Ask What Your Role Is Once you've identified a possible community, ask yourself: What role do I actually play here? Maybe you're: the person who welcomes newcomers the organizer the listener the problem-solver the one who challenges everyone else's assumptions the person who keeps a tradition alive the youngest person in the room the person who makes everyone laugh You don't need an official title. In fact, your informal role can often reveal far more about your personality than “President” or “Captain” ever could. Show Your Contribution Instead of Announcing It Be careful with statements like: “I bring people together.” “I value diversity.” “I am an inclusive leader.” Those aren't necessarily bad qualities. They're just much more compelling when we can see them happening. Maybe two groups on your team weren't getting along, and you found an unexpected way to get them talking. Maybe you noticed new students sitting silently at meetings and changed how introductions worked. Maybe your family speaks three languages at dinner and you've become the unofficial translator—not just of words, but of perspectives. Specific moments make abstract qualities believable. Think About What the Community Gave You, Too A community essay shouldn't only be about what you've contributed. The most interesting communities work in both directions. Ask yourself: What have these people taught me? When has this group challenged me? Have I changed my mind because of someone here? What assumptions did I bring into this community? How am I different because I belong to it? That reciprocity creates reflection. You're not simply saying: “Look what I did for this community.” You're exploring: “Here's what happened because we became part of one another's lives.” That's a much richer story. Be Careful With the “Savior” Essay This is particularly important when writing about volunteering or service. A familiar version of this essay goes something like: “I volunteered with people less fortunate than me, helped them, and realized how lucky I am.” The problem isn't writing about service. The problem is reducing other people to supporting characters whose purpose is to teach you gratitude. Instead, focus on: relationships you built assumptions that were challenged moments when you listened rather than led things other people taught you how your understanding of service or community became more complicated Humility and curiosity almost always produce stronger reflection than heroism. You Don't Need to Manufacture a Diversity Story Some students see a community prompt and assume the college is secretly asking: “What makes you diverse?” Sometimes identity is central to the prompt, and students should absolutely engage with that when it's relevant. But don't force yourself into an identity narrative that doesn't feel natural. You don't need an extraordinary cultural background or dramatic experience to have something meaningful to say about community. A student who has spent four years working every Saturday morning at the same neighborhood bakery may have a wonderful story about age, responsibility, language, patience, or connection. Again, it's not about finding the most impressive community. It's about finding the one that reveals something meaningful about you. If They Ask How You'll Contribute to Campus, Be Specific Some prompts take the question one step further: How will your experiences help you contribute to our community? Avoid ending with something vague like: “I look forward to bringing my unique perspective to the diverse community at X University.” What perspective? And where will you bring it? Instead, think about how the qualities you've developed might actually show up on campus. Maybe your experience organizing interfaith dinners makes you excited about a particular campus organization. Maybe years spent mentoring younger musicians make you interested in joining an outreach program through the university orchestra. Maybe growing up around spirited dinner-table debates makes you genuinely excited about a discussion-heavy academic environment. Make the connection between who you've been and who you might become there. A Simple Test for Your Community Essay Once you've written a draft, try this: Remove the name of the community. Then ask: Would an admissions officer still learn something specific about me? If the answer is yes, you're probably on the right track. If the essay could have been written by almost anyone in that community, dig deeper. Look for: a specific interaction a contradiction an unusual role you play something you've learned a way you've changed That's usually where the real essay is hiding. Write About Belonging, Not Just Membership A strong community essay isn't simply a description of being part of a group. It's an exploration of what belonging means to you. Show colleges where you've found connection. Show them how you've contributed. Show them how other people have changed you. Most importantly, let the essay reveal how you move through a community—not just which communities you can list. Because ultimately, colleges aren't only asking: “Where do you belong?” They're also wondering: “What will it be like when you belong here?” If you're ready to get started and want hands-on support through every essay on your list, explore our college application coaching packages or schedule a free consultation today.

Your personal statement tells one part of your story. Here’s how to make every additional essay count. How to Write Supplemental Essays: Wait, There Are More Essays? You’ve brainstormed. You’ve drafted. You’ve revised. You finally have a Common App personal statement you’re proud of. And then you open your individual college applications and realize: There are more essays. Sometimes a lot more. Welcome to the world of supplemental essays. The Common App explains that colleges can include their own short-answer questions and separate writing supplements in addition to the main personal statement. Depending on your college list, that can mean anything from a few 50-word responses to several additional essays. At Kingfisher Prep, we encourage students not to think of these as extra hoops to jump through. Supplemental essays are additional opportunities to tell admissions officers who you are. The trick is making sure you're telling them something new. First: Understand What the Prompt Is Actually Asking Not all supplemental essays have the same job. Some common types include: “Why This College?” — Why does this particular school make sense for you? “Why This Major?” — What draws you toward a particular academic interest? Community essays — What communities have shaped you, and how might you contribute to theirs? Extracurricular essays — What does one of your activities reveal about you? Intellectual curiosity essays — What genuinely excites you about learning? Short takes — What can you reveal about your personality in very little space? Before you start writing, stop and ask: What is this college actually trying to learn about me? A beautifully written essay that doesn't answer the real question is still not a strong response. Add to Your Application—Don't Repeat It This may be the single most important rule for supplemental essays. Admissions officers have already read your personal statement. They can already see your activities list, transcript, and other application materials. Don't use valuable supplemental space simply to tell them the same thing again. Think of your application as a puzzle. Every supplemental essay should add a new piece—not give the admissions officer another copy of one they already have. For example, if your personal statement focuses heavily on your relationship with your family, perhaps a supplemental essay could reveal your intellectual curiosity, sense of humor, commitment to a particular community, or experience at your part-time job. Your essays don't need to be completely disconnected. Together, however, they should create a fuller picture of you. Get Specific—Fast The Common App personal statement gives you up to 650 words. Many supplemental essays give you 250. Or 150. Or 50. You don't have room for a long runway. If the prompt asks why you want to study environmental science, don't spend half the response explaining that you've "always been passionate about the environment." Take us somewhere specific. What question fascinates you? What experience sparked that curiosity? What do you want to understand that you don't understand yet? Short essays reward precision. For “Why This College?” Essays, Make a Match One of the most common supplemental prompts asks some version of: Why do you want to attend our school? This isn't a test of how many compliments you can give the university. "The beautiful campus, prestigious academics, and vibrant community" could describe hundreds of colleges. Instead, make connections between specific things about the school and specific things about you. Research: courses professors academic programs clubs and organizations research opportunities traditions interdisciplinary programs Then explain why they matter to you. Don't just tell a college what's great about them. Show why the two of you make sense together. Use the Shortest Answers to Show Personality Students sometimes spend so much time worrying about the big essays that they overlook the tiny ones. Don't. Short-answer questions can be wonderful opportunities to reveal personality. For example, colleges like Yale currently ask applicants extremely brief questions about topics such as a course they would create or something about themselves that isn't included elsewhere in the application. Those questions aren't asking for your entire life story. Sometimes they're simply giving you another chance to let the person behind the transcript appear. Be thoughtful—but don't squeeze a 650-word personal statement into 35 words. Sometimes interesting is enough. Don't Be Afraid to Have Some Fun Not every supplemental essay needs to prove that you are brilliant, resilient, compassionate, ambitious, and destined to change the world. Your application needs some oxygen. If a prompt gives you room to be: funny quirky curious enthusiastic unexpected Take advantage of it—assuming that genuinely sounds like you. Admissions officers are reading applications from actual human beings. It's okay to sound like one. Reuse Strategically, Not Lazily Here's some good news: you do not necessarily need to write every supplemental essay completely from scratch. Schools often ask similar questions. You may encounter multiple prompts about: community academic interests extracurricular involvement diversity why you want to attend If two questions are genuinely asking the same thing, it's perfectly reasonable to reuse the core of an essay. But reread the prompt carefully. Then customize. A response written for one college should never feel as though you changed the university's name and hit submit. And please—please—double-check the college name before submitting. Look at All Your Essays Together Once you've drafted your supplements, don't review them only one at a time. Read your entire application as a set. Ask: What does someone know about me after reading all of this? Maybe your personal statement reveals your relationship with your family. Your extracurricular essay shows your leadership style. Your academic supplement reveals your fascination with behavioral economics. Your “Why Us?” essay shows what kind of college community you're hoping to join. Now we're meeting a three-dimensional person. That's the goal. Don't Let the Word Count Fool You A 100-word essay may take longer to write than a 500-word one. Why? Because every sentence has to earn its place. After drafting a short supplement, look for: unnecessary introductions repeated ideas generic language sentences that could apply to anyone Then ask: What is the most interesting thing I'm saying here? Get to that part faster. Think of Your Application as a Conversation Your Common App essay doesn't need to tell admissions officers everything about you. Neither does any single supplement. Instead, imagine that each response gives you another few minutes in a conversation with the person reading your application. What haven't they heard yet? What would you like them to understand? What might make them curious to know more? The strongest supplemental essays don't repeat the same message louder. They keep the conversation going. And by the time an admissions officer reaches the end of your application, they should feel like they've met you.

The only application you can control is your own. Introduction: It's Never Been Easier to Compare Yourself Applying to college has always been stressful, but today's students face a challenge previous generations never did: they can compare themselves to thousands of other applicants with a few taps on their phone. A classmate posts about a perfect SAT score. Someone on Reddit claims they were accepted to an Ivy League school with a startup, published research, and a nonprofit. A friend announces another leadership position or another award. Before long, it's easy to wonder: "Am I doing enough?" At Kingfisher Prep, we hear this question all the time. And while it's completely understandable, it's also one of the quickest ways to lose sight of what actually makes a college application successful. The truth is, comparing yourself to other applicants doesn't make your application stronger. More often, it makes you anxious, distracts you from your own goals, and pushes you toward choices that don't reflect who you really are. You Never See the Whole Picture One of the biggest problems with comparison is that you're almost never comparing complete stories. Maybe someone posts their SAT score but not the months they spent preparing. Maybe they share an acceptance letter but not the colleges that rejected them. Maybe they mention impressive extracurriculars without explaining that they've pursued the same interest for years. Online—and even at school—you usually see the highlights, not the full journey. Admissions officers, on the other hand, see the entire application. They understand context in a way that classmates and strangers on the internet simply can't. Every Applicant Starts From a Different Place No two students have the same opportunities, challenges, interests, or goals. One student may attend a large high school with dozens of AP classes. Another may have very limited course offerings. One student may spend weekends competing nationally. Another may spend those same weekends working a part-time job or caring for younger siblings. Colleges know this. They don't evaluate applications in a vacuum—they evaluate them in context. That's why trying to build an application that looks exactly like someone else's rarely makes sense. Chasing Someone Else's Résumé Usually Backfires When students compare themselves to others, they often start making decisions based on what they think colleges want rather than what genuinely interests them. They join clubs they don't care about. They take on leadership roles simply because they sound impressive. They overload their schedules with activities they have no time to enjoy. Ironically, these choices can make an application feel less authentic, not more. Admissions officers are remarkably good at recognizing genuine enthusiasm—and they can often tell when students are checking boxes instead of pursuing meaningful interests. Your Application Should Tell Your Story A strong application isn't a collection of impressive accomplishments. It's a coherent picture of who you are. Your courses, activities, essays, recommendations, and supplemental responses should work together to answer a simple question: "Who is this student, and what might they contribute to our community?" That answer will look different for every applicant. And that's exactly the point. Trying to tell someone else's story almost always results in a weaker version of your own. College Application Comparison Can Lead to Burnout The constant comparison of your college application against other students can create the feeling that nothing you do is ever enough. There's always another award. Another internship. Another AP class. Another club. Another test score. The pursuit of "more" has no finish line. Instead of asking whether you're doing enough compared to someone else, ask whether you're spending your time on things that genuinely challenge, excite, or inspire you. Those experiences are far more likely to sustain your motivation—and they'll ultimately make for a stronger application, too. Focus on What You Can Control There are many parts of the admissions process you can't control. You can't control: who else applies institutional priorities acceptance rates the number of available spots What you can control is how thoughtfully you approach your own application. You can: challenge yourself academically pursue activities that genuinely matter to you write honest, reflective essays seek meaningful feedback present yourself authentically Those choices are far more productive than worrying about someone else's résumé. Remember: Colleges Aren't Looking for Copies Imagine if every admitted student had the exact same interests, experiences, and personality. College campuses would be far less interesting places. Admissions offices are building communities, not ranking identical applicants. They're looking for musicians, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, writers, athletes, volunteers, engineers, historians, and students whose interests don't fit neatly into any category. Your goal isn't to resemble the strongest applicant you know. It's to become the strongest version of yourself. Conclusion: Run Your Own Race Comparison is a natural part of the college admissions process, but it rarely leads anywhere helpful. The students who build the strongest applications aren't the ones who spend the most time worrying about everyone else's accomplishments. They're the ones who invest their energy in their own growth, curiosity, and experiences. The next time you catch yourself wondering whether another applicant is "better" than you, remember this: Admissions officers aren't asking whether your application looks like someone else's. They're asking whether it tells them something meaningful about you. That's the only comparison that really matters.

Hint: It's not about doing more—it's about showing more of who you are. The Question Every Student Asks: How Can My College Application Stand Out? One of the most common questions we hear at Kingfisher Prep is: "How do I make my college application stand out?" It's an understandable question. College admissions can feel incredibly competitive, and it's easy to assume that standing out means doing something extraordinary—starting a nonprofit, winning a national competition, or filling every spare minute with activities. The reality is much more encouraging. The applications that stand out aren't necessarily the ones with the longest list of accomplishments. They're the ones that give admissions officers a clear sense of who the student is. Standing out isn't about being louder than everyone else. It's about being more authentic. Build a Strong Academic Foundation Every college application starts with your academic record. Admissions officers look closely at: Your grades The rigor of your coursework Your academic growth over time A challenging transcript paired with consistent effort tells colleges that you're prepared for the demands of college-level work. Strong academics won't guarantee admission, but they provide the foundation upon which the rest of your application is built. Focus on Depth, Not Quantity Many students believe they need to join as many clubs and organizations as possible. In reality, colleges are often more interested in questions like: What have you committed yourself to? How have you grown? What impact have you made? A student who spends four years deeply involved in a few meaningful activities often presents a more compelling application than someone with a long list of brief commitments. Quality almost always beats quantity. Let Your Essays Reveal the Person Behind the Application Your transcript tells colleges what you've accomplished. Your essays tell them who accomplished it. A memorable essay doesn't try to impress admissions officers—it helps them understand you. The strongest essays are: specific reflective authentic personal Rather than asking, "What's the most impressive story I can tell?" ask: "What story best helps someone understand me?" Often, the answer is much smaller—and much more meaningful—than students expect. Build a Cohesive Story One of the biggest misconceptions about college applications is that each section stands alone. In reality, admissions officers read your application as one complete picture. Your: activities essays recommendations supplemental responses academic choices should all work together to tell a consistent story about your interests, values, and growth. That doesn't mean every activity has to fit a perfect theme. It simply means that by the time someone finishes reading your application, they should have a strong sense of who you are. Show Genuine Curiosity Colleges are looking for students who enjoy learning—not just students who earn high grades. Curiosity can show up in many ways: pursuing an independent project exploring an interest outside the classroom reading widely about a subject asking thoughtful questions taking initiative within an activity Curiosity is difficult to manufacture, but easy to recognize. Be Authentic Perhaps the biggest mistake students make is trying to build the application they think colleges want. They choose activities because they "look good." They write essays they think admissions officers expect. They chase titles instead of experiences. Ironically, this often makes applications feel less memorable. Authenticity doesn't mean revealing every detail of your life. It means presenting a version of yourself that is honest, thoughtful, and consistent. Admissions officers aren't looking for identical applicants. They're looking for people who will contribute something unique to their campus communities. Don't Chase Perfection Students sometimes believe every part of their application has to be flawless. But perfection isn't what admissions officers remember. They remember students who: reflect honestly pursue meaningful interests write with authenticity demonstrate curiosity show resilience and growth A thoughtful, genuine application is often more compelling than one that feels overly polished or performative. Remember: Standing Out Isn't the Same as Being Different Students often confuse these two ideas. Being different simply for the sake of being different rarely works. Standing out comes from giving admissions officers a clear understanding of who you are and what matters to you. When your essays, activities, recommendations, and academic choices all support that picture, your application naturally becomes memorable. Conclusion: Let Colleges Remember You There is no secret formula for building a standout college application. The strongest applications aren't built by checking every possible box or trying to outdo every other applicant. They're built by students who challenge themselves academically, pursue interests with genuine enthusiasm, reflect thoughtfully on their experiences, and present themselves honestly. At the end of the day, your goal isn't to convince an admissions officer that you're perfect. It's to leave them thinking: "I'd like this student to be part of our community." That's what truly makes an application stand out.

Hello dear families and readers! Nathaniel here. I wanted to send around a quick college admissions update for 2026 as we get closer to the annual Common App reset later this month/in early August. Some aspects of admissions are currently shifting, so I wanted to bring them to your attention. No need for panic! Just a few items worth knowing about. The short version: the SAT/ACT are back, essays are changing, AI is making everything a little weirder, and families should be careful about making assumptions based on what they heard a year or two ago. This is why you have us: so that we can put all of this together for you. 2026 College Admissions Update: The SAT and ACT Are Back For a while, a lot of families heard “test-optional” and understandably translated that as “tests matter less now.” But, as anyone who has been on the phone with me recently has heard, we knew that they’d come roaring back as an admissions metric. For now, only some highly selective colleges are bringing testing back. Yale will require testing again for students applying for fall 2027 entry. Columbia and Princeton have also announced that they will require testing again for students applying in the 2027–28 cycle. That does not mean every college is suddenly going back to requiring the SAT or ACT. Plenty of schools are still test-optional, and some are test-blind. But it does mean that we are more motivated than ever to make sure our test prep students get their highest possible scores. If you’re thinking about testing, the real question now (and for the next few years) is not just, “Does this college require a test?” The better question is: “Would a strong score help this student?” Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the answer is no. We advise students based on their particular situation. But big note here: this is extra important for younger students aiming at selective colleges. A rising senior and a rising junior will be looking at two very different testing landscapes. The ACT, Specifically For years we’ve recommended the SAT over the ACT because the ACT was so in flux, but they’ve now leveled out a bit. The newer version is shorter, and the Composite score is now based on English, math, and reading. Science is optional and reported separately if a student takes it. That does not mean the science section never matters. For students looking at STEM, engineering, nursing, or science-heavy programs, it may still be worth taking. We haven’t found any information from admissions officers about whether or not taking the ACT over the SAT gives STEM students an advantage in admissions because of the science score. So, if your student is deciding between the SAT and ACT, or trying to figure out whether to take the ACT science section, that decision should be based on the student’s actual strengths, timeline, college list, and possible major — not just on what worked for an older sibling. Fewer Supplemental Essays This Year I’ve been watching this one like a hawk: some colleges are cutting down on supplemental essays. At first glance, that sounds amazing. Fewer essays! Less work, hooray! Everyone wins. But, of course, there is a catch. When a college makes it easier to apply, more students may apply. So a school with fewer essays is not automatically easier to get into. It may just be easier for everyone to throw onto their list. That can mean more applications, more competition, and fewer chances for a student to show why they are a great fit. So, I would not treat a no-supplement school as an “easy” application. Sometimes those schools are actually harder to read because there are fewer places for the student to make their case. You Knew It Was Coming: AI Of course we have to talk about AI. Students are using it. Parents are asking about it. Colleges are thinking about it. It is part of the process now whether we like it or not. Our position remains the same: while AI can be a useful tool, we have never seen it produce application essays up to our standards. Our students must craft thoughtful, personal writing that shows who they are and provides insights that a robot could never come up with. These essays must still sound like they were written by a teenager. Because of its proliferation, admissions committees are always on the lookout for AI. It’s not a shortcut in this context! What Should Families Do Right Now? For rising seniors (and juniors!), here’s our list of summer to-dos before we jump into the supplemental essays with you in August: Check the testing policy for every college on the list. Do not assume it is the same as last year. Make a real testing plan if you haven’t already, even if you’re not working with us on it. That might mean taking the SAT or ACT again. It might mean stopping. But either way, it should be a decision. Keep drafts somewhere safe outside the Common App. The Common App refreshes every year, and though they say you won’t lose your work, students lose it every year during the reset. Some of the supplemental essays are already out (looking at you, Cornell)! Feel free to start looking at these, and when they’re all out in August, we’ll help you look through them and identify similarities among the prompts. If you’re a student who uses AI: have a family conversation about it. What is okay? What is not okay? Where is the line between help and outsourcing? It is much better to talk about that clearly now than to deal with confusion later. A Wee Conclusion There’s no need for panic. But! This year it’s clear: the process is not becoming simpler. It is becoming harder to interpret because what colleges use to make their decisions is shifting. Testing matters at some schools and not others. Essays are still important, but there may be fewer of them. Don’t let AI steal your unique voice. And a school that looks easy to apply to may not be easy to get into. So be careful with the internet, social media, news sites, and parent Facebook groups. Don’t let them get in your head! The goal is to make thoughtful decisions, based on the student, the college list, and the year they are actually applying. Can’t wait to see all of you as soon as you’re back from your summer activities! If you’re reading this and don’t yet have support during the college application or test prep process, email us at info@kingfisherprep.com or fill out the contact form on our website. We’d love to help you strategize! Sources (you know I love sources)/Further Reading Yale Undergraduate Admissions, “Standardized Testing”https://admissions.yale.edu/standardized-testing Columbia Undergraduate Admissions, “Testing Policy”https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/process/testing Princeton Admission, “Standardized Testing”https://admission.princeton.edu/apply/standardized-testing ACT, “The ACT Test for Students”https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act.html Common App, “2026–2027 Common App Essay Prompts”https://www.commonapp.org/blog/announcing-2026-2027-common-app-essay-prompts/ NACAC, “The Role of AI: Insights, Ethics, and Best Practices”https://www.nacacnet.org/the-role-of-ai-insights-ethics-and-best-practices/

The secret isn't talking less about your accomplishments—it's talking about them differently. How to Write About Yourself: The Tightrope Every Student Walks One of the hardest parts of writing a college application is that you're asked to do something that feels a little unnatural: talk about yourself. Many students worry about coming across as arrogant. Others swing too far in the opposite direction, turning their essay into a list of accomplishments that reveals little about themselves. At Kingfisher Prep, we remind students that the goal isn't to brag—or to hide or simply list your achievements. It's to help admissions officers understand who you are. There's a big difference. Remember: The Essay Isn't a Sales Pitch When students think they have to "sell themselves," their writing often starts to sound like a résumé in paragraph form. "I founded...""I won...""I achieved...""I led..." Those accomplishments may absolutely belong in your application—but your personal statement has a different job. Instead of proving that you're impressive, your essay should help someone understand: what motivates you how you think what you've learned what matters to you The focus shifts from what you did to who you became. Show the Process, Not Just the Outcome Students often jump straight to the ending of the story. Instead of writing: "I became captain of the debate team." Ask yourself: What made that role meaningful? What challenges came with it? What mistakes did you make? How did your perspective change? Readers connect with growth far more than they connect with titles. The process is usually more interesting than the achievement itself. Let Your Actions Speak for Themselves One of the easiest ways to avoid sounding boastful is to describe what happened rather than telling readers how impressive you were. For example, instead of writing: "I've always been a natural leader." Show leadership through a moment: organizing a struggling team mentoring a younger student making a difficult decision listening to different viewpoints When readers can see your qualities through your actions, you don't have to announce them. That's the essence of "show, don't tell." Don't Be Afraid to Include Uncertainty Students sometimes believe they should only write about moments when they were confident and successful. But confidence isn't what makes an essay compelling. Honesty is. Some of the strongest essays include: uncertainty mistakes awkward moments failed attempts changing opinions These moments make growth believable. Nobody expects a seventeen-year-old to have everything figured out. Talk About Why It Mattered Imagine two students who both volunteered every Saturday for two years. One writes: "Volunteering taught me the importance of giving back." The other writes about a conversation with one particular family that changed how they understood community. Both students did the same activity. Only one helps us understand how that experience shaped them. Reflection—not accomplishment—is what makes an essay memorable. Confidence Isn't the Same as Arrogance There's an important distinction between confidence and bragging. Confidence says: "I worked hard.""I grew.""This experience mattered to me." Bragging says: "Look how impressive I am." The difference isn't usually the accomplishment itself. It's where the writer places the focus. One centers achievement. The other centers growth. A Helpful Test When you finish a draft, ask yourself: If I removed every accomplishment from this essay, would someone still learn something meaningful about me? If the answer is yes, you're probably writing an essay that's rooted in personality rather than performance. If the answer is no, consider adding more reflection, more detail, and more of your own voice. Conclusion: Let Your Character Do the Talking Writing about yourself doesn't have to feel uncomfortable. You don't need to downplay your accomplishments, and you don't need to exaggerate them either. Instead, focus on telling an honest story about your experiences, your perspective, and your growth. Admissions officers already know what you achieved. The essay is your opportunity to show them who achieved it. That's a much more interesting story. Struggling to write about your accomplishments without sounding like you're reading a résumé? We help students transform their achievements into human, compelling stories that admissions committees love to read. Book an Essay Strategy Consultation with Kingfisher Prep today

Don't let common misconceptions get in the way of telling your story. Introduction: Bad Advice Is Everywhere Ask ten people how to write a college essay, and you'll probably get ten different answers. "You need to write about overcoming adversity." "Start with a shocking hook." "Make yourself sound impressive." "You have to choose a completely unique topic." With so much advice floating around online, it's easy to feel overwhelmed before you've even written your first sentence. At Kingfisher Prep, we find that many students aren't held back by a lack of ideas—they're held back by misconceptions about what a college essay is supposed to be. Let's clear up some of the biggest myths. Myth #1: You Need an Extraordinary Story Perhaps the biggest misconception of all is that your essay has to be about something dramatic or life-changing. Students often tell us: "Nothing interesting has ever happened to me." "I've never started a nonprofit." "I don't have a big adversity story." The truth? Admissions officers don't remember essays because of the topic alone. They remember essays because of the person behind the topic. Some of the strongest essays we've read have been about: a part-time job a family tradition learning a hobby a conversation with a sibling a daily routine A seemingly ordinary experience can become extraordinary when it's told with honesty and thoughtful reflection. Myth #2: Your College Essay Should Be About Your Biggest Achievement Many students assume the personal statement is another opportunity to showcase accomplishments. But colleges already know about your accomplishments. They're in your: transcript activities list awards section résumé (if submitted) The essay serves a different purpose. Instead of asking, "What impressive thing have I done?" try asking, "What experience helps someone understand who I am?" Sometimes those are the same thing. Often, they aren't. Myth #3: You Have to Sound Academic Students sometimes believe their essay should sound like an English paper or a formal speech. The result is writing that feels stiff, overly polished, and unlike the student who wrote it. Your essay should sound like the best version of your own voice. That doesn't mean being casual or careless. It means writing naturally, clearly, and honestly. Admissions officers aren't looking for the biggest vocabulary—they're looking for genuine insight. Myth #4: The Perfect Opening Is Everything It's easy to spend hours trying to write the perfect first sentence. In reality, many successful essays begin with an opening that changes several times during the writing process. Instead of obsessing over your introduction, focus on getting your story onto the page. The opening will often become clearer once you understand what your essay is really about. Progress beats perfection. Myth #5: You Should Tell Colleges What They Want to Hear This is perhaps the most dangerous myth. Students often try to guess what admissions officers want: leadership resilience service passion Ironically, writing toward those buzzwords often makes essays feel generic. Admissions officers aren't looking for students who all sound the same. They're looking for students who sound like themselves. Authenticity isn't just nice to have—it's what makes an essay memorable. Myth #6: Every Essay Needs a Big Lesson Not every essay ends with a profound realization. Growth is often gradual. Sometimes the most compelling essays simply demonstrate: curiosity maturity humor perspective self-awareness You don't need to wrap everything up with "And that's when I learned..." Sometimes showing how you think is more powerful than spelling out the moral. Myth #7: The First Draft Should Be Good Students often worry that struggling through a first draft means they've chosen the wrong topic. Actually, it's the opposite. Almost every great essay starts as a rough one. The strongest essays evolve through: brainstorming rewriting reorganizing reflecting Writing is a process of discovery. Give yourself permission to write something imperfect. You can't improve a blank page. Conclusion: Great Essays Come From Honest Reflection, Not Perfect Strategy There is no secret formula for writing a memorable college essay. The students who write the strongest essays aren't necessarily the ones with the most extraordinary experiences. They're the ones willing to reflect honestly, write authentically, and trust that their own perspective is enough. Instead of chasing what you think colleges want, focus on telling the story only you can tell. That's what admissions officers remember.

The best topic usually isn’t the most impressive one. Introduction: The Search for the “Perfect” Topic One of the first questions students ask when beginning the college essay process is: “What should I write about?” And usually, what they really mean is: “What topic will sound the most impressive?” At Kingfisher Prep, we see students put enormous pressure on themselves to find the “perfect” essay idea—the dramatic story, the extraordinary achievement, the life-changing experience. But the truth is that the strongest Common App essays are rarely successful because the topic itself is unusual. They succeed because the writing reveals something honest and specific about the student behind it. As students begin thinking through this year’s Common App essay prompts, it’s important to remember: a compelling essay topic is one that gives you room for reflection, personality, and detail. What Makes a Strong Common App Essay Topic? A strong essay topic does three things: reveals something meaningful about you allows for specific storytelling creates room for reflection and growth Notice what’s not on that list: sounding impressive proving you’re extraordinary listing accomplishments Your essay is not another résumé. Colleges already have your grades, activities, and awards. The personal statement exists to help admissions officers understand who you are as a person. The Best Topics Are Usually Smaller Than You Think Students often assume they need a huge, dramatic story in order to write a successful essay. In reality, some of the strongest essays come from: part-time jobs family traditions small moments of failure hobbies or routines conversations responsibilities at home moments of embarrassment or uncertainty Why? Because smaller moments often allow for more honest reflection and clearer storytelling. An essay about teaching your grandmother how to use FaceTime can be far more memorable than an essay trying too hard to sound inspirational. Choose a Topic That Leads Somewhere One helpful question to ask yourself is: “What does this story allow me to say about myself?” A topic is only the starting point. What matters is where the essay goes emotionally and intellectually. Strong essays often reveal: changing perspectives personal growth curiosity values humor self-awareness The experience itself matters less than what you noticed, learned, or understood because of it. Avoid Topics That Feel Performative Students sometimes choose topics because they think colleges want to hear them. This often leads to essays that feel: overly polished emotionally exaggerated generic disconnected from the student’s actual voice Admissions officers read thousands of essays every year. They can usually tell when a student is writing toward an imagined version of “impressive” instead of writing honestly. Authenticity is far more memorable than performance. A Good Sign: You Can Picture Specific Moments One of the easiest ways to test whether a topic has potential is asking: “Can I picture actual scenes from this story?” Strong essays usually include: dialogue sensory detail small moments emotional shifts If your idea only exists as a lesson (“I learned resilience”), you probably need to dig deeper into the actual experience behind it. Don’t Worry About Choosing the “Perfect” Topic Immediately Many successful essays begin as rough ideas that evolve significantly during drafting. Students often: change topics midway through writing realize the essay is actually about something else discover the real meaning while revising That’s normal. The goal at the beginning isn’t perfection—it’s exploration. Questions That Can Help You Brainstorm If you feel stuck, try asking yourself: What’s something small that matters a lot to me? When have I felt unexpectedly proud? What’s a moment I still think about years later? What environment brings out a different side of me? What’s something people misunderstand about me? What’s a challenge that changed how I think? Often, the best ideas emerge from questions like these—not from trying to sound impressive. Conclusion: The Right Topic Feels Personal, Not Performative The best Common App essay topics are not necessarily dramatic or unique. They are topics that allow you to write with honesty, specificity, and reflection. A successful essay doesn’t make admissions officers think: “What an impressive student.” It makes them think: “I understand who this person is.”

Hint: it’s more than grades and test scores. The Question Behind Every Application: What Are Colleges Actually Looking For? Every year, students and parents ask some version of the same question: “What are colleges actually looking for in my application?” And understandably so. The admissions process can feel confusing, contradictory, and unpredictable—especially when students hear stories about perfect applicants being denied while others are admitted seemingly out of nowhere. At Kingfisher Prep, we encourage students to think about admissions less as a search for “perfect” applicants and more as an effort to build a thoughtful, balanced incoming class. Colleges are not simply admitting statistics. They are admitting people. Yes, Academics Matter—A Lot Let’s start with the obvious: grades matter course rigor matters academic consistency matters Strong colleges want evidence that students are prepared for college-level work. Admissions officers often look closely at: transcript strength rigor relative to what a school offers grade trends over time intellectual curiosity This is why challenging yourself appropriately matters more than chasing perfection alone. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) consistently identifies grades and course rigor as some of the most important admissions factors nationwide. But Numbers Alone Rarely Tell the Full Story If admissions were only about statistics, colleges could admit students using spreadsheets alone. Instead, schools use essays, activities, recommendations, and short responses to answer a deeper question: “What kind of person will this student be in our community?” That’s where applications become more nuanced. Colleges Look for Engagement, Not Just Participation Students often assume they need: as many extracurriculars as possible endless leadership titles a perfectly “spiked” résumé In reality, admissions officers usually care more about: commitment over time initiative depth of involvement genuine interest A student deeply invested in a few meaningful commitments is often more compelling than one superficially involved in everything. Essays Help Colleges Understand Your Perspective The personal statement is not just a writing sample. It helps colleges understand: how you think how you reflect what you notice what matters to you The strongest essays are often: specific honest thoughtful self-aware Not necessarily dramatic or extraordinary. As many admissions offices—including Yale Undergraduate Admissions—have emphasized publicly, authenticity and reflection matter far more than trying to sound impressive. Character and Fit Matter More Than Students Realize Colleges are communities, not just classrooms. Admissions officers often pay attention to qualities like: curiosity resilience maturity kindness collaboration openness to growth They’re asking: “How will this student contribute to campus life?” That’s one reason why applications that feel overly performative or résumé-driven can sometimes fall flat. There Is No Single “Ideal” Applicant One of the biggest misconceptions in college admissions is that there’s one formula for success. Different schools value different things.Different admissions readers connect with different stories. Different institutional priorities exist every year. This means: there is no universally perfect extracurricular profile no universally perfect essay topic no single correct strategy Students are strongest when they present a clear, authentic version of themselves—not when they try to reverse-engineer what they think colleges want. What Students Should Focus On Instead Rather than obsessing over creating the “perfect” application, focus on: challenging yourself academically engaging meaningfully in activities reflecting honestly in essays building strong relationships with teachers pursuing interests that genuinely matter to you Applications are strongest when they feel coherent and human—not manufactured. Conclusion: Colleges Are Looking for People, Not Perfection The college admissions process can sometimes make students feel like they need to become a polished, flawless version of themselves. But the strongest applications are usually the ones that feel thoughtful, grounded, and authentic. Colleges are not simply asking: “How impressive is this student?” They’re asking: “Who is this person—and what might they bring to our community?” That’s a much more human question.

I am SO sorry to this family I photobombed at the Dwight-Englewood graduation ceremony in New Jersey last weekend. I promise they got their photo just five seconds after this once we moved out of the way! You see, my social awareness was off because this was the first time I had gotten to see this student in person. We met this past December over Zoom and blitzed through his Ivy League applications, polishing them to within an inch of their lives. He got into many, and he’ll attend Harvard next year. I am so, so proud of him, and so happy for his family, that when I finally got the chance I barreled into him. Thanks to his wonderful mother for capturing the moment! What you see on my face is both the absolute elation that comes with seeing a student complete the gauntlet of college applications as well as the knowledge that the best is yet to come. Graduating from high school is an incredible achievement, but for these kids, the greatest adventure of their lives is just around the corner. I can’t wait to hear what they discover about themselves over the next few years. Thank you to all the families we celebrated with this past weekend and those we’ll see over the next month. To our families this coming year: whether you’re in New York, LA, the East Coast, the Midwest, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and Europe, please know that this look on my face? That’s where we’re working to get you to. And we’ll get there together! To the wonderful family who hosted me at Dwight-Englewood last weekend, as well as all of my D-E students, thank you for making me feel like part of your family. You mean the world to me. Nathaniel