Lesson 5: How to Write a Game-Changing College Essay

Do you have to be an oboe-playing, multilingual all-star athlete to have fodder for your college essay? We are here to tell you, with confidence, that you absolutely do not. You could write about a favorite activity or family tradition or even a trip to the dentist…and still get into a highly selective school. Watch our Editor-in-Chief Rob Franek as he shares some surprising essays that elicited a YES! from the admissions office. Plus, find out what admissions teams are REALLY looking for when they read your essay. (Hint: It isn’t your stint as an oboe-playing, multilingual all-star athlete.)

About this Learning Playlist: In “College Admission 101,” The Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief Rob Franek breaks down the most complex parts of the college process—and teaches you how to set yourself up to find, get into, and pay for your dream college.

About us: The Princeton Review is a leading tutoring, test prep, and college admission services company. Every year, we help millions of college- and graduate school–bound students achieve their education and career goals through online and in-person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors, online resources, and our 150+ print and digital books published by Penguin Random House.

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