Five years ago, I began my Common Application essay with the following sentence: “To quote Ferris Bueller, ‘Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write on the human/political issues surrounding college admissions. The college essay has been a common, central part of ...

Writing a college essay is a rite of passage for many students applying to attend a college or university in the United States. Although each institution has its own application requirements, most ...