Your Essays, Cover Letters, and Interviews Can Be Easier Than You Think
A simple method that will make you someone others want to get to know better
“Ever since I was a child…” ❌
“I’ve always been driven…” ❌
“I take pride in my work ethic…” ❌
“I woke up on the bus and my money was gone…” ✅
When I help people write their college essays, prepare for college admission, or get ready for job interviews, I give them one key strategy:
✍️ Step 1: Brainstorm Traits — But Don’t Write Them
First, list personal traits, values, and aptitudes you believe describe you.
Examples: Driven, Curious, Dependable, Creative.
Keep these to yourself — don’t say them aloud in an interview or put them in an essay.
These traits are for you and you alone.
🎬 Step 2: Find Real Stories
Next, come up with real-life anecdotes that reflect each trait.
Your task:
Draw a line between each trait and a corresponding story.
Example:
Trait: Good under pressure
Anecdote:
“We were in a cab in Paris. When we came to a stop, an hysterical man opened the rear passenger door and started yelling. My family froze — but without pause, I yanked my brother’s arm to get out the opposite side, and ordered my stunned parents to do the same.”
✂️ Step 3: Cut Generic Statements
Go through your essay and remove any generic statements that could be replaced with one of your RLA (Real-Life Anecdotes).
Examples:
❌ I never gave up.
✅ Five years later, we still hadn’t finished, and we’d lost half the team — but I stuck around.
❌ I’m empathetic.
✅ When my friend’s dog died, I felt it too. I sat and grieved with her, putting off my assignments to see her through it.
❌ I’m dependable.
✅ I hate funerals. But I went anyway because I said I would.
🎯 Step 4: Prioritize Traits
Here are 5 key traits that admission officers and hiring managers often look for:
Drive
Initiative
Contribution
Unique Experiences
Curiosity
Quick exercise:
✅ Rank these 1–5 based on how much you could say about each.
✅ Brainstorm as many supporting examples as you can for your top-ranked traits.
From these seeds, you can craft a personal story that shows — not tells — who you are.
Use that story in your personal statements and interviews!
Good luck — you’ve got this! 🎉
Colleges That Still Offer Admission Interviews
The college admission interview is dying. Fewer and fewer schools offer it in the admission process, opting instead for 1-2 minute “Glimpse” videos that give applicants the “opportunity” to awkwardly record themselves on their iPhones.
Still, there are a few colleges that have hung on.
Check out this list of colleges that still offer interviews as part their admissions process!
It’s Not Too Late to Grab a Spot in Our College Guidance Program
For that senior in your life, it’s nice to know someone’s got their back as they prepare their college applications. AI will answer your questions, but our humans will answer the ones you didn’t know you had and keep you on track with your goals.
If you're still seeking thoughtful, experienced guidance, this is our final call to join our Class of 2026 cohort. We are ready to get started by getting to know your student, reviewing their aptitudes, and building their roadmap.
We will help them plan and draft their personal statement and work with them on the writing process throughout the summer. Beginning in August, our application specialists will check in weekly with your student-providing steady, manageable pacing until every application is completed. From organizing timelines and drafting essays to refining final submissions, we’ll be by their side throughout the entire process. We're here to answer questions and provide encouragement for your student as they complete each part!
✔️ Admissions probability at their favorite colleges
✔️ Custom deadlines so they submit before everyone else
✔️ Special requirements for honors programs and scholarships, including "hidden" essays and deadlines
✔️ Lesser known cool programs we think are great fits
✔️ A master essay plan with tips on how to repurpose certain content so our students can focus their energy on what matters most
Our philosophy is simple: Instead of trying to make students fit into colleges, we help find colleges and opportunities that are the right fit for them.
We're ready to get started and appreciate the opportunity to connect with you, regardless!