Maureen C. Scudder, College Essay Advisor

I’m so lucky to have a front-row seat to watch students becoming who they are. We are merely witnesses.

AP published a story today on AI in college admissions. I'm not worried (I love AI), and in response, or maybe just for fun, I wrote my own post with my own words.

Why Juniors Should Start the College Process The college application process is meant to be enjoyed. Start today to find out how.

Champlain College, Burlington, VT
Saint Michael’s College, Colchester, VT
McGill University, Montréal, CA
Université Laval, Québec, CA
Université de Moncton Moncton, New Brunswick, CA
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, CA
University of Prince Edward Island, PEI, CA
Colby College, Waterville, ME
Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME
Skidmore College, Saratoga, NY

Do you have a favorite?

Eschew prestige, embrace instinct, and if your choice happens to blitz both, have at it. I believe in designing a thoughtful, practical path to college. These students did exactly that. They built their launching pads and off they go. Well done, 2025.

Please, please, can we try to make the college application process more fun? Can we snort and snicker and know, really know, that our children can build a great life no matter where they land?

Can the college application process be fun? Imagine if the college application process were fun. Imagine learning that “if I were” refers to a hypothetical, whereas “if I was” refers to something that actually happened. Then imagine being affirmed in what you already knew: almost no one cares if you write “if I was” for “if I we...

I started this work because I love teenagers, I love teaching writing, and I hate how the college application process can make students feel less than. Today I’m reminding seniors that they are enough. They've always been, and they'll always be.

Don’t long for a straight line.

Don't long for a straight line.