Common Application Archives - Collegiate Gateway

How to Write a Resume for Your College Applications

Read our tips for crafting an impressive resume for your college applications and internships. Follow these do’s and don’ts to showcase your leadership skills and experiences.

How to Write Your Personal Essay for College, Part I: Brainstorming

Are you feeling overwhelmed at the thought of writing your personal essay for the Common Application? We walk you through some tried-and-true tips for crafting a tight, captivating personal essay that will wow admissions officers. In this blog post, Part I: Brainstorming, we cover how to develop the best topics to write about. In our next blog post, Part II: Narrative Structures, we provide several options for how you can tell your story.

Maureen Meyer2026-06-22T14:55:45-04:00June 18th, 2026|Categories: Caroline Ferrucci, college, college admissions, college applications, College Essays, college list, Collegiate Gateway, Common Application, Julie Gross, Personal Essay Brainstorm, Personal Statement|Tags: brainstorming, Caroline Ferrucci, collegiate gateway, common app, common application, common application tips, crafting personal statement, julie gross, personal essay, personal essay brainstorm, personal statement|

What are the Differences Between First Year and Transfer Essays?

Learn about how the Transfer Essay differs from the First-Year Personal Essay for college applications. Read our tips for crafting essays that are thoughtful, clearly defined, and that demonstrate specific reasons for wanting to transfer to a certain school. Your Transfer Essay should reveal your interests and goals, and show how you will be a good fit for the college of your choice!

Crafting Your College List, Part I: Best-Fit College Features

When crafting your college list, consider your personality and preferences and how they relate to the features of each college you are considering. Use these "best-fit" features to help you determine at which colleges you will be most able to grow academically, socially, and personally.

Maureen Meyer2026-05-11T13:31:50-04:00April 30th, 2026|Categories: Caroline Ferrucci, college, college admissions, college applications, College Features, college list, Collegiate Gateway, Common Application, Fit, Julie Gross, Uncategorized|Tags: Caroline Ferrucci, college, College Admissions, college extracurricular activities, college features, college location, college size, college visits, collegiate gateway, internships, julie gross, study abroad|

Who Benefits From Early Decision?

How does Early Decision benefit students and colleges? What is the impact of Early Decision on Regular Decision admissions programs, and why are more colleges using Early Decision to fill almost half of their incoming classes? Find out the answers to all of these questions and more!

Maureen Meyer2026-03-06T15:38:51-05:00March 6th, 2026|Categories: Class of 2030, college, college admissions, college applications, College Early Admissions Programs, college early applications, College Scholarships, Collegiate Gateway, Common Application, demonstrated interest, Early Action, Early Admissions, early admissions trends, Early Decision, ED2, Julie Gross, Merit Scholarships, Partial Scholarship, Regular Admissions, Regular Decision Admissions, Scholarships|Tags: Barnard College, Boston College, Boston University, brown university, Caroline Ferrucci, class of 2029, College Early Decision, collegiate gateway, Cornell University (ED), Dartmouth College, Duke University, early decision, early decision acceptance rates, Early Decision Application Numbers, early decision benefits, early decision problems, ED, history of early decision, Johns Hopkins University, julie gross, Northwestern University, QuestBridge, skidmore college, test-optional Early decision admissions, the Kipp Foundation, Tulane University, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, UVA, Washington University in St. Louis, Williams College|

Understanding National Merit Scholarships

National Merit Scholarships are awarded based on PSAT scores. Learn more about qualifying scores, and how you might be awarded college and corporate-sponsored scholarships through this program. Are you eligible?

Merit Scholarships from Colleges

Many colleges award merit aid to entice high-performing students to attend their schools. Find out which factors determine merit scholarships and how these funds are typically awarded.

Maureen Meyer2025-11-18T13:55:04-05:00November 18th, 2025|Categories: Class of 2030, college, college admissions, College Early Admissions Programs, college early applications, College Essays, College Scholarships, Collegiate Gateway, Common Application, Early Action, Early Admissions, Early Decision, Julie Gross, Merit Aid for College, Merit Scholarships|Tags: affordability of college, Bonner Scholars Program at the University of Richmond, Boston University, college scholarships, collegiate gateway, Duke University, Emory Scholars Program, FAFSA, Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program at Boston College, julie gross, Lehigh University, merit scholarships, NYU, Oberlin College, Schools that Award High Percentages of Merit Aid, Tulane University, USC, UVA Jefferson Scholar, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis|

Early College Admissions Notification Dates 2025-26

Congratulations on submitting your early college applications! Now you may be wondering when you will find out your college admissions results! See our list of early admissions notification dates for many selective schools for the 2025-26 application cycle.

Maureen Meyer2025-11-07T15:25:14-05:00November 7th, 2025|Categories: Admissions trends, Class of 2030, college, college admissions, college applications, College Early Admissions Programs, college early applications, college list, College update letter, Collegiate Gateway, Common Application, Early Action, Early Admissions, Early Admissions Notification Dates, Early Decision, ED2, Julie Gross, Regular Admissions|Tags: brown university, Case Western Reserve University, College Early admissions notification dates, college early applications, collegiate gateway, Columbia University, Cornell University (ED), Dartmouth College, Duke University, early action, early decision, Georgetown University, Harvard University, julie gross, MIT, Northwestern University, Princeton University, restrictive early action, single choice early action, Stanford University, Tulane University, university of michigan, University of Notre Dame, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, Vanderbilt University, Yale University|

College Applicant Portals

Why should students take the time to set up a college applicant portal? Read on to find out more about the functionality of these online platforms and why it’s important to follow through and set up your account.

How to Write a Resume for Your College Applications

Read our tips for crafting an impressive resume for your college applications and internships. Follow these do’s and don’ts to showcase your leadership skills and experiences.