If you know me, you know I love writing. Teaching writing, reading writing and yes, simply writing is how I spend most of my day. We're here in September, right in the heart of college essay writing season, and if your teen has not already started their essay, it's crucial not to delay any further. Let's ensure that the wheels are in motion for the college essay process because, now more than ever, the college essay can make or break a college application.

To assist your teen effectively, let's break down the college essay process into four essential steps:

1. Brainstorming

The first step, brainstorming, is a collaborative effort. Both you and your teen have ideas, and it's important to discuss them...

Rising Seniors, as the time comes to decide where you’re going to apply to college, you’ll also have to decide what application portal you’ll be using to complete your applications. There are a few options, but the two portals that offer the largest number of schools are the Common App and the Coalition App. Neither will guarantee or hinder your chances of getting into the college of your choice, but there are some key differences you should know before choosing which one to use.

The Common App (www.commonapp.org) is just that - the most commonly used app among students. Its popularity can likely be attributed to the almost 800 institutions that house their applications there....

As of today, there are three kinds of applications that students can use further for college. There's the common application, which has about 700 different schools to choose form. There's the coalition for free application access which is also available which has about maybe 350 schools, and thee are schools who have their own individual applications that you can fill out online. Every application should be online, whether it's the common app, the coalition or schools' individual application, they can all be found online.

Before you start doing either of them, or any of them I should say, please make sure it's for the proper year, class of 2020 should be the one you're considering now, but again you...

A question I get asked a lot about college applications is: When should my child actually start doing their application. I highly encourage students to start over the summer. They can start their application now actually online at commonapp.org but to complete the college application, to actually be prepared to submit it they should probably do it in July, August, and September. The early bird catches the worm in this process. I need to say that again. The early bird catches the worm.

Many schools will actually prefer that students submit their applications in the front end of their senior year so they can make sure that it's complete. So they can make sure that if there are any questions or...

People ask me all the time, what's the most important or stressful part of the college application process? And most people would assume if the essay right, this great big personal essay that has to be perfect in order to be admitted to college. Yes, the essay is important. It's an opportunity, students, an opportunity for you to share with colleges who you are, what you think about what's going on in your life so that they get to know you better. But it shouldn't be stressful. It should be an opportunity.

So I would like you to think of it in layers. If you could take five days to write an essay, an introduction, two days to write the body, another day to write a conclusion, say three to five...

Juniors, sophomores, and freshmen, but particularly you juniors, do you know that the common application is available now? Yes, even though it’s only March, you can start your common application right now and I encourage you to do so.  Just go to commonapp.org and create an account, check off “other student” and indicate what class year you are (2020, 2021, 2022). By starting your common application now, you're able to gather the information you'll need from your parents and your school, as well as list the activities you’re involved in.

There's no harm in doing it now even though you're not going to apply until between August and January. Please visit commonapp.org and...