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The 10 Commandments of Being Online

  • Distinctive College Consulting
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By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. I have seen it all – alcohol, curse words, even boobs. This is just a sampling of what has turned up on spur-of-the-moment requests to see my students’ social media…
Art by Victoria_Glitter

What Really Matters Most to Colleges

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  • 153 views
By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. Several years ago, the mom of one of my students expressed her frustration that no one before me told her that her son’s transcript was going to be the most important…

It’s a Cruel Summer… Or Is It?

  • Distinctive College Consulting
  • 89 views
By Adam Muri-Rosenthal, Ph.D. Child of a single working mom, Daniel has just moved from New Jersey to California where he lives in the only ramshackle apartment complex in Reseda that his mother can afford…

Conflict Is Great (for Your Essays)

  • Distinctive College Consulting
  • 191 views
By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. One of my favorite shows of all time, Breaking Bad, opens with one of the most unforgettable scenes in television. The main character, Walter White, is wildly driving an…

Don’t Study Business (as an Undergrad)

  • Distinctive College Consulting
  • 399 views
By Adam Muri-Rosenthal, Ph.D. Many students come to me with the intention of studying business as undergraduates. If that’s your dream, I will bend over backwards to help you make it a reality. But it’s…

The ABCs of the Why This School Essay

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By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. Crafting college essays is frequently more an art than a science, and how you approach your writing process should represent your individuality in experience as well as…

What Makes an Elite Essay

  • Distinctive College Consulting
  • 557 views
The essay is one of the most revealing pieces of the college application process. Not only are you expected to bare your soul in 650 words or less, but you’re also offering a window into how you think…

Focus on Your… Flaws?

  • Distinctive College Consulting
  • 318 views
By Adam Muri-Rosenthal, Ph.D.  Unlike the rest of your application—which is about telling colleges what you’ve done—the personal statement for the Common App is about telling them who you are. That’s…