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From the Desk of Anthony Barth

Insights on the College Essay

Practical guidance on the Common App, authentic storytelling, and what twenty years in the classroom has taught me about what admissions officers are actually looking for.

June 15, 2026 · Common App

The Common App's New "Challenges and Circumstances" Section: What It Is, and Why Students Get It Wrong

Every year, I sit across from students who are convinced they have nothing interesting to write about. The new Challenges and Circumstances section tends to deepen that anxiety — but it doesn't have to.

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