Q&A with an Application Reader: Honors College Merit Scholarships
I’m so excited to share snippets of a conversation I had with a dear friend who is an application reader for one of the top honors...
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Cassandra Hsiao
Feb 282 min read
Discovering Your Purpose
Why does purpose matter?
So often we find ourselves mindlessly scrolling through social media, adrift in life...
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Cassandra Hsiao
Feb 52 min read
My #1 Tip to get into an Ivy League University
In the ever-evolving landscape of college admissions, the idea of being a well-rounded student has shifted. Rather than seeking...
283 views0 comments
Cassandra Hsiao
Jan 42 min read
New Year, New (Understanding of) Me
When is the best time to start college apps? This is one of the most common questions that I get. My answer? Second semester junior year,...
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Cassandra Hsiao
Dec 19, 20232 min read
On Rejection
So far this year, I’ve had students get into Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Brown, Boston College and Notre Dame. Congratulations! It's an...
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Cassandra Hsiao
Sep 6, 202311 min read
Breaking down my UC School Essays
The way that I like to approach the UC essays is by asking my students, what are the four to six most important areas of your life? Now,...
159 views0 comments
Cassandra Hsiao
Jul 8, 20238 min read
Reacting to Devi's College Essay (Never Have I Ever)
Many of you guys know Devi Vishwakumar from the Netflix series, "Never Have I Ever." Devi is an overachiever. She's very high strung,...
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Cassandra Hsiao
Jun 26, 20236 min read
Critiquing WEDNESDAY ADDAM's College Essay - CHAT GPT generated! (Full Breakdown)
In my last post, I broke down a college essay that was generated by Chat-GPT. This time I got Chat-GPT to generate me a common app essay,...
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Cassandra Hsiao
May 24, 20238 min read
ChatGPT-Generated Common App Essay: Full Breakdown here!
Today, instead of breaking down one of my own essays, I'm going to break down chat GT's essay. And this is what it generated. All I put...
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Cassandra Hsiao
Mar 22, 20231 min read
How To Write the "Why Us" Essay - 3 Tips From a Yalie
Struggling to write your college "why us" essay? I gotchu! I go over essential tips and tricks for crafting a compelling "why us" essay...
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Cassandra Hsiao
Jan 30, 20231 min read
Guide to Landing Internships: Resumes & Cover Letters
Summer internships, resumes, cover letters… oh my! A key component of getting into every university I applied to including Yale + Ivy...
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Cassandra Hsiao
Dec 14, 20223 min read
Advice for Juniors: How to Start Preparing for College Applications
Second semester of junior year is the ideal time to start thinking about—and even writing—some of your college essays. Here are some tips!
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Cassandra Hsiao
Nov 30, 20223 min read
Blog: How to Write an Overcoming Challenges College Essay
How do you answer questions like, “What is the biggest challenge that you’ve overcome?” I'm here with 4 tips on how to write this essay.
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Cassandra Hsiao
Oct 16, 20223 min read
Read My Viral Common App Essay
Presenting... the essay that got me into every single school I applied to including all 8 Ivy League universities! This essay went viral...
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Cassandra Hsiao
Oct 12, 20223 min read
The Spiderweb Metaphor: How To Approach College Essays Holistically
Imagine your life and your personhood as a spiderweb. At the center of this beautiful intricate web—the strongest part of the web, the...
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Cassandra Hsiao
Oct 2, 20223 min read
Blog: How to Write The "WHY This College" Essay
Photo Credit: Soorim Lee Your common app is ready to go. Your honors and awards are meticulously listed out. Your rec letters are in. All...
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Cassandra Hsiao
Aug 7, 20223 min read
Pitfalls of the Common App Essay
High school seniors! As you dive into your college applications, I wanted to share with you some pitfalls to avoid before you commit time...
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Cassandra Hsiao
Aug 2, 20223 min read
How to Write Your Common App Essay: Where To Start?
With schools across the United States making test scores optional, or even tossing them out entirely, the common app essay is...
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