EssayEdge Blog

Every year at about this time, it seems like the issue of plagiarism in college and graduate school admissions essays comes out for another round of conversation. Hundreds if not thousands of candidates around the world try to cheat by submitting an essay they didn’t write. Plagiarism is a serious problem, and admissions officials are right to immediately reject candidates who don’t write their own essay.

If you are currently writing an admissions essay, and thinking about submitting a paragraph or an entire essay you didn’t write, then I feel fortunate that EssayEdge has your attention right now.

Don’t do it – … Continue Reading

Over the last few weeks, this blog has presented many suggestions that have hopefully helped you effectively craft and polish your admissions essay(s). While talking with an EssayEdge editor this afternoon, however, he brought up a topic that I haven’t yet written about. We were discussing length restrictions, particularly how many of our customers struggle to meet such 500-word, 1-page, and 4,500-character limits. The editor said that in his opinion, a primary cause of this difficulty is an almost universal tendency to write in what he called mega-paragraphs.

Now, there’s nothing technically wrong with a large paragraph (provided, of course, that … Continue Reading

Some rules of writing are simple, straightforward, and easy to follow. Capitalize the first letter of a sentence and proper nouns. Avoid fragments and run-ons. Make sure your subjects and verbs match up.

Others, however, are more complicated and convoluted.  Take the following sentence, for example:

Some people think that you must be a financial genius to apply for a small business loan, but in reality, a regular person can do so provided they take the time to prepare.

That sentence, though it may seem technically sound, actually contains two mistakes, both of which EssayEdge editors see examples of on a regular basis. … Continue Reading

Today, I’d like to take a break from our traditional Tuesday post in order to ask for help from our readers. Rather than provide content about some admissions-essay related topic, I want to hear from you. Yes, you.

Specifically, I’d like input on the following simple queries:

Do you have any questions about admissions essays that we could answer in a post?

Is there anything we could explain or discuss about the services offered by EssayEdge?

What else would you like to see in this space?

If you have questions of this nature or other related comments, please feel free to leave them in the … Continue Reading

Money. It’s all about money. The admissions process is no exception, as the cost of higher education has continued to skyrocket in recent years. The price tag of a B.S., M.A., or Ph.D. has not only increased in the Ivy League and at other esteemed private institutions, but also at public schools. Tuition at many popular state and public schools, such as the University of Michigan and University of California institutions, can cost in excess of $10,000 per year for residents, while the total cost of attendance (including room, board, and supplies) can exceed $20,000 annually. If you’re applying to … Continue Reading

One of the great yet often overlooked things about agonizing over admissions essays is that even after the applications are submitted, applicants have built and strengthened writing skills that will aid them for the rest of their lives. Many of the traits that make an application essay excellent can also make a research paper, short story, or reading response shine. Good writing is good writing; while composing an analytical essay is obviously different than penning a blog entry, similarities still exist.

Let’s take a look at some of these universal writing tips, which apply to not only application essays, but also … Continue Reading

Application deadlines have come and gone for many, who are now left to do little more than wait, wonder, and hope. After the hectic and stressful period leading up to those deadlines, the calm after the storm can be jarring for some; they struggle to let go of the process and agonize over whether they missed anything or could have done something better. Others are all-too-happy to be done with application craziness and forget about everything until decision days draw near. Regardless of which camp you fall in, here are a few dos and don’ts to consider even after your … Continue Reading

It’s January 7, 2010. Most college application deadlines have passed, so today’s post will focus on issues relevant to those applying to advanced degree programs, particularly business schools.

If you are applying to an undergraduate institution with a later deadline (check out http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/841691-official-list-schools-later-deadlines-8.html for a fairly comprehensive list of programs with deadlines that have not yet passed – you may need to scroll to the final page of the thread to get the most up-to-date list), you can review our December 29 post for some last-minute tips.

For those applying to an MBA program, time is running short. Many schools have … Continue Reading

As 2009 winds to a close, I’d like to use this post to address an issue that is very near and dear to us here at EssayEdge.

A CNN report originally published in September of this past year was recently reposted on the American Morning blog. The report highlights the increasing prevalence of so-called paper mills, also known as essay mills, on the Internet. These companies allow students to purchase academic papers for their own personal use and are, for all intents and purposes, nothing more than commercialized cheating.

You can read the full text of this report at the following link:… Continue Reading

With 2009 winding to an end, the team here at EssayEdge would like to provide a small gift for those of you still working on applications as 2010 fast approaches. Through midnight EST, use coupon code BLOG30 to receive 15% off your EssayEdge order. Don’t wait, though, as this offer is good only today; it, and 2009, will be gone before you know it!