Now available from Simon & Schuster
“Write Yourself In is full of great, detailed information and step-by-step advice on writing compelling college application essays, but even more importantly provides insight into the entire admissions process.”
— Jim Jump, Past President of the National Association for College Admission Counseling and columnist for Inside Higher Ed
With admission rates at an all-time low, getting into a competitive college is tougher than ever. At the top schools, a strong transcript and test scores will get your foot in the door, but it’s your essays, and the personal qualities that they highlight, that will move your application to the top of the pile.
Yet it’s often hard to know where to start. Seasoned college admissions expert and educator Eric Tipler has seen this firsthand. In Write Yourself In Tipler, a former high school teacher, meets students where they are and shows them how to craft a winning essay: one that is authentic, vulnerable, and highlights traits like personal growth, intellectual curiosity, and emotional maturity.
Instead of formulas, Write Yourself In gives you the step-by-step processes for brainstorming, outlining, writing, and revising essays. In addition to the Common App personal essay, Write Yourself In also covers the most common supplemental essays on topics like community, diversity, engagement, openness to others’ viewpoints, "Why Our School" essays, as well as scholarship essays. In it, you'll learn how to:
• Write compelling personal and supplemental essays
• Apply to Ivy League and other highly selective schools
• Discover and get admitted to great schools beyond the Top 50
• Craft persuasive scholarship essays
• Write effectively and ethically in the age of AI
• Create a compelling resume and activity list
You'll also get a detailed admissions timeline, helpful checklists for brainstorming and revising, and a collection of sample essays by students admitted to top schools.
Filled with comprehensive and actionable advice, Write Yourself In is the go-to handbook for writing powerful, polished, persuasive college essays.
Advance Praise
““High schoolers will find this a boon.”
— Publishers Weekly
“Write Yourself In is the book every and any high school student (and their parent) needs. Written with expertise, compassion and empathy, this book should live on the shelf of every high school guidance office, tutoring center and counseling department.”
— Sheryl G. Ziegler, Psy.D.,
Clinical Psychologist and author of Mommy Burnout
“Every parent (and student) who wants to stay sane in the college application process should buy this book. Eric Tipler provides parents with a roadmap to follow that puts their teens right where they should be, in the lead and ready to succeed.”
— Rebecca Winthrop, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institute
“There's a lot of misinformation out there about the admissions process, and by personalizing it and helping students imagine the human reading their applications, Eric is providing some truly useful insights. Most people don't know how to discuss themselves in a vivid and memorable way, even when they need to compellingly communicate their voice and personality. Eric creates a structured process for students, when they feel rudderless, for gathering their thoughts during the daunting application process.”
— Scott Clarke, Former Assistant Director, Yale Undergraduate Admissions
“It’s all here! Drawing upon his rich experiences, Eric Tipler de-mystifies the universally dreaded portion of the college application process: essay writing. He not only provides practical guidance as to “how,” but also, and of equal importance, addresses the “who”, “when,” and “why” of effective essays. An entirely reassuring and informative guide for students and parents - begin reading it early (and often)!”
— Dr. Paul Orser, Former Associate Dean of the College, Wake Forest University