Strong relationships shine through in letters and can help in situations where grades are poor, says Denard Jones, lead college counselor at Empowerly, a college admissions consulting company.

Letters of recommendation from teachers, school counselors and other sources can help college admissions officers get a more complete picture of applicants. They give admissions offices a "third ...

It’s time to write your college application essay! Naturally you’re trying to decide ... be yourself in your content and style so we can learn more about you and see a sample of your writing skills.