--- title: "The Insider: Your Expert Guide to College Admissions | Zaragoza Guerra (3)" description: The official blog of College Coach, a division of Bright Horizons. Our expert view on all things college admissions. (3) --- [![College Coach - Your College Admissions Experts](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/hub/146790/file-1518948603.png "College Coach - Your College Admissions Experts")](http://www.getintocollege.com/) - [Blog](https://146790.hs-sites.com/blog) - [Contact](https://146790.hs-sites.com/contact) - [Login](http://passport.getintocollege.com/Account/Login) # The Insider: College Admissions Advice from the Experts ## Zaragoza Guerra ### Recent Posts ## [Finding the Right Graduate Program: What I Wish I Had Known](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/211647/Finding-the-Right-Graduate-Program-What-I-Wish-I-Had-Known) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Fri, Aug 24, 2012 @ 11:30 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-17858643-jpg/images/_mg_3834.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/211647/Finding-the-Right-Graduate-Program-What-I-Wish-I-Had-Known) [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/211647/Finding-the-Right-Graduate-Program-What-I-Wish-I-Had-Known) Tags: [Choosing the Right College](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/choosing-the-right-college) ## [College Coach’s Elizabeth Heaton Gives Her Expert Essay Advice in USA Today](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/181369/College-Coach-s-Elizabeth-Heaton-Gives-Her-Expert-Essay-Advice-in-USA-Today) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Mon, Jul 02, 2012 @ 09:01 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-17850964-jpg/images/eh_sized_wide_mg_3555.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/181369/College-Coach-s-Elizabeth-Heaton-Gives-Her-Expert-Essay-Advice-in-USA-Today) College Coach Expert, [Elizabeth Heaton](http://www.getintocollege.com/our-experts/college-admissions/college-admissions-experts/elizabeth-heaton), explores “5 horrible essay topics for your college application.”  To find out how *you* can avoid some of these application essay writing pitfalls, read her blog post in today’s [USA Today](http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/toolbox/5-horrible-essay-topics-for-your-college-application). [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/181369/College-Coach-s-Elizabeth-Heaton-Gives-Her-Expert-Essay-Advice-in-USA-Today) Tags: [College Coach Mentionables: News & Events](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-coach-mentionables-news-events), [College Essays](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-essays) ## [Your Child's Admission Essay: How Much Help Is Too Much Help?](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/174121/Your-Child-s-Admission-Essay-How-Much-Help-Is-Too-Much-Help) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Fri, Jun 22, 2012 @ 10:47 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-17859293-jpg/images/_mg_4991.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/174121/Your-Child-s-Admission-Essay-How-Much-Help-Is-Too-Much-Help) **College applications** can be fraught with stress for both parents and students.  So how do parents avoid turning “help” with **admission essays** into “too much help”?  To guide us through this parental conundrum, we’ve turned to Jacob Palmer, student blogger and junior at American University, for some parent / student advice.  Jake relates to us his essay writing experiences and the impact his mother’s help had on the process. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/174121/Your-Child-s-Admission-Essay-How-Much-Help-Is-Too-Much-Help) Tags: [College Essays](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-essays) ## [(Surviving) the College Application Arms Race: Part 2](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/139998/Surviving-the-College-Application-Arms-Race-Part-2) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Fri, Apr 27, 2012 @ 05:49 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-17861507-jpg/images/_mg_5817.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/139998/Surviving-the-College-Application-Arms-Race-Part-2) In an effort to beat back the demographic headwinds now working against them, some colleges and universities are coming up with ever more clever ways to maintain their “*uber*-selective” titles.  They're using every weapon within their recruitment and selectivity arsenal — from demographics to yield to just plain making it easy to apply — to improve their relative rank. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/139998/Surviving-the-College-Application-Arms-Race-Part-2) Tags: [College Applications](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-applications) ## [What to Do When Colleges Waitlist You? College Coach Expert Elizabeth Heaton Tells USA Today](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/139677/What-to-Do-When-Colleges-Waitlist-You-College-Coach-Expert-Elizabeth-Heaton-Tells-USA-Today) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Fri, Apr 27, 2012 @ 12:36 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-17851141-jpg/images/eh_sized_wide_mg_35551-resized-600.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/139677/What-to-Do-When-Colleges-Waitlist-You-College-Coach-Expert-Elizabeth-Heaton-Tells-USA-Today) College Coach Expert, [Elizabeth Heaton](http://www.getintocollege.com/our-experts/college-admissions/college-admissions-experts/elizabeth-heaton), explores the DOs and DON’Ts of getting admitted off the college wait list.  To find out how *you* might navigate the wait list maze, read her blog post in today’s [USA Today](http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/toolbox/the-waitlist-and-how-to-get-off-it). [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/139677/What-to-Do-When-Colleges-Waitlist-You-College-Coach-Expert-Elizabeth-Heaton-Tells-USA-Today) Tags: [College Admissions Consulting](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting), [College Coach Mentionables: News & Events](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-coach-mentionables-news-events) ## [Navigating the College Application Arms Race: Part 1](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/127005/Navigating-the-College-Application-Arms-Race-Part-1) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Wed, Apr 04, 2012 @ 10:53 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-17862652-jpg/images/_mg_68421.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/127005/Navigating-the-College-Application-Arms-Race-Part-1) Can students be blamed for thinking they have to apply to 100 colleges just to get admitted somewhere?  Think about it. The population of high school graduates was supposed to have [peaked in 2008](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/94969/Avoiding-the-College-Admission-Myths-and-Mistakes), but colleges and universities are still finding creative ways to round up new applicants. As a result, admit rates are being driven down to staggering levels.  A few examples: [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/127005/Navigating-the-College-Application-Arms-Race-Part-1) Tags: [College Applications](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-applications) ## [Welcome to The Insider!](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/83531/Welcome-to-The-Insider) Posted by [Zaragoza Guerra](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra) on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 @ 11:55 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-17846151-jpg/images/1634415.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/83531/Welcome-to-The-Insider) [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/83531/Welcome-to-The-Insider) Tags: [College Admissions Consulting](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting) [Previous Page](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/zaragoza-guerra/page/2) [All Posts](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/all) ### Need help with the Common Application?  [![common application help](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/146790/cb1db37b-0d15-41e3-988b-213bb2724008.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/146790/cb1db37b-0d15-41e3-988b-213bb2724008) ### Get the Insider Advantage  College Coach experts, all former senior admissions and financial aid officers, are available to work privately with your student to achieve admissions success. [![Learn More](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/146790/bc12ce26-16f4-405a-b49f-f4443fbba468.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/146790/bc12ce26-16f4-405a-b49f-f4443fbba468) ### About this Blog *The Insider: College Admissions Advice from the Experts *is where College Coach experts weigh in on the latest college admissions topics.  We cover everything from application timelines and strategies to tips on financing your child's education. ### Subscribe via E-mail ### Follow College Coach ### Latest Posts ### Posts by category - [College Admissions Consulting (93)](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting) - [College Applications (49)](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-applications) - [Applying for Financial Aid (39)](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/applying-for-financial-aid) - [How to Pay for College (30)](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/how-to-pay-for-college) - [Choosing the Right College (24)](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/choosing-the-right-college) - [College Essays (21)](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-essays) - [College Coach Mentionables: News & Events (20)](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-coach-mentionables-news-events) - [College Entrance Exams (19)](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-entrance-exams) - [College Loan Advice (18)](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-loan-advice) - [Finding Scholarships (17)](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/finding-scholarships) - [Meet an Admissions Counselor (10)](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/meet-an-admissions-counselor) - [College Visits (8)](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-visits) © 2016 Bright Horizons Family Solutions LLC - [Blog](https://146790.hs-sites.com/blog) - [Press](http://preview2012.getintocollege.com/about-college-coach/press) - [Contact](https://146790.hs-sites.com/contact) - [Customer Login](https://vlc.getintocollege.com/vlc/login) - [Privacy Policy](http://preview2012.getintocollege.com/Privacy-Policy) - [Terms of Use](http://preview2012.getintocollege.com/Terms-Of-Use) - [Trademark Policy](http://www.brighthorizons.com/home/trademarks.aspx)