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common app essay prompt 1 background identity interest talent
Jared Hobson

Common App Prompt 1: Background, Identity, Talent

Writing your Common App essay about your background, identity, interest, or talent is a great way to stand out from the crowd–if you zero in on what the essay prompt is really asking you. Exercise care in choosing to write on Common App Essay Prompt 1. If you fully understand what the prompt is asking, you’ll be better able to write a fantastic Common App essay that can help you shine in the admissions office.

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Woman working on laptop and taking notes at desk near window.  Studying, remote work, online learning.
Jared Hobson

Understanding the Pricing Model of Universities

Some universities are willing to discount tuition rates heavily in order to attract quality students. Other universities are not. Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, is one of those that generally does not discount for much of anything. They recruit students who generally will pay the full price of tuition. Scholarships do exist, and a small percentage of students may get them for one reason or another. But the fact is that different universities have different business models. And Samford is unabashedly a school that wants students who can pay the full cost.

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what can you do with a major in philosophy
Jared Hobson

The Value of a Philosophy Major

What can you do with a major in philosophy? Many question the value of studying philosophy or the liberal arts in general. The reality is that a philosophy major gives you the skills and habits of mind to be successful in just about any profession.

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