The Uncommon College Essay

“College application essay.” Those three words can inspire terror in teens (and parents alike). The Uncommon College Essay, is a fantastically useful book that will help you overcome those fears and stresses–enabling you to shine. Stacey Brook should be applauded for her ability to take a high-stakes, potentially-overwhelming challenge and demystify it, piece-by-piece, illuminating it as the tremendous opportunity it is. The Uncommon College Essay is at once wise and insightful, while remaining compulsively readable, even fun! Brook’s sentences–because they are clear and concise, elegant and entertaining–don’t just tell you what makes a great essay, they show you. And her playful tone makes for a stress-reducing, frequently-inspiring coaching session. This is the book we all wish we had when preparing to apply for college. It should be required reading for anyone beginning this process. -- Jay Phelan PhD * UCLA Department of Life Sciences Core Education, co-author of The Secret Syllabus. A Guide to the Unwritten Rules of College Success * As the founder of an ed tech company, author, and business coach, I know this book could only be written by someone like Stacey with twenty years of experience sculpting all manners of personal playdough into outstanding essays. Stacey found the perfect tone; the book reads like your teen's favorite hip teacher is guiding them through the process. Beyond the stellar advice and easy-to-read format, Stacey’s pedagogy is flawless. The Uncommon College Essay is exactly what applicants (and their long-suffering parents) need to make their way through the essay-writing maze. without missed deadlines, all-nighters, or tears. -- Julia Pimsleur * author and founder/CEO of Million Dollar Women * I served on numerous acceptance and scholarship committees for over 30 years at Boston University. The personal essay was often a deciding factor about which qualified applicants were accepted at our highly competitive university. With her professional background, excellent writing skills, and a playful sense of humor, Brook has published a definitive book on the topic. Highly readable and relatable, Brook’s The Uncommon College Essay is now a recommendation on my list of writing resources. -- Dorothy S. Clark * retired writing professor/master lecturer and writing program director, Boston University College of Communication * In a world of cookie-cutter templates and AI quick fixes, this book is the next best thing to having Stacey in your living room, demystifying a process that too often feels opaque and high-stakes. -- Dana Suskind * parent and professor of surgery, University of Chicago * Stacey worked with all three of my kids on their successful applications to Duke and Northwestern. With anything related to the college essay, I would trust her implicitly. Simply put, she is a miracle worker. -- Lisa Landsberg * parent *