It all began with the question: “why does essay writing have to be so stressful?” As a counselor, Ann consistently saw students procrastinate, get overwhelmed, and struggle with their mental health while applying to college. On the admissions side, Corinne read thousands of applications each year that failed to showcase the student's authentic personality. Then they came up with the idea for a Mindful Manual™ for college applications.
The goal was to make brainstorming fun, essay writing manageable, and the entire process less stressful. Over the course of 30-days, the College Essay Journal prompts students to answer reflective questions in creative ways. It covers themes related to applications and essay topics while weaving in college advising content at the end of every chapter. From the very beginning, it was important for Corinne and Ann to create something that lowered student stress and emphasized positive thinking. With that in mind, the book incorporates mindfulness techniques that can be applied far beyond college applications. Completing the College Essay Journal helps applicants do the brainstorming necessary to craft a thoughtful, personal, and compelling story.
Shortly after its publication in April 2022, the College Essay Journal achieved Amazon Best Seller status in multiple categories, including College Guides, Study Skills, Adult & Continuing Education, Education Workbooks, and College Entrance Test Guides, where the book also became the #1 New Release. The book and its authors have been featured in Women in Higher Education, Authority Magazine, and US News & World Report.
Corinne Smith and Ann Merrell met on their very first day of graduate school at Northwestern University. Throughout their friendship, Corinne and Ann have always loved discussing college admissions, access and affordability, and the higher education landscape. It’s a great friendship as well as the ideal partnership. They’ve also read a lot of essays.
Ann Merrell
Ann has a Bachelors Degree in International Studies and Spanish from Ohio Wesleyan University and a Masters in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Northwestern University. Ann manages a college readiness program in Chicago. Each year she supports 150+ students from primarily first-generation and low-income backgrounds as they navigate the college application process. In this role, Ann advises students as they develop a college list, write their college essays, and apply for scholarships and financial aid. She also oversees programming focused on leadership development.
Corinne Smith
Corinne has a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Sociology as well as a Masters in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Northwestern University. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Diversity and Equity in Education through the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Corinne works as an undergraduate admissions officer at Yale University. During her time in the Yale and Northwestern admissions offices, she has read thousands of applications and served as a voting member on both domestic and international admissions committees.
