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We will send you a weekly email with important deadline reminders, application tips & tricks, scholarship opportunities, and a writing prompt for you to practice. 💚

Newsletter Archive 

10.10.25

Hi, storytellers!

Happy October (and hopefully fall break for many of you)!
 

With early action and early decision applications approaching, we want to remind you that we’re here to help! Take a look at our tips and let us know if you have any questions. 


🗓️ This Week in Admissions

  • Common App: deadlines for schools using the Common App vary. Generally, November 1 is the Early Action/Early Decision deadline for most schools. You can check for each school’s deadlines on their Common App profile!

  • University of California: All the UC school applications opened August 1! Please keep in mind that each campus requires a separate application. Applications must be submitted by December 1 (for fall 2026 applicants).

  • SAT: The registration deadline for the November 8 test is October 24 (late registration closes October 28).

  • ACT: The registration deadline for the December 13 test is November 7 (late registration closes November 24).

  • For the PSAT/NMSQT & PreACT, ask your school counselor about your test date. We highly recommend you practice with these exams!

 

 💸 Scholarship Spotlight: BigFuture Scholarship Search

 

If you haven’t used BigFuture by the College Board yet, add it to your list ASAP. It’s one of the most comprehensive scholarship search engines out there—and it’s free to use.

 

You can filter scholarships by your background, interests, and future goals. But more importantly, it pulls from over 23,000 scholarship programs—including small awards that might not show up on other platforms. Set aside a couple of minutes to dig through it and start bookmarking opportunities with early deadlines (many are in November and December!). 

 

 ✍️ Writing Reflection Prompt: Why do you want to go to college?

 

In three clear, personal sentences, describe why college matters to you. Skip the generic stuff like "to get a good job" or "to further my education." Instead, dig into a value, a curiosity, or a goal you want to pursue. This exercise helps clarify your why—and often ends up becoming a golden line in your personal statement.

 

🔥 Hot Topic: Do I need to know my major before I apply?

 

Not always. If you’re applying to a specialized or competitive program (like business, engineering, nursing, or film), then possibly—you may need to specify your major and sometimes submit additional materials. Make sure to double check whether the school requires a separate application for that program.

 

But if you're applying to a college that admits students into a general pool, you can absolutely apply as “undecided.” That said, it helps to still articulate interests in your application—even if you’re not 100% sure yet.

 

🛠️ Student Hack:

Have three kinds of people read your essay:

  1. Someone who knows you really well

  2. Someone who’s an experienced writer or teacher

  3. Someone who doesn’t know you at all

 

Why?

  • The first person checks for voice: “Does this sound like you?”

  • The second checks for craft: grammar, structure, flow.

  • The third checks for clarity: “Would a stranger understand this and care?”

 

If your essay resonates across all three, you’re on the right track.

09.23.25

Hi, storytellers!

With the end of the month approaching, we know that many of you seniors are starting to feel the September Scaries—but have no fear! We are here for you!
 

As always, feel free to reply to this email with your essays if you’d like some feedback from Ahry or Emi! If you’re also interested in a one-on-one Zoom meeting to go over any components of applying to college, please let us know, and we will reach out to schedule!

​​​

🗓️ This Week in Admissions

  • Common App: deadlines for schools using the Common App vary. Generally, November 1 is the Early Action deadlines for most schools. Make your account and work on your application!

  • University of California: All the UC school applications opened August 1! Please keep in mind that each campus requires a separate application. Applications must be submitted by December 1 (for fall 2026 applicants).

  • SAT: The registration deadline for the November 8 test is October 24 (late registration closes October 28).

  • ACT: The registration deadline for the October 18 test is today, September 12 (late registration closes September 30).

  • For the PSAT/NMSQT & PreACT, ask your school counselor about your test date. We highly recommend you practice with these exams!

​

💸 Scholarship Spotlight: Regional Scholarships


Local businesses, regional foundations, and even retired educators often offer awards specifically for students in your area. To find them, go to the websites of high schools near you (even if you don’t attend them!), in addition to your own school’s. College counselors often create scholarship directories with regional opportunities you can apply for. You can also ask your own school’s registrar or college counselor if they know of any community-based awards. And don’t underestimate word of mouth—ask around at your job, church, or clubs to see what past students have applied for.

 

Even if it’s just $250, these smaller scholarships can add up—and most have fewer applicants, so your odds are better.

​

✍️ Writing Reflection Prompt
What’s a current event you have an opinion on—and what’s that opinion? Try writing about why it matters to you personally. You don’t need to be an expert or have the “right” take. Admissions officers want to see your critical thinking and your values in action.


🔥 Hot Topic: Who should I ask for a recommendation?

You don’t need to ask the teacher who gave you the highest grade. You want someone who saw your work ethic, your curiosity, and your resilience—even if the class was hard. Sometimes the teacher who watched you struggle and grow will write a more compelling letter than someone who just saw you breeze through.

 

When considering recommenders, ask yourself: Who saw me learn? Who knows me beyond my grade?


🛠️ Student Hack: Use your phone's Notes app as a second brain.

 

Between college apps, schoolwork, extracurriculars, and life, your brain is juggling a lot. Use your phone’s Notes app as a quick-capture system for everything as soon as it runs through your head: essay ideas, deadlines, scholarship links, reminders, questions to ask your counselor, or even random thoughts that pop into your head during a late-night scroll.

09.12.25

Hi, storytellers!

​

​We hope you’re having a great week—we definitely are, since we can now offer you all FREE SERVICES! If you’re interested in a one-on-one meeting via Zoom or getting asynchronous feedback on your essays, please reply to this email and let us know!

​

Since we transitioned to a non-profit service to better support you all, we have rebranded from TYS Consulting to HumanTYS. We feel this name better encapsulates our mission to nurture human “tys” (ties) through storytelling—in this case, your college applications!

Check out our updated website: https://www.humantys.org/ and let us know if you need anything.

​

🗓️ This Week in Admissions

  • Common App: opened August 1. Go ahead and make your account, add schools to your list, and check out each school's application requirements/guidelines!

  • University of California: All the UC school applications opened August 1! Please keep in mind that each campus requires a separate application.

  • SAT: The registration deadline for the October 4 test is September 19 (late registration closes September 23).

  • ACT: The registration deadline for the October 18 test is today, September 12 (late registration closes September 30).

  • For the PSAT/NMSQT & PreACT, ask your school counselor about your test date. We highly recommend you practice with these exams!

​

💸 Scholarship Spotlight: Regional Scholarships


Local businesses, regional foundations, and even retired educators often offer awards specifically for students in your area. To find them, go to the websites of high schools near you (even if you don’t attend them!), in addition to your own school’s. College counselors often create scholarship directories with regional opportunities you can apply for. You can also ask your own school’s registrar or college counselor if they know of any community-based awards. And don’t underestimate word of mouth—ask around at your job, church, or clubs to see what past students have applied for.

 

Even if it’s just $250, these smaller scholarships can add up—and most have fewer applicants, so your odds are better.

​

✍️ Writing Reflection Prompt
What’s a current event you have an opinion on—and what’s that opinion? Try writing about why it matters to you personally. You don’t need to be an expert or have the “right” take. Admissions officers want to see your critical thinking and your values in action.


🔥 Hot Topic: Who should I ask for a recommendation?

You don’t need to ask the teacher who gave you the highest grade. You want someone who saw your work ethic, your curiosity, and your resilience—even if the class was hard. Sometimes the teacher who watched you struggle and grow will write a more compelling letter than someone who just saw you breeze through.

 

When considering recommenders, ask yourself: Who saw me learn? Who knows me beyond my grade?


🛠️ Student Hack: Use your phone's Notes app as a second brain.

 

Between college apps, schoolwork, extracurriculars, and life, your brain is juggling a lot. Use your phone’s Notes app as a quick-capture system for everything as soon as it runs through your head: essay ideas, deadlines, scholarship links, reminders, questions to ask your counselor, or even random thoughts that pop into your head during a late-night scroll.

09.02.25

Hi, storytellers!

 

​We have some exciting news—we're transitioning to offer FREE services for all students. So please, book a one-on-one Zoom meeting with Emi or Ahry and/or submit your essay(s) for asynchronous feedback!

​

🗓️ This Week in Admissions

  • Common App: opened August 1. Go ahead and make your account, add schools to your list, and check out each school's application requirements/guidelines!

  • University of California: All the UC school applications opened August 1! Please keep in mind that each campus requires a separate application.

  • SAT: The registration deadline for the September 13 test was August 29, but the late registration closes TODAY at 11:59 EST!

  • ACT: The registration deadline for the October 18 test is September 12 (late registration closes September 30).

  • For the PSAT/NMSQT & PreACT, ask your school counselor about your test date. We highly recommend you practice the real thing with these exams!

​

💸 Scholarship Spotlight: Full-ride Scholarships
 

You’ve probably heard of the Ivies. But did you know that some schools just outside the Top 20 offer full-ride scholarships that include tuition, housing, enrichment programs, and more—often totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars saved?

 

“Full-ride” can mean different things depending on the school, but generally, that means at least full tuition. This Reddit reply by Repulsive_Sort3115 nails the breakdown pretty well.

These awards are often funded by private donors who want to attract students like you to campuses that compete with the country’s top-ranked schools. Our co-founder Ahry chose the Jefferson Scholarship at the University of Virginia over offers from Harvard, UC Berkeley, and Georgetown. With study abroad stipends, startup funding, and tuition + room/board + housing covered, she now saves and earns from her scholarship—without compromising on opportunity.

If cost is a major factor for your family and you’re open to exploring schools with strong merit aid, this route might be the right one for you.

That being said, here’s a (non-exhaustive) list of some popular full-ride scholarships. Keep in mind that a lot of them have early deadlines:

​

✍️ Writing Reflection Prompt
Write about something you’ve taught someone else. It could be how to tie a tie, play a game, manage their time, or stand up for themselves. Think about how teaching helped you grow, too.

🔥 Hot Topic: Does Applying for Financial Aid Hurt My Chances?
Short answer: usually not. The vast majority of schools practice need-blind admissions, meaning they don’t look at your financial need when deciding whether to admit you. But some are need-aware—especially for waitlist decisions or international applicants. If you’re unsure, we can help you research your top schools.

🛠️ Student Hack
Even if you think you won’t qualify, fill out the FAFSA. Why? Many scholarships require it to consider your application—even if they’re merit-based. It also opens the door to work-study, state aid, and other perks

08.22.25

Happy Friday, Storytellers!

We hope your school years have been starting out strong! This week, we’re talking about decisions—big and small. From choosing between Early Action and Early Decision to writing about the moments that changed everything, the college process is full of choices. We’re here to help you make sense of them, one story at a time. 💚

 

🗓 This Week in Admissions:

  • Common App: opened August 1. Go ahead and make your account, add schools to your list, and check out each school's application requirements/guidelines!

  • University of California: All the UC school applications opened August 1! Please keep in mind that each campus requires a separate application.

  • SAT: The registration deadline for the September 13 test is August 29 (late registration closes September 2).

  • ACT: The registration deadline for the October 18 test is September 12 (late registration closes September 30).

  • PSAT/NMSQT & PreACT are coming this fall—ask your school counselor about your test date.

 

💸 Scholarship Spotlight: Brown alumna ULTIMATE SCHOLARSHIP LIST!

We love free resources! Brown University alumna Cecile Schreidah made this list for when she was applying to college, full of well-known and less-publicized scholarships you could apply to! TYS co-founder Ahry used this list when she was applying to college. Some of the links may no longer work, but you can search the scholarships by name! We wish we came up with this (though we’ll be sending out our own list too 👀).

Free advice: Watch recent college admit’s college application tip videos on YouTube. Some provide free scholarship lists like this one in their video descriptions!

✍️ Writing Reflection Prompt
Write about a turning point that didn’t look like one at the time. Maybe it was a conversation you didn’t think much of, a class you dropped, or a decision you made out of instinct. Reflecting on these quiet pivots can make for a compelling, introspective college essay—especially if it shows growth over time.


🔥 Hot Topic: Early Action vs. Early Decision—What’s the Difference?

  • Early Action (EA) is non-binding. You apply early, find out early, and still have until May 1 to decide.Early Decision (ED) is binding. You find out early, but if you get in, you’re expected to attend—and withdraw applications elsewhere.

  • ED can give you a slight admissions boost if you’re 100% sure. EA lets you stay flexible. Some schools offer Restrictive EA, which limits where else you can apply early. Confused? We’ll walk you through it—just reach out.

​

🛠 Student Hack
Feeling overwhelmed by everything on your plate? Try the Eisenhower Matrix:

  1. Urgent + Important → Do now

  2. Important, Not Urgent → Schedule it

  3. Urgent, Not Important → Delegate (or ask for help!)

  4. Not Urgent, Not Important → Let it go​

08.17.25

Hi storytellers! 

 

It's halfway through August, and you know what that means…

The Common App opened on August 1, and so did some applications for schools not on the Common App system. If you are a senior and you haven’t already done so, now’s the time to lock in your college list, complete your personal statement, and prep those supplemental essays. It’s game time—but don’t stress. We’ve got your back with tools, prompts, and reminders to make this season a little less overwhelming (and a little more fun).

🗓️ This Week in Admissions:

  • Common App: opened August 1. Go ahead and make your account, add schools to your list, and check out each school's application requirements/guidelines!

  • SAT: The registration deadline for the September 13 test is August 29 (late registration closes September 2).

  • ACT: The registration deadline for the September 6 test was August 1, but late registration closes August 19!

  • PSAT/NMSQT & PreACT are coming this fall—ask your school counselor about your test date.

  • Remember, not all colleges require test scores. But if you’re testing, don’t forget to send your scores directly to colleges from your testing portal!


💸 Scholarship Spotlight: RaiseMe
RaiseMe lets you earn micro-scholarships for things you’re already doing—like getting good grades, leading a club, or taking an AP class. These are real, guaranteed dollars from colleges that partner with the platform. Download the app or go online and start stacking your wins!

✍️ Writing Reflection Prompt
Write about a belief you hold strongly—and why. It can be anything from religious faith (or lack thereof) to the importance of pineapple on pizza. Just try to reflect on how that belief has shaped your actions or perspective.

🔥 Hot Topic: Do colleges want well-rounded or hyper-focused students?
Colleges want a well-rounded class, which means they’re often looking for students with depth in one or two areas rather than surface-level involvement in everything. Think quality over quantity. If you think you don’t already have a “spike” or "theme" that makes your application stand out, you’re wrong! Contact us, and we can help you shape your story to highlight both your passion and potential.

🛠️ Student Hack

Create a free account on Niche.com and read the student reviews at the schools you are interested in. To do this, go here, create an account if you don't already have one, and search for a school you want to apply to. Find the "Campus Life" section for that school, then click "Read More About Campus Life" under its Student Polls. Scroll down and read the reviews from students. You can use these reviews to find activities, traditions, and school-culture insights to weave into your supplemental essays for that specific school! You can also use them to inform your decision to apply there, but remember that all opinions should be taken with a grain of salt, and your experience could be much different than current and past students'.

08.08.25

Hi storytellers! Welcome to our first newsletter. 😊 We’re so excited to have you here!

 

Here at TYS, we take telling stories seriously. TYS stands for Tell Your Story—and that’s what we’re here to help you do. In a world racing toward AI dependence, we believe that storytelling is one of the greatest skills to help you stand out in college applications and far beyond.

 

Here’s what you can expect (for now!) from our newsletter. Each week, we’ll drop the latest in your inbox:

 

🗓 This Week in Admissions: Timely reminders, application process updates, and suggestions to keep you ahead of the curve.

 

💸 Scholarship & Program Spotlight: Free money (yes, please!) and opportunities to help make college possible.

 

✍️ Writing Reflection Prompt: Great writing takes practice! We’ll offer a quick exercise you can finish in <10 minutes to help you craft your story.

 

🔥 Hot Topics: Debunking common admissions misconceptions and answering your questions.

 

🛠 Student Hack: A practical tool, template, or tip to save you time (and stress).

 

Want more than a weekly debrief? We offer:

  • One-on-one live counseling for all of your college admissions questions and writing queries

  • Asynchronus essay editing to give you feedback when you’re crunched for time

 

P.S. Hit reply and ask us anything you want to know about college, writing, admissions, or anything your heart desires! We’ll feature (anonymous) Q&A next week.

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