The college application process can seem like a brave new world with a different set of rules and expectations, but that is not the case! This course aims to demystify the college application essay and empower educators and students to use writing skills they already possess in order to write an engaging, dynamic, and successful narrative. Throughout the course, participants will learn tips and tricks for teaching students how to write college application essays using a variety of information from universities and will explore activities for teaching about the college application essay in the classroom. Educators will reflect on topics that have implications for the college essay process like using mentor texts to spark creativity, using artificial intelligence (AI) when writing college essays, and will even discover how the Supreme Court’s recent rulings impact the purpose of the college application essay. By the end of this course, teachers will have a variety of approaches to teach about the college application essay as well as new awareness around its increasingly complex future.