College Application Essays - Avoid the Stress

FIRST...a personal note to the Ridgewood Community. I was privileged to give my presentation on the essay process during a HSA meeting at RHS. I was truly impressed by the administrators who I met...principal and APs as well as the HSA board, parents and students. The facilities too are quite remarkable. You have a great high school with caring professionals. 

#4   The subject is always the back story...the content is about YOU.

 Every college will ask you something about your extra-curricular activities, summers or work experience. The key is to not write about the activity… 

Write about you in the activity. In order words, let’s say you play soccer. The inclination of most students is to write about playing….what playing is like and how much practice is involved; what it’s like to score a goal, etc. That is a mistake. For one thing, there is nothing truly about you in those things.

Instead, what is it like to be part of a team? What does it mean to win with humility and loss with dignity? What is it like helping the weakest player get stronger? What is celebration and commiseration like with others?

 Whether you spent the summer as a camp counselor or you were a resident in a Juvenile Detention Facility, keep in mind it needs to focus on YOU in the environment, not the place or activity itself.   

I am finished for now presenting my FREE workshop on the Top Five Mistakes Students Make on their College Application Essays at libraries, PTA meetings and organizations until the fall. I am limiting myself to only a few fall dates and will do most of the presentations in the spring of 2015. If you are interested in learning more about this program, please go to the homepage of my website and scroll down to the tap on the presentation calendar…bottom right

Randy Levin is the ONLY college application essay adviser asked to speak at the National College Fair- Nassau Coliseum. The Guidance Dept and English Dept of Half Hollow Hills HS bring Randy into the classroom to speak directly to students.

He has a MA in English and a MFA in Creative Writing. He is a published writer and former high school English teacher. For FREE information, go to his website: WriteToCollege.com