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Health & Fitness

College Application Essays - Avoid the Stress

Welcome back to previous readers and hello to new readers. For those of you who have read my many blog entries, you might have wondered why I disappeared for about six months.

Let’s clear up the rumors:

· I haven’t entered the Witness Protection Program (yet)

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· I wasn’t arrested (again)

· I certainly didn’t have a psychotic break (this year)

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I was fully involved in the height of my consulting work which left me no time for my blog….or anything else. (You can’t imagine how full my DVR is right now…I can’t wait to find out if Sam marries Diane)

It’s time again to impart valuable advice to parents and teens who will be applying to college in the fall of 2014.

The college application essays are more important than ever

Don’t take my word for it:

"The more exclusive the college, the more weight given to the essay than GPA"      New York Times

"The essay differentiates one top student from the next"       Stanford University Admissions Officer

Look at the stats:

Yale…………………….28, 870 applicants…Only 2,100 admitted
Stanford……………….38,828 applicants …Only 1,700 admitted
Duke…………………...31,785 applicants …Only 2,897 admitted

University of Chicago24,000 applicants two years ago. This year, it jumped to 30,000.

Then WHY is the essay process so important? A student’s transcripts as well as his academic and extra-curricular achievements do not give any unique insight into the student as a person. Yes….they will illustrate hard work, intelligence, drive, aptitude, etc. However, these are the same attributes reflected in 28,000 other applications for the same institution. I know that grandpa says, “No one is as perfect as my granddaughter” but in this arena….the obvious is commonplace.

Simply put, essays help the admissions office evaluate your teen’s potential to fit into their school’s community and culture as a person. (Not as a student….not as club president….not as the driving force for raising money with a dance-a-thon or relay-for-life team and not as a swimmer who placed first in his county). Once again…the 28,000 other students….many of whom were driven to get 2400 on their SAT were also club presidents and competitors who gave their time to charity work….if not a kidney.

What makes your son laugh? What is your daughter passionate about? (Other than science, math, engineering and playing first violin in the school orchestra). How will your son or daughter contribute to the school community? Does she play Frisbee? Does he cook? (I can hear the parents now signing up their tenth grade sons for baking lessons). Stop. Your teenager IS unique. I don’t mean to sound like Oprah but each of us is unique and special. The essays are your opportunity to express that uniqueness.

This is where the essays come in:

Let’s assume that your teen’s transcript looks identical to all of the other transcripts being viewed by a particular college. (For example: 28,870 received by Yale). On paper, your student and the other 28,869 students took twelve AP classes, have 4.0GPA, were Valedictorians, cured Cancer, and won Olympic Gold. Just remember, you aren’t the only parent with a bumper sticker that reads, “My child is an Honor Student.”

Stop thinking so hard: You need not be abducted by Aliens to be unique. It’s right there in front of you. What makes your son or daughter a well-rounded, likable, lovable teen?

Read between the lines: Through the essays, the admission officer wants to see any ONE of these qualities. Does the candidate have the ability to adapt to change, persist through difficulty, interpret social cues, lead AND follow (participate as part of…) be creative and handle disappointment?

Is the candidate confident, realistically self-aware of flaws and limitations, understanding and accepting of diversity, able to put off immediate gratification, have a strong support person and able to have real world experience of acquired academic knowledge?

Your head will explode if you try to integrate all of these elements into the essays. Just be aware these elements exist and see if you can address a couple….subtly….without hitting them over the head or forcing the subject. The Bottom Line: They want to know how your teen will FIT into their community.

Maximize your chances with the best possible essays. MUCH MORE TO COME IN FUTURE ARTICLES…. I’m late now for my baking lessons….

I will be presenting a FREE workshop on the Top Five Mistakes Students Make on their College Application Essays at each of the following libraries, PTAs and organizations. (Pre-registration is strongly advised. Please call the library or other organization if you wish to attend)

I am also available to speak at YOUR organization. Did I mention it’s FREE?

7pm to 8pm at most locations but call for exact time & info - Pre-registration is strongly recommended

Academy of Allied Health Services PTSA  March 4 

Warren Township Library March 10

 Monmouth Cty Library HQ   Manalapan   March 12 

 Montvale Public Library March 13 

Glen Ridge Public Library March 19  

West Caldwell Library March 25 

Westfield High School PTS0 March 26 

Monmouth Cty Library HQ  Manalapan   April 3

Governor Livingston HS PTO   April  8  

 Springfield Library  April 9

 Bernards Township Library April 16 

Kinnelon Public Library  April 17 

 Bernardsville Public Library April 24 

Old Tappan Public Library  May 8

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 brought 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





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