tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4962943069331407372024-02-18T22:05:35.540-05:00Need Help?Want Ivy & Top Results? Tutor Coach College Application Essay ConsultantBecause. Every. Word. Matters. Help is here. <br> Bestselling author, longtime Ivy League writing professor,<br>acclaimed editor. Acceptances to: <br> Harvard Yale Stanford MIT Brown Dartmouth UCLA<br>
Princeton Columbia Barnard UC Berkeley<br>
NYU Cornell Emory UMichigan Carlton Tufts<br>
Vassar Skidmore Wake Forest SUNY Temple<br>
NYU Law, NYU Dental, UCLA Medical School & more<br>
1-855-99-ESSAY<br>
Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com<br>
DontSweatTheEssay.comElizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-46256392086039850852018-03-15T08:30:00.000-04:002018-03-15T08:30:45.773-04:00Help with Your College Application Essays & Personal StatementThe fastest way to find me is to shoot me an email: <a href="mailto:Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com">Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com</a> or visit my website: <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat The Essa</a>y I look forward to hearing from you.Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-33344521080180960952017-12-16T07:32:00.000-05:002017-12-16T07:44:52.951-05:00Rejected or Deferred? Can You Write College Application Essays Quickly? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZw8kvXSpaQgVM5oNTOOHy5wyyYdh6Z8iXyZ2kwPP4WkCklzRQnDnHRPTuaH5cj-6Z7vTD1qsLUUaGWZ5DK4i2JCRbH2rt6Z-KVAS-j-Re1nVSSafUVhKgOArLYYZgu6ukfA3sOX_KoUn/s1600/download-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZw8kvXSpaQgVM5oNTOOHy5wyyYdh6Z8iXyZ2kwPP4WkCklzRQnDnHRPTuaH5cj-6Z7vTD1qsLUUaGWZ5DK4i2JCRbH2rt6Z-KVAS-j-Re1nVSSafUVhKgOArLYYZgu6ukfA3sOX_KoUn/s1600/download-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
This is my latest piece on <i>Huffington Post</i>. You've heard some of this before, but perhaps in a different frame of mind....<br />
<br />
Here's the opening:<br />
<br />
<div class="content-list-component bn-content-list-text yr-content-list-text text" data-beacon-parsed="true" data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"citation"}}" data-rapid-cpos="1" data-rapid-parsed="subsec" data-rapid-subsec="paragraph">
"December is a tough month for college applicants.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="content-list-component bn-content-list-text yr-content-list-text text" data-beacon-parsed="true" data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"citation"}}" data-rapid-cpos="2" data-rapid-parsed="subsec" data-rapid-subsec="paragraph">
"When you apply early decision to a college you have your heart set on, it can be crushing if you’re rejected or deferred.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="content-list-component bn-content-list-text yr-content-list-text text" data-beacon-parsed="true" data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"citation"}}" data-rapid-cpos="3" data-rapid-parsed="subsec" data-rapid-subsec="paragraph">
"If you’re rejected, you just have to pick yourself up and move on to the other wonderful colleges on your list. This might mean finding another college or two, writing a half dozen essays you hadn’t planned to write, and/or taking a look at your Common Application essay and revising it - yes, you’re allowed to revise it. If you’re still searching for appropriate colleges, the ultimate reference book is <a class="bn-clickable" data-beacon-parsed="true" data-beacon="{"p":{"lnid":"The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition","mpid":1,"plid":"https://www.amazon.com/Best-382-Colleges-2018-Everything/dp/1524710229"}}" data-rapid-parsed="slk" data-rapid_p="1" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="subsec:paragraph;cpos:3" href="https://www.amazon.com/Best-382-Colleges-2018-Everything/dp/1524710229" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition</a><strong>, </strong>updated every year by Princeton Review.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="content-list-component bn-content-list-text yr-content-list-text text" data-beacon-parsed="true" data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"citation"}}" data-rapid-cpos="4" data-rapid-parsed="subsec" data-rapid-subsec="paragraph">
"If you’re faced with having to write a slew of unanticipated essays, get to work. There’s no sweetener for this project, and you’ve been there before. Make the essays personal to you and your academic desires, specific to the colleges you’re applying to (mention specific majors, courses, professors, and other opportunities unique to that college), and get another pair of eyes to review them for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and good sense. <strong><a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rejected-or-deferred-can-you-write-good-college-application_us_5a33fc12e4b02bd1c8c60634?ncid=engmodushpmg00000003">READ THE REST</a> </strong><br />
<br />
<b>And shoot me an email if you think you need help with this project: Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com </b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-73299920948911995312017-11-21T10:56:00.002-05:002017-12-16T07:32:53.085-05:00Need help with your college app essays?Send me an email or pick up the phone (I'm on the East Coast)<br />
<br />
Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com<br />
<br />
1-855-99-ESSAY.<br />
<br />
Look forward to hearing from you.<br />
<br />Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-58831387324627927812017-03-22T08:47:00.002-04:002017-05-30T23:49:54.280-04:00Students of Science & the Arts: Enjoy these Remarkable Photos<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
Please be sure to visit my new website for the latest in college application essay news by clicking right here: <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/"><b>Don't Sweat the Essay</b></a>.<br />
<br />
In our focus on getting into college and getting into "the right college" or "the best college," we sometimes forget that education is a tool, a lifelong endeavor, one of many destinations on the map of our lives and our goals. When I come across articles or events that might be of interest to the students I work with, I like to call attention to them - which brings me to these amazing pictures from a British organization that finds photographs that celebrate scientific achievements. From their website:</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
"<a href="http://www.wellcomeimageawards.org/about/about-the-awards/"><b>The Wellcome Image Awards</b></a> are Wellcome’s most eye-catching celebration of science, medicine and life. Now in their 20th year, the Awards recognise the creators of informative, striking and technically excellent images that communicate significant aspects of healthcare and biomedical science. Those featured are selected from all of the new images acquired by Wellcome Images during the preceding year. The judges are experts from medical science and science communication.</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
"This year's Wellcome Image Awards were presented on 15 March 2017, celebrating the scientists, clinicians, photographers and artists who bring science to life through remarkable imaging.</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<a data-mce-href="http://www.wellcomeimageawards.org/about/about-the-awards/" href="http://www.wellcomeimageawards.org/about/about-the-awards/"><b>CLICK HERE</b></a> to: Watch our judges talk about the power of visual imagery and this year’s selection of images."</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<a href="http://www.wellcomeimageawards.org/2017/"><b>CLICK HERE TO SEE THE AWARD-WINNING PHOTOS</b></a>. You can even vote for your favorites!</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", "Bitstream Charter", Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
Please email me for information on my college consulting services: Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com 1-855-99-ESSAY </div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-78419465537722057362017-03-05T08:24:00.003-05:002017-03-07T07:58:42.122-05:00Should I Start Writing Now? (No.) But Look at New Common Application College Essay Prompts!! <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "open sans", helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="color: #333f49;">Please visit my new <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat the Essay</a> website for more information:</b><b style="color: #333f49;"> </b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Students don’t need to submit their college applications until fall, but they will have plenty of time to look over the new prompts for the Common Application, which were recently released by the organization. The prompts are very similar to those of recent years, with a few notable exceptions. There are 2 more choices, and several of the “old” prompts have been refined. I think they are terrific questions and they will elicit revealing answers from students. The word limit is still 650.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If your next question is: “Should I start writing my essay now?” the answer is NO. But isn’t it good to get a head start? In general, yes, but in this area, I’d suggest waiting at least until June. Why? My experience is that if you write your essay too early, by the time you actually work on your applications in earnest, you’ll have moved beyond the topic you chose and want to write something else. After all, you have five to eight months of life experience between now and the time you press SEND. And don’t worry: you’ll get it done with plenty of time left over even if you start in June or July or August. But don’t wait until the last minute.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My advice for now</strong>: Look at the questions. See if any of them leap out at you. File them away for the time being. In the meantime, do some reading and writing on your own. What to read?<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </em></strong>Students don’t need to submit their college applications until fall, but they will have plenty of time to look over the new prompts for the Common Application, which were recently released by the organization. The prompts are very similar to those of recent years, with a few notable exceptions. There are 2 more choices, and several of the “old” prompts have been refined. I think they are terrific questions and they will elicit revealing answers from students. The word limit is still 650.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If your next question is: “Should I start writing my essay now?” the answer is NO. But isn’t it good to get a head start? In general, yes, but in this area, I’d suggest waiting at least until June. Why? My experience is that if you write your essay too early, by the time you actually work on your applications in earnest, you’ll have moved beyond the topic you chose and want to write something else. After all, you have five to eight months of life experience between now and the time you press SEND. And don’t worry: you’ll get it done with plenty of time left over even if you start in June or July or August. But don’t wait until the last minute.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My advice for now</strong>: Look at the questions. See if any of them leap out at you. File them away for the time being. In the meantime, do some reading and writing on your own. What to read? <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://nytimes.com/">The New York Times</a>.</em></strong> will give you spot-on lessons in clarity and precise writing. <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://newyorker.com/">The New Yorker</a></em></strong> will entertain and enlighten you with excellent writing, wit, fascinating subjects, including science and technology, CARTOONS, poetry, fiction, and profiles of the most interesting people around. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If you want to talk about the essay process – whether it’s the Common App essay or the supplements, the University of California essays or those for MIT – please shoot me an email or give me a call. L<a href="mailto:liz@dontsweattheessay.com">iz@dontsweattheessay.com</a> 1-855-99-ESSAY. I’m on the East Coast and work with students around the world on Skype and Google Docs.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<u style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2017-2018 Common Application Essay Prompts</strong></u></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. [No change]</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
2. The lessons we take from <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">obstacles we encounter</em> can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">challenge, setback, or failure.</em> How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? [Revised]</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
3. Reflect on a time when you <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">questioned </em>or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">thinking</em>? What <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">was the outcome</em>? [Revised]</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. [No change]</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">realization</em> that <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. </em>[Revised]</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
6. <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?</em> [New]</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
7. <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. </em>[New]</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
1-855-99-ESSAY <a href="mailto:Liz@dontsweattheessay.com">Liz@dontsweattheessay.com</a></div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-30491195514294070652016-08-22T21:19:00.003-04:002017-03-06T13:37:17.163-05:00Hungry for College App Essay Advice and Info? Please Visit My New Website! By all means, click on the posts here that are helpful, and be sure to visit <b>Don't Sweat the Essay's</b> new website - at the same old url: <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/"><b>Don't Sweat the Essay</b></a> - for new posts. Take the plunge this summer. What have you got to lose?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJWT5x4Ndy442T7Ro3yHYcen34xoZwUotEs9UBKHlQ8kymsSEEGviBAcu0XyTAmEN6i3G42mlHhsYWRpqfZWbjkIqKIn_5ePAX4lWo32pl7fv_Ko_xIl93mcqTInA3kRcuQE5e5aRgVsy/s1600/IMG_6009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJWT5x4Ndy442T7Ro3yHYcen34xoZwUotEs9UBKHlQ8kymsSEEGviBAcu0XyTAmEN6i3G42mlHhsYWRpqfZWbjkIqKIn_5ePAX4lWo32pl7fv_Ko_xIl93mcqTInA3kRcuQE5e5aRgVsy/s400/IMG_6009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-89769778398477407532016-07-31T17:57:00.000-04:002017-05-30T23:53:50.976-04:00College Consultant Application Essays & STEM Panel - Martha's Vineyard Augus 2016<br />
<header class="entry-header clearfix" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AlaJ2R46UW5paflJjPF82o28zKdzXLk6qk9nY9hbeqg1YT6RLU5J7gyYrPh4mbX38xupSkHfLkKSJMhYOTNW0q3Q62u9D8upN_gZ7PYO13bW4Jc37uTl0laaQ32pdMzNoIevFGY1fUq8/s1600/IMG_5777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AlaJ2R46UW5paflJjPF82o28zKdzXLk6qk9nY9hbeqg1YT6RLU5J7gyYrPh4mbX38xupSkHfLkKSJMhYOTNW0q3Q62u9D8upN_gZ7PYO13bW4Jc37uTl0laaQ32pdMzNoIevFGY1fUq8/s320/IMG_5777.jpg" width="320" /></a><header class="entry-header clearfix" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="mh-meta entry-meta" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-top-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); border-top-style: dotted; border-width: 1px 0px; color: #607d8b; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-top: 0.625rem; padding: 5px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333f49; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: inherit;">My Vineyard plans summer of 2017 are here: </span><a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat The Essay</a><span style="font-weight: inherit;">.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: inherit;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: inherit;">
<span style="color: #333f49; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you’re on Martha’s Vineyard this week – Aug. 1 to Aug. 7th – there are two events that might interest you.</span></span></div>
</div>
</header><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wednesday August 3</strong>, I’m giving a talk with Q/A at the Edgartown Library – the new building – at 6.30pm. Here’s the library’s write up from their website. Please join us! 26 West Tisbury Road, Edgartown, MA 02539.</span></div>
</div>
</h1>
<h2 style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">College Admissions Tips: Free Program on Wednesday, August 3</span></h2>
<h1 class="entry-title" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="entry-content clearfix" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">“Author and former Princeton professor <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Elizabeth Benedict</strong> started her company, <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Don’t Sweat the Essay</strong>, to help high school students with their college application essays. Now she advises families on the entire process.</span></div>
<div style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">“She’ll answer your questions — and calm some of your fears — in her free lecture/Q&A, 10 Tips for Staying Sane While Applying to College, here at the library at 6:30 p.m. on<strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Wednesday, August 3.”</strong></span></div>
<div style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thursday August 4th</strong> is a very different sort of event at the Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs – a panel discussion, “Impact of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) in the 21st Century.” With Dr. John Wilson, Morehouse College; Freada Klein, Kabor Center for Social Impact; Winston Henderson of Nano Terra, Inc.; and Rick Fredkin, Eduporium. 55 Narragansett Ave. Oak Bluffs.</span></div>
<div style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Contact me for information about college applications and application essays. Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com or 1-855-99-ESSAY.</span></div>
</div>
</h1>
</header>Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-66024705524056298972016-07-21T08:21:00.004-04:002016-07-21T08:39:20.089-04:0045 Ways to Avoid Saying "Very" in Your College Application Essay or Personal Statement (Robin Williams Helps)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HF4x97s97wMi52Xatv5dAqeh-EsIFczt1_fXhJQ0fUXgaIQZemXBMI93ghC6lQ7CdT8vtA91fmEqZ6J17i99OvlRL3TZMpb-bQev1Qvi5Vr5a0L7Uq0-7vgbW6YNeAcTkOybocJTu9Jd/s1600/search.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HF4x97s97wMi52Xatv5dAqeh-EsIFczt1_fXhJQ0fUXgaIQZemXBMI93ghC6lQ7CdT8vtA91fmEqZ6J17i99OvlRL3TZMpb-bQev1Qvi5Vr5a0L7Uq0-7vgbW6YNeAcTkOybocJTu9Jd/s400/search.png" /></a><br />
What's wrong with the word "very"?<br />
<br />
Such an emphatic little word.<br />
<br />
It makes what comes next much more than it is on its own. Right? No. Not really.<br />
<br />
This is a short blog post. Or: This is a <i>very </i>short blog post?<br />
<br />
I walk fast to the bank. I walk <i>very </i>fast to the bank? What's so wrong with that?<br />
<br />
I run to the bank. I sprint to the bank. I gallop to the bank. I race to the bank.<br />
<br />
Which is more vivid, more descriptive, more memorable? Which suggests that there might be a serious reason for why you're sprinting to the bank?<br />
<br />
Once you click on <a href="http://www.epicdash.com/shout-out-to-dead-poets-society-45-ways-to-avoid-using-the-word-very/">this website and read the full list,</a> you'll know more. And Robin Williams - in the <i>Dead Poets Society - </i>is there to help. Funny. <i>Very</i> funny. Sometimes it's OK to say <i>very. </i>But rarely. You might even say, <i>very</i> rarely, but it would be wrong. (And sorry about the ads and junk on the link; it's hard to get a clear list of the words in readable form, which is why I don't have one on this page.) <br />
<br />
Which is better: Please visit my new website. Or: Please visit my very new website? You decide. <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Click here</a> for more information about college application essays. Or send me an email: Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com ~~ And thanks. Thanks very much.<br />
<br />
<br />Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-88695334964950236952016-07-19T17:07:00.001-04:002016-07-21T14:23:38.258-04:00Admissions News from Yale College from College Application Essay Tutor <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDQQLNwbY2lGT10VN5jB_ruaHFe-tqsHYuKE1XLEfiPqTeySeuFT-Eco1RWzdNVXGWhbnqdfZLGiZ9lgj4AhEuIWp66gyCpQL1vOQ4O4K21BWENESR2fKAOo8Ov4FJZZejOpzBOAGVSGw/s1600/Liz+Hair+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDQQLNwbY2lGT10VN5jB_ruaHFe-tqsHYuKE1XLEfiPqTeySeuFT-Eco1RWzdNVXGWhbnqdfZLGiZ9lgj4AhEuIWp66gyCpQL1vOQ4O4K21BWENESR2fKAOo8Ov4FJZZejOpzBOAGVSGw/s200/Liz+Hair+Photo.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please visit the new improved <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat the Essay</a> website.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the meantime, in this season of college application essay frenzy, some news out of Yale puts a more hopeful spin on this coming year's admissions prospects. it's rare - all right, unheard of - for Ivy League universities to increase the incoming class size, but that's exactly what's going to happen this coming year at Yale College. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">College Application</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Consultant Liz Benedict </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">While you absorb that news, spend some time studying what Yale is looking for essay-wise, by starting at the University's own website. Here's my latest post on </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-benedict/apply-wisely-not-all-abou_b_10989094.html" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Huffington Post</a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, "Apply Wisely: Not All About The Application Essays~Yale College to Admit More Students In Class Of 2021," with all the news that's fit to print, and more:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 730px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 630px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.0625rem; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Applying to college isn’t all about the application essays, even though it can sometimes feel that it is. The essays <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">are</em> one of your chances to stand out from the pile, but without the grades, scores, rigorous high school record, and teacher recommendations, admission to the uppermost most selective colleges is generally out-of-reach.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 730px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 630px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.0625rem; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Part of being a successful applicant is choosing wisely where you’ll apply. With our mania for applying to a dozen or even two dozen colleges, the idea of targeting your choices has lost out to strafing the landscape with applications.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 730px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 630px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.0625rem; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"How will you know where to apply? Here’s the homework. Study the college’s website and its writing supplements for clues about the kind of students they’re looking for. Read the entries in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Best-Colleges-College-Admissions-Guides/dp/0804126305/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468962407&sr=1-1&keywords=best+380+colleges">The Best 380 Colleges</a> and in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Insiders-Guide-Colleges-2015-Students/dp/1250048060/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468962498&sr=1-1&keywords=insider%27s+guide+to+the+colleges">The Insider’s Guide to the Colleges</a> - and look honestly at your own record. Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and the other top universities don’t make decisions based exclusively on top grades and top SAT/ACT scores. Keep in mind these words from the Yale admissions website:</span></div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 730px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 630px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.0625rem; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'“We estimate that over three quarters of the students who apply for admission to Yale are qualified to do the work here. Between two and three hundred students in any year are so strong academically that their admission is scarcely ever in doubt. But here is the thing to know: the great majority of students who are admitted stand out from the rest because a lot of little things, when added up, tip the scale in their favor. So what matters most in your application? Ultimately, everything matters. The good news in that is that when so many little things figure into an admissions decision, it is fruitless to worry too much about any one of them." <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-benedict/apply-wisely-not-all-abou_b_10989094.html">READ IT ALL.</a> </span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 1.0625rem; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com 1-855-99-ESSAY <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat The Essay</a> </span></div>
</div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-15933745027386117912016-07-18T17:07:00.003-04:002016-07-18T17:11:15.686-04:00Common Application College Essay Coach Tutor Martha's Vineyard August 2016 <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3RJtaGQsANFMfFckAH8JRTPHCYvEQlAPJ7xXnf3JwhnmcFdTDYLBkPAHThVnv_VGCfD3xShvaoYcPa_rI57j3QsLFYF9NaB2t4YT4uqvmZK-lvsXlzN2Uw3WoEqSLUJnRJAyTLq7Ckqz/s1600/DSCN0634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3RJtaGQsANFMfFckAH8JRTPHCYvEQlAPJ7xXnf3JwhnmcFdTDYLBkPAHThVnv_VGCfD3xShvaoYcPa_rI57j3QsLFYF9NaB2t4YT4uqvmZK-lvsXlzN2Uw3WoEqSLUJnRJAyTLq7Ckqz/s320/DSCN0634.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>This August on Martha’s Vineyard … Work with me privately on college application essays and/or attend my public Q&A at the Edgartown Library Aug. 3.</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I will be giving a free information session with a Q&A period about college admissions at the Edgartown Public Library. Or call or email me to discuss your son’s or daughter’s needs.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: red;"><b style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">10 TIPS FOR STAYING SANE WHILE APPLYING TO COLLEGE</b><br />with Elizabeth Benedict at Don’t Sweat The Essay</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brings your kids, your questions, and your concerns.</b></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; list-style: square; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem 2.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wednesday August 3, 6:30pm to 7:30pm.<br /><b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Edgartown Public Library</b>, 26 West Tisbury Road, Edgartown.</li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: red;">My clients regularly get into their first choice schools early and regular decision, including Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia, MIT, NYU, Cornell, Vassar, UMass, UMich, UPenn, Washington University, Skidmore, medical and laws schools, and dozens of other colleges and universities.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #333f49;">Recommendations from Vineyard families, including this Edgartown parent: “I cannot imagine having lived through the essay writing aspect of college applications without Elizabeth Benedict. Liz worked with my daughter during the summer between her junior and senior years. By getting a head start, Liz was able to encourage my daughter to revisit her essays multiple times. The end product was outstanding and really conveyed a sense of her individuality and strengths." For more information, visits my </span><a href="http://www.dontsweattheessay.com/testimonials/"><span style="color: red;">TESTIMONIALS</span></a><span style="color: #333f49;"> from students admitted to Harvard, Yale, Columbia, UVa, Barnard, Smith, and other first choice colleges and universities. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
See my website for additional recommendations from students and parents.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Private sessions at your Vineyard home or mine – from July 31st to August 12th. Skype sessions available too. If you’re on the Cape, we can meet in Wood’s Hole or Falmouth.</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
My cottage is in West Tisbury, centrally located.<br />
Email or call me:<br />
<a href="mailto:Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com" style="border: 0px; color: #00aae1; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com</a><br />
1-855-99-ESSAY</div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-69567862441966967042016-07-18T13:18:00.001-04:002016-07-18T13:18:48.377-04:00Yale Admissions Video: The Application EssayIf you're interested in applying to Yale, take a look at this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCuaq-a7dKc">useful video </a>by an admissions officer about what they're interested in. It might surprise you!<br />
<br />
For more on applying to Yale, visit my <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat The Essay</a> website.<br />
<br />
To email me: <a href="mailto:Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com">Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com</a><br />
<br />
Phone: 1-855-99-ESSAY.Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-54842832918567537772016-07-14T18:41:00.003-04:002016-07-21T14:24:55.752-04:00Please Visit the New Improved College Common Application Essay Tutor Coach Consultant Website<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVS_IR68Qjq_MQJA2T9R-fjuq1NU1AYP3upaLUCYY324VUG9FXcU8RuZRTfYXe5BUTT6w7xwcmSKzBVyQp3lczbB6q0H_BftxzlpT5XR9wJoKF-CNncp84pzWNSd3KwoIptwp5131tqGm3/s1600/IMG_4474+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVS_IR68Qjq_MQJA2T9R-fjuq1NU1AYP3upaLUCYY324VUG9FXcU8RuZRTfYXe5BUTT6w7xwcmSKzBVyQp3lczbB6q0H_BftxzlpT5XR9wJoKF-CNncp84pzWNSd3KwoIptwp5131tqGm3/s320/IMG_4474+%25281%2529.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
If you're here, you're probably looking for advice, guidance, inspiration and/or HELP with your own or your child's college or grad school application essays. You might even want help on where to apply to college. I know a few things about that too.<br />
<br />
Please <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/"><b>click here</b></a> for my new website - under the same company name, <b>Don't Sweat the Essay</b> - where I'll be posting frequently on these topics, and offering as much information as I can.<br />
<br />
And if you want to contact me directly, email or phone. <a href="mailto:Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com">Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com</a> 1-855-99-ESSAY. <br />
<br />
Thanks for stopping by.<br />
<br />
College Consultant Liz BenedictElizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-48572414628820723172016-07-12T12:58:00.004-04:002016-07-12T12:58:50.302-04:00Help! Myths & Mysteries: Q & A with College Application Essay Tutor<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
From my latest <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-benedict/help-myths-and-mysteries-_b_10936356.html"><span style="color: #00aae1; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit;">Huff Po piece</span></span>,</a> just published on the College Page.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“I recently had the pleasure of talking to a group of high school students in a summer writing program about college application essays.</div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
“Instead of asking me to give a talk, the director of the program invited the students to ask me whatever was on their minds. We had a lively conversation, covered the most pressing issues around the Common App essay, the personal statement, and the supplements, and I was reminded of how many myths and mysteries there are for applicants every year. Here’s a handful of their questions.</div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. What essay topics will hurt my application?</strong><br />“The key to a terrific essay is finding a topic that makes you feel energized and ready to write – the one that feels natural, and will therefore make the essay fun to tackle, and something of a personal exploration. But if the topic you hit on is on this taboo list, well, time to do some more soul-searching and brainstorming. You’ve probably heard some of these prohibitions, but there may be a few here you haven’t heard:</div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Avoid mentioning sex and drugs</em>. (Oldest advice there is.)</div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Avoid writing about the books that every high school student has to read or probably has read</em>, including<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harry Potter</em> in all his incarnations, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Twilight</em>, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">To Kill a Mockingbird</em>, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Great Gatsby</em>, <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Game of Thrones</em>, or whatever new sensation has gripped the imagination of millions. It’s not at all that colleges frown on these books or frown on your enthusiasm for them. Don’t stop reading! It’s that calling attention to these blockbuster books – or books on every high school syllabus – won’t make your essay stand out. You’re looking for material that’s uniquely yours.</div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Skip speeches and academic papers</em>. The essays are personal statements about what matters to you. If you’re crazy about ancient history or mitochondria, it can be great to write about your enthusiasm for the topic and why it makes you feel like dancing – but that’s quite different from a piece called “Babylonian Religious Artifacts” or “The First Amendment and the Origins of Democracy.” Remember, make in personal. <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">READ THE REST<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-benedict/help-myths-and-mysteries-_b_10936356.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-benedict/help-myths-and-mysteries-_b_10936356.html</a></strong></div>
<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Shoot me an email if you have questions: <a href="mailto:Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com">Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com</a>.</div>
</div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-85079818507714789372016-07-12T10:36:00.001-04:002016-07-12T10:42:51.829-04:00Drop in, Pop Up College Common App Essay Help Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, MA<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_B0rQ0wiFMYLT_-tLAcONOH-WTytuWIkkkicpoRsd9JojYrFxxm7_OfhArTjeG8Nf44cIk5_95PR43XEX-s549tD9y4fVT0__It8hPDURzfZwV868UeOctk_ysyFAonXa0SEhFgkS4xYv/s1600/IMG_5477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_B0rQ0wiFMYLT_-tLAcONOH-WTytuWIkkkicpoRsd9JojYrFxxm7_OfhArTjeG8Nf44cIk5_95PR43XEX-s549tD9y4fVT0__It8hPDURzfZwV868UeOctk_ysyFAonXa0SEhFgkS4xYv/s320/IMG_5477.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I work with students all over the country and the world on Skype. So far this summer, I’ve got clients in the Midwest, Hong Kong, New York City, Saratoga Springs, and Martha’s Vineyard. You can usually find me in New York City, but when summer comes, I roam and rove, usually around New England.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
From now until the end of July, I’m on the border of Cambridge and Somerville, MA. If you’re in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville – or anywhere in the vicinity – I’m holding a drop-in essay clinic five days this July. Just call or email me the day before, come for a minimum of an hour, and bring your questions and essay drafts. I’m also available other days and nights for private sessions. We'll schedule a time the day before.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If you’re interested, these dates are open: July 15, 18, 20, 25, 27. I’ll meet you at Porter Square Books, in the Porter Square Shopping Center, and we’ll find a quiet place to work nearby. You'll have 110% of my attention.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
If you’re interested, please email me or call for prices. I have flexible fees and a sliding scale. <a href="mailto:Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com">Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com</a>. 1-855-99-ESSAY. Please check out my <a href="http://www.dontsweattheessay.com/testimonials/">TESTIMONIALS</a> on <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat the Essay</a> to find out more about how I work. And thanks for stopping by.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-33343612359663027612016-07-12T09:53:00.005-04:002017-05-30T23:51:43.791-04:00Backstage at the Amherst College Admissions Committee-How Much Do the Essays Matter & Other Mysteries<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Please visit my new website for the latest in college application essay news by clicking right here:<br />
<b><a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat the Essay.</a></b><br />
<br />
You can always read my latest blog by clicking <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.blogspot.com/"><b>here</b></a>.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Calling all Amherst College applicants and seekers.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
How important is your Common Application essay in the context of your entire application?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
It matters, for sure, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle that admissions officers judge. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-OLlJUXwKU"><b>This fascinating video</b></a> – a behind-the- scenes peek at how Amherst College makes decisions about whom to admit and whom to put on the waiting list – has been online for a while, but every time I look at it, I learn something new.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Keep in mind as you watch that the students being considered in this room are those who have made the penultimate cut: they’re the top candidates left standing near the end of the process, so their academic credentials have already been noticed.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The message here is <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">not</em> that hardship = admissions to Amherst but that the committee values success despite impediments. A top student who has faced considerable hardship is one who impresses. But many others students do too.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Keep in mind that the video does not report every moment of these intense meetings.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
What did you learn from watching the video?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333f49; font-family: "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Please visit my <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">new website</a> and shoot me an email if you're sweating the essay. <a href="mailto:Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com">Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com</a>.</div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-18032237210391611692016-07-01T16:20:00.002-04:002016-07-09T17:33:02.259-04:00Road2College ~ Tutor 's 10 Tips for Staying Sane While Writing College Application Essays<strong style="background-color: white; color: teal; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">The terrific website, <a href="http://road2college.com/">Road2College</a>, invited me to share some tips about writing - and getting ready to write - the college application essays, including taking on the Common App prompts. Here are the first four. Click <a href="http://www.road2college.com/10-tips-for-staying-sane-while-writing-college-application-essays/">here to read</a> the rest and get acquainted with this very helpful site, especially as it relates to financial aid. </span></strong><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; color: teal; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span></strong>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="color: teal; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;"><strong style="margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">1. Note the Bad News and the Good News</span></strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: red;">Sorry to tell you this: The essays are a slog, and if you’re applying to schools with many supplements or several schools not on the Common Application, they can add up to a lot of work. The good news is that doing the work can be a terrific way to focus your experience, your perceptions, your goals, and your sense of yourself as a soon-to-be college student. Finding your voice and your story will help you make that transition. Writing the essays can help you learn how to present yourself, talk about your interests, talents and accomplishments – without sounding as though you’re bragging.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<strong style="margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: teal; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">2. Get Personal</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">I advise students applying to Common Application colleges and universities or to a majority of them to do the Common App essay first. And when you do, find a topic that makes your heart beat a little faster than usual – a topic with some energy and even tension: A piece of your personal story that’s essential to who you are and not reflected in your activities list, a talent, a hardship, a moment you took a risk and spoke out to defend a position, or a problem you solved, even if it was putting together a trampoline in your backyard. Students have not been encouraged to write from a personal perspective for much of high school, and having to do that suddenly for the Common App essay and for many of the supplements can be a real challenge. These are personal essays, not academic papers or speeches.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<strong style="color: teal; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">3. There are no right answers</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: red;">Students often ask me: What does the school want me to write? It is often a surprise for them to hear that the school wants to know what you think and what your experience is. The essay is a kind of interview. Reveal yourself. Make sure your essays tell what it is you want colleges to know about you: Your passions, your talents, your ambitions, the qualities that make you who you are. No right answers – but do remember to answer the questions/prompts you are asked, whether it’s the Common App prompts or the other possibilities.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<strong style="margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: teal; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">4. Make a Master List</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">Once you are done with your Common App essay, make a master list of what supplementary essays are required for each college: 1. The topic. 2. The length. 3. The due dates. See where you can recycle material. Have a sense in advance how many essays you might have to do – whether it’s 3 or 15 or even 20. Some colleges have 2, 3, 4, or even more essays. Though the essays may only be 100, 250 or 500 words, they must be written with well-considered words. Some of the essays are creative (“What makes you happy?” “What’s the sweetest sound you’ve ever heard?”), others are more straightforward (why this college/why your major). <a href="http://www.road2college.com/10-tips-for-staying-sane-while-writing-college-application-essays/">READ THE REST</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue;">Please visit my website, <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat the Essay</a>, send me an email or call me for more information about my services. Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com 1-855-99-ESSAY.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-27471050679616329332016-06-29T10:38:00.001-04:002016-07-09T17:34:16.625-04:00Top Tutor 's Help with College Application Common App Essays: Martha's Vineyard Summer 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUDjKgh9-aDYrf3VZQbsK6Qxs_VIguT1RsqVudu2OO_1XJBjaiqrwAmNT54P-s3UF7LosDBmkWbeYkQ5w7_1MAuENIe7n1QRAHHU0LODWHVWyThIga_D7RBxqd9ylS6vniHfNFt5MTZzR/s1600/DSCN0168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUDjKgh9-aDYrf3VZQbsK6Qxs_VIguT1RsqVudu2OO_1XJBjaiqrwAmNT54P-s3UF7LosDBmkWbeYkQ5w7_1MAuENIe7n1QRAHHU0LODWHVWyThIga_D7RBxqd9ylS6vniHfNFt5MTZzR/s320/DSCN0168.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Vineyard Bound this summer?<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please join me on Aug. 3, 2016 at the Edgartown Library on Martha's Vineyard for free talk, </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">10 TIPS FOR STAYING SANE WHILE APPLYING TO COLLEGE.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; display: inline !important; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzYBvtXecQvPmGH5uVUheX9kh1_cdZmEO089uBOFB5eobN5CCmGM-PrOPqGtT3p-smMOdWY_QsW4hzWEcYBXRU-EX0bzpDPKS7PAVoMsxKt5d87NXz6Xfb3TNT6lOcfeylVCrGAqTwXOV/s1600/DSCN1669.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brings your kids, your questions, and your concerns.</span></b></a></div>
<ul style="background-color: white;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 14px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wednesday August 3, 6:30pm to 7:30pm.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 14px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Edgartown Public Library</b>, 26 West Tisbury Road, Edgartown.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px;">
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My clients regularly get into their top choice schools early and regular decision, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, MIT, NYU, Cornell, Dartmouth, Vassar, UMass, UMich, UPenn, Washington University, Skidmore, medical and laws schools, and dozens of other colleges and universities.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recommendations from Vineyard families, including this Edgartown parent: "I cannot imagine having lived through the essay writing aspect of college applications without Elizabeth Benedict. Liz worked with my daughter during the summer between her junior and senior years. By getting a head start, Liz was able to encourage my daughter to revisit her essays multiple times. The end product was outstanding and really conveyed a sense of her individuality and strengths. She was admitted to two of her three early application schools, and I have no doubt that Liz's coaching contributed to this success."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">See my website <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/"><b>Don't Sweat the Essay</b></a> for additional recommendations from students and parents.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Private sessions at your Vineyard home or mine - from July 31st to August 12th. Skype sessions available too. If you're on the Cape, we can meet in Wood's Hole or Falmouth. Boston and Cambridge home visits throughout July. </span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdqO2heCuYVv6gdrbaB6C8eRiSpwCEzNmWnwDu89iDjaFXkigKcUMM9JSx0wX041zJTWitsiUjIglEQkjfNgx5nucUUoxBc2ZsPNqzGX4xNOLOWkBLu17Q3VBgZDibbl04jIeMlFCvhGN/s1600/DSCN0623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdqO2heCuYVv6gdrbaB6C8eRiSpwCEzNmWnwDu89iDjaFXkigKcUMM9JSx0wX041zJTWitsiUjIglEQkjfNgx5nucUUoxBc2ZsPNqzGX4xNOLOWkBLu17Q3VBgZDibbl04jIeMlFCvhGN/s400/DSCN0623.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My cottage is in West Tisbury, centrally located.<br />Email or call me:<br /><a href="mailto:Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com" style="color: #000099; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com</a><br />1-855-99-ESSAY</span></div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-62544668119982813642016-06-24T18:40:00.001-04:002016-06-24T19:31:49.628-04:00Military Service Men & Women Applying with GI Bill - Help with College Application Essays<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can always read my latest blog <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I taught creative writing at Columbia University several years ago, I met a fascinating group of students who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan and were attending Columbia on the GI Bill. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I recently found this <a href="http://www.military.com/education/2016/05/23/use-your-veteran-experience-in-college-application-essays.html">Veterans Administration website</a> urging service members to write about their wartime experiences in their university application essays.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the website:</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">
"Here are a couple of tips for how best to use your military experience in your application essay—and (perhaps more importantly) some thoughts on what <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">not</em> to do.</div>
<h4 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">
"DO mention your leadership ability</h4>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">
"Leadership potential might be the number one character trait that schools are looking for in applicants. Proof that you've taken on serious responsibility and have a high level of maturity is a good indication for those in admissions that you will take your education seriously and will go on to do great work post-graduation (and then make millions and donate back to the school, of course). As a Veteran, it is likely you have led a command of some kind—make sure this is touched on in your essay piece.</div>
<h4 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">
"DO NOT tell this boring story: I went to teach them… but it turned out to be <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">they</em> who taught <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">ME</em></h4>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">
"There's a particular essay that all adjudicators and admissions committees dread. It goes like this… I was employed to teach people/children in a remote village/urban center/small rural area. I went into it thinking I would be educating them, but in the end it was <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">I</em> who learned from <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">them.</em></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">
"Admissions officers hate this essay. Why? Because it doesn't really say anything about you as a person, and the story is not as original as you might think. Careful of this theme… it's deadly.</div>
<h4 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">
"DO talk about challenges you faced</h4>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">
It's very likely you have dealt with questions and situations that most people have not. Illustrate how you used quick thinking and skills to overcome problems, and how you became more mature because of these decisions.</div>
<h4 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">
"DO NOT get too dark. Leave out deep personal tragedy</h4>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">
"Of course it's good to talk meaningfully about your experience, but this can go too far. Abuse, depression and death are striking subjects and therefore you might think they are good fodder for an essay. After all, the idea is to provoke a response, to make sure you are memorable. Unfortunately, an essay that focuses on these topics does not serve you well. Similarly, psychological trauma that may have been suffered during military service is not great for your essay, not because it's not important to your character, but because it tends to take the reader out of the narrative and usually doesn't connect very effectively to why you'll be a good candidate for college. So often essays that focus on dark subjects go down a trajectory that leads away from your achievements, which is what these pieces <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">should</em> highlight. Never stray from a path that keeps you talking about why you are an <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">IDEAL</em> candidate.</div>
<h4 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px !important;">
"DO tell your specific story</h4>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">It's important to tell your story—not just one of general military life. Your narrative may seem relatively commonplace to you because it was spent in the company of people who were participating in similar activities, but the details of your service are unique and interesting to admissions officers." <a href="http://www.military.com/education/2016/05/23/use-your-veteran-experience-in-college-application-essays.html">READ THE REST</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;">If you're applying U.S. colleges or universities on the GI Bill and you would like help with your application essays, I would be happy to give you a special discount on doing the Common App essay and the supplements. Please shoot me an email and visit my website: Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/"><b>Don't Sweat The Essay</b></a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.4px;"> </span> </div>
</div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-23684536360128225742016-06-24T13:58:00.002-04:002016-07-09T17:35:20.805-04:00Tutor 's Take on New University of California Application Essay Prompts - <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjxaSYlYTeTuVDVoDiLx4Cmv8RGmHS8G1XH20zEUgpmGHNyh8wQxG6i0uvWM0QDUbp3uuFNAa7ii3gZ0lz4Bd8qHGGBN4lgsgDfU9kPuX8hyphenhyphenSdvtdKBpRYDrcww_LsKJI6Dxj6CNoAo_Y/s1600/DSCN2347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjxaSYlYTeTuVDVoDiLx4Cmv8RGmHS8G1XH20zEUgpmGHNyh8wQxG6i0uvWM0QDUbp3uuFNAa7ii3gZ0lz4Bd8qHGGBN4lgsgDfU9kPuX8hyphenhyphenSdvtdKBpRYDrcww_LsKJI6Dxj6CNoAo_Y/s320/DSCN2347.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Colleges and universities rarely do radical changes to their application essay prompts, but this year, the entire University of California did exactly that. The system went from requiring two long essays to four shorter essays, asking students to choose from a list of eight prompts. Each of the four pieces has a maximum length of 350 words. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This recent radio<a href="http://www.scpr.org/news/2016/05/26/60961/big-change-to-uc-application-essay-requirements-st/"> segment on Southern California's Public Station</a> KPCC 89.3 focuses on the stress the new prompts are causing. I prefer to take this news story with a grain of salt. Cranking out high-stakes essays - old or new - causes stress. And the students doing the essays this year didn't do them last year; they have no basis for comparison. They're stressed, period. And I sympathize. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's useful to keep many things in mind as you do the essays - here's a list of ten to get you going - but most important is this: The essays themselves will not earn you admission to the UC university of your dreams/choice. You need the grades and scores to make the first cut, and those numbers vary from institution to institution.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the top ranking students applying to the most competitive universities - Berkeley and UCLA - the essays needs to confirm your grades and scores; they need to show that you're as thoughtful and insightful as your grades suggest you are. Ideally, they'll show that even in this very competitive pool, you stand out by virtue of your accomplishments, leadership skills, way of seeing the world and expressing yourself. At each level, the essays must either confirm your record or add something to a record that might have some weakness in it. If your grades have fluctuated, your essays can show your other attributes and your understanding of what you need to do to perform better. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For a list of the prompts, check out my May blog post <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.blogspot.com/2016/05/new-essay-prompts-for-university-of.html"><b>right here</b></a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are some more nuts and bolt advice to students confronting these four short pieces:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Put aside a good bit of time every few days for a good many weeks to work on the essays. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Don't feel you need to do them all at once. You can't, and you shouldn't.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. It might be easier to print out the prompts on paper and look at them that way, so you don't feel the pressure to be writing on the computer while brainstorming. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. In your first few read-throughs, pick out only one prompt that you like more than the others and take some notes about what you might write. Do not attempt to write the entire essay. Take as many notes as you can. Think of stories and anecdotes that illustrate your choices. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. Then pick out another prompt, and take more notes. Again, do not attempt to write the essays. Free associate with a pen in your hand and see what thoughts come out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. Guess what? Do the same for the other two pieces you like most. In the early stages, just take notes. They don't have to be complete sentences. This is an effort to get in touch with your material. That's all you're trying to do. If you end up with five or six lines of notes for each essay, you're in great shape.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. Don't repeat yourself from prompt to prompt. Pick prompts that focus on different parts of your life and your perspective. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8: When you start writing, keep the tone conversational. Use lines of dialogue that are memorable. Pick specific details that locate you in time and space. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9. It's hard to make the switch from writing academically, as you've been expected to do for ten years, and this kind of more personal, informal writing. You're not writing an academic paper or an encyclopedia listing. This is personal. Use the voice you would use to talk about yourself. That's where you're headed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10. There aren't many times or places where you're asked to reflect on your own life - and to know that people are really interested in what you have to say. My point: enjoy the opportunity. Don't be afraid to sparkle. Don't be afraid to be yourself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the KPCC segment:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.95px; margin-bottom: 1.73em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"“We’ve had a lot of people say that [the old prompt was] too general, it doesn’t allow students to have a more focused platform, it doesn’t allow them to express themselves," [UC spokesperson] Doan said. "In certain ways, it felt like it was more of a struggle."</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.95px; margin-bottom: 1.73em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Students will now choose among eight prompts designed to allow the students to portray the aspects of their life they feel are most relevant: they can write about how they've showed creativity or leadership skills, a favorite class or academic subject, or a challenge in life or educational barrier they've overcome. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.95px; margin-bottom: 1.73em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"“It’s less quantitative and [gets at] more of who they are, and it provides context for the entire application so you can explain what you’ve been through, what you’ve accomplished, why your grades were a certain way, or what you’re amazing at that isn’t reflected in other parts of the application,” Doan said.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.95px; margin-bottom: 1.73em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.95px;">"The changes come at a time when admission to California's public colleges and universities is more competitive than ever. The UC system received over 206,000 applications for undergraduate admission in the most recent cycle – a record." </span><a href="http://www.scpr.org/news/2016/05/26/60961/big-change-to-uc-application-essay-requirements-st/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 25.95px;">READ THE REST</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.95px;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #313131; line-height: 25.95px; margin-bottom: 1.73em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Writing college application essays IS stressful - but so are nearly all of the interesting, important aspects of our lives. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #313131; line-height: 25.95px; margin-bottom: 1.73em; padding: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQkxkf-vcZ7gQcMTu6o71_-by604rm65HkT0_54UJxkO4s0sk2EIxeBhDnrdNHr0w3HWLxgomChpU5LDWKXlWHLdlRjBuxVI_iW5K_DMMw8F1mph0sGo33u6CU5VcYSlB6EQFQVTLovTl/s1600/DSCN2422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQkxkf-vcZ7gQcMTu6o71_-by604rm65HkT0_54UJxkO4s0sk2EIxeBhDnrdNHr0w3HWLxgomChpU5LDWKXlWHLdlRjBuxVI_iW5K_DMMw8F1mph0sGo33u6CU5VcYSlB6EQFQVTLovTl/s320/DSCN2422.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please visit my website for more information or shoot me an email: <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat the Essay</a> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.95px;">Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.95px; margin-bottom: 1.73em; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.95px; margin-bottom: 1.73em; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #313131; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.95px; margin-bottom: 1.73em; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-55710158522642916752016-06-22T12:50:00.001-04:002016-07-09T17:36:15.315-04:00College Tutor on A Dozen Do's and Dont's: 2016 Common App Essay Prompts<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "notonashkarabic" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can always read my latest blog <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.blogspot.com/">here</a>:</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<header class="entry__header" data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"headline"}}" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: NotoNashkArabic, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="headline" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<h1 class="headline__title" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: ProximaNovaCond-Extrabld, NotoKufiArabic-Bold, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; visibility: visible; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 27px;">Here's the opening of my latest </span><span style="color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 27px;">Huffington Post College</span><span style="color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 27px;"> page blog, which you can read in its entirety </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-benedict/a-dozen-dos-and-donts-for_b_10559918.html?utm_hp_ref=college&ir=College">right here</a><span style="color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 27px;">.</span></span></h1>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h1 class="headline__title" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: ProximaNovaCond-Extrabld, NotoKufiArabic-Bold, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; max-width: 900px; padding: 0px; visibility: visible; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Alongside my college counseling work, I’ve written six novels and taught creative writing to college students and adults for decades. You don’t need to write a novel to get into college, but you do need to adopt some of the essentials of writing creatively to make your application essays sing. Since most of the supplements are not yet on line, I’ll focus on the Common Application essay for now.</span></span></h1>
</div>
</header><br />
<div class="entry__content js-entry-content" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: NotoNashkArabic, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 1080px;">
<div class="entry__body js-entry-body" style="box-sizing: inherit; float: left; margin: 5px 0px 0px; max-width: 630px; padding: 0px; width: 630px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 730px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 630px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<b style="color: #222222;">Do’s</b><br />
<span style="color: blue;">1. Get personal. Find a topic that makes your heart beat a little faster than usual - a topic with some energy and even tension in it: A piece of your personal story that’s essential to who you are and not reflected in your activities list, a talent, a hardship, a moment you took a risk and spoke out to defend a position, or a problem you solved, even if it was putting together a trampoline in your backyard. These are personal essays, not academic paper or speeches.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 730px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 630px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
2. Before you start writing, do some free writing on your topic. Scribble down what comes to you without thinking about organization, voice or structure. This is a great way to find your voice and your material. Put your notes aside for a day or two, and when you come back to them, see which passages stand out.</div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 730px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 630px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
Time - and time away from what you’re writing - is a great editor. Every writer I know has the experience that we write something we think is terrific and look at it in the morning and want to cry. The writing that holds up a week later is the good stuff.</div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 730px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 630px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">3. Speaking of time: Don’t save this essay or any of the others for the last minute. Think of the essay as a work-in-progress, and set aside time to do it over a period of weeks.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 730px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 630px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
4. Write informally and write long. Don’t stick to the 650-word limit as you begin. Again, you’re looking for material, energy, what matters. Once you have that down, you can edit out everything that isn’t essential.</div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 730px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 630px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: blue;">5. College admissions officers often report that they want to be entertained and engaged by your essay. I’d say it’s more important to go for “engaged” than “entertained,” but the message is clear. The first sentence needs to be a grabber. You may end up writing the first terrific sentence once you’re done with the third draft. It doesn’t need to be acrobatic or pyrotechnic, and it doesn’t need to be one for the ages (“Call me Ishmael” - opening of <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Moby Dick</em>), but a little pizazz goes a long way, at the beginning and throughout. </span><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-benedict/a-dozen-dos-and-donts-for_b_10559918.html?utm_hp_ref=college&ir=College"><b>READ THE REST</b></a></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: red;">Please visit <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat The Essay</a> for more info, send me an email: </span><span style="color: purple;">Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com, or call: 1-855-99-ESSAY.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-86283637033598250382016-06-21T13:52:00.002-04:002016-07-12T11:03:29.836-04:00Amherst: College Common Application Admissions Essay Examples That Worked <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You can always read my latest blog <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm lucky enough to see the <i>Amherst College Alumni</i> magazine regularly. A recent issue featured four of the application essays that got these students into Amherst Class of 2019. If you click on these screen shots and hit the + sign on your keyboard, they should get big enough to read. I think they show a wonderful variety of stories, interests, and voices. For more about that issue of the magazine, click <a href="https://issuu.com/amherstmagazine/docs/web_amherst_f15"><b>here</b> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhloXcX3ZDOFcthehOisXaUcUZGgdeQLxGQqtyXktiM4MAxs-FfNO14vCHcl7JPg5u1j-gg44d3t2_nxCH4VPEkf0XeW6lE-0Jtt3wJPrAv9IAuXsYvbOqUir5i_YWeLCbg7jUVfJZQyyAM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-06-21+at+1.49.42+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhloXcX3ZDOFcthehOisXaUcUZGgdeQLxGQqtyXktiM4MAxs-FfNO14vCHcl7JPg5u1j-gg44d3t2_nxCH4VPEkf0XeW6lE-0Jtt3wJPrAv9IAuXsYvbOqUir5i_YWeLCbg7jUVfJZQyyAM/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-06-21+at+1.49.42+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5v_TDC4jussErCr7cn1VFN_61AMRjHe7K4PTQHkmQrps5mYns4jgNMRgwqDKXnoSCZlFh-VlD2scXaCjJygVXtfZjmWpP1b-TyZF-0JMTRdcmPFM87gMZz3Ozv6NXnaFojlCYlXIsGml/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-06-21+at+1.49.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5v_TDC4jussErCr7cn1VFN_61AMRjHe7K4PTQHkmQrps5mYns4jgNMRgwqDKXnoSCZlFh-VlD2scXaCjJygVXtfZjmWpP1b-TyZF-0JMTRdcmPFM87gMZz3Ozv6NXnaFojlCYlXIsGml/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-06-21+at+1.49.49+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For more information please visit my website: <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat the Essay</a> or send me an email Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com.</div>
<br />Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-53368008849962173312016-06-21T08:33:00.003-04:002016-06-21T08:37:12.685-04:00Passion, Creativity, Taking a Stand - on a Floating Stage in Norway<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can always read my latest post <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't usually blog about matters unrelated to college admissions, but this <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/piano-player-crumbling-glacier_us_5768970fe4b0853f8bf1f9ca?section="><b>Huffington Post</b></a> piece about Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi playing his composition "Elegy for the Arctic" on a floating platform amidst a crumbling glacier in Norway has knocked me out this morning. Having just returned from Norway - though I didn't make anywhere this far north - it caught my attention, and of course the content did too: climate change, what we can do to call attention to it, and how we might arrest it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many of the students I work with want to pursue fields related to the environment because they understand the realities of climate change. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From the article:</span><br />
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Being here has been a great experience. I could see the purity and fragility of this area with my own eyes and interpret a song I wrote to be played upon the best stage in the world,” Einaudi said in a news release from Greenpeace. “It is important that we understand the importance of the Arctic, <a data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"entry_text","lnid":"citation","mpid":2}}" href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/press/releases/2016/Ludovico-Einaudi-live-concert-Arctic-Ocean/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2e7061;" target="_blank">stop the process of destruction and protect it</a>.”</span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Greenpeace had the piano shipped from Germany to Norway, where it traveled on the <a data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"entry_text","lnid":"citation","mpid":3}}" href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/about/ships/the-arctic-sunrise/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2e7061;" target="_blank">Arctic Sunrise</a>, one of the organization’s ships, to the glacier."</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope that you take a few minutes to watch <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/piano-player-crumbling-glacier_us_5768970fe4b0853f8bf1f9ca?section="><b>this tremendously moving video</b></a> and read the article. If you're as moved by it as I am, please post a comment or drop me a line. Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-72594095855955538972016-06-21T07:33:00.003-04:002016-06-21T13:38:33.884-04:0010 Tips: Stay Sane While Preparing to Write College Application Admissions Essays<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can always read my latest blogpost <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are general
guidelines, not rules. Not every applicant will be able to do these in this
order and some may be more relevant than others.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS5thkzJZDiVPfh_XtBQnwTsrd3hnNOilX3GuvZVrGFaawCA9Y3kLovPqsgb0bgY5K-28GjfYua0_ev2P9J0S0u-kgxaXzp_6TTKcdI3N6olEAeltxkFR3CvKFpt-2Vhut8SFwS375MhK/s1600/IMG_5198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS5thkzJZDiVPfh_XtBQnwTsrd3hnNOilX3GuvZVrGFaawCA9Y3kLovPqsgb0bgY5K-28GjfYua0_ev2P9J0S0u-kgxaXzp_6TTKcdI3N6olEAeltxkFR3CvKFpt-2Vhut8SFwS375MhK/s320/IMG_5198.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. No magic bullet:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There’s no getting around it. The essays are a slog, and if
you’re applying to schools with many supplements or several schools not on the
Common Application, it’s a lot of work. But – the good news! – doing the work
is a way to focus your experience, your perceptions, your goals, and your sense
of yourself as a soon-to-be college student. Finding your voice and your story will help you make that transition. The essays will help you learn how to present yourself, how to talk about your interests, talents and accomplishments - without bragging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Ask for help –
from people and online:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Writers (and doctors and engineers and parents) ask for help
all the time. Just because writing is a solitary activity doesn’t mean you
shouldn’t seek advice and reactions from teachers, guidance counselors, family
friends, parents, or the abundant information online. Ask for help
brainstorming. Read online posts about how to tackle various questions. And be prepared to rewrite. And rewrite. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. There are no formulas and no right answers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Students often ask me: What does the school want me to write? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The school wants to know what YOU think and
what your experience is. </b>The essay is a kind of interview. Reveal yourself.
Make sure you essay tells us what it is that you want the colleges to know
about you: Your passions, your talents, your ambitions, the qualities that make
you who you are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Choose colleges
before you begin writing.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Make a chart of what essays are required for each college:
1. The topic. 2. The length. 3. The due dates. Have a sense in advance how many
essays you might have to do – whether it’s 3 or 15 or even 20. Some
colleges/universities have 2, 3, 4, or even more essays. Though the essays may
only be 100, 250 or 500 words, they must be well-considered words. Some of the
essays are creative (“What makes you happy?” "What's the sweetest sound you've ever heard?"), others are more straightforward
(why this college/why your major). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are applying mostly to schools using
the Common Application, it’s almost always best to start writing that essay
first. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s critical to know which universities use which essays or
groups of essays. 700+ colleges use the Common Application and many have
supplements in addition to the core Common App essay (1 essay chosen from 5
prompts, 650 words). Other universities have their own essays entirely, among
them: MIT, Georgetown, UTexas, and Universities of California (1
application for all 9 branches). If you are doing Common App schools, plus MIT,
plus Georgetown and UCalifornia schools, that is about 15 essays (from 100 to
500 or 650 words) right there. Once you see the essay requirements all together
– whether they are core essays or supplements – you might change your mind
about your college selections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. Recycle essays or
passages where you can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once you have your list with all the topics and lengths, you
can start to see what topics and pieces of essays you might be able to
“recycle” and use multiple times. It is NOT cheating to use the same passages
in multiple essays. What you DO NOT want to do is write a generic “Why I Want
to Go to X College.” If your WHY THIS COLLEGE can be used multiple places, it
needs work: specificity, detail, and homework: study the college, the
curriculum and what makes it stand out to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7. Which essay should
you do next? </b>It depends on deadlines, recycling, and other factors, such as
where you might be applying early action/decision (usually Nov. 1
deadlines).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are no hard and fast
rules. If you’re applying to the University of California system, you must
submit applications during the month of November – and that’s it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A number of big universities are not Common
Application schools. If these are top choice universities, you might want to do
these first – even before the Common App essay, as long as you’re not applying
early elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">8.</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Getting down to it. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are dozens of websites that give advice about the
nitty gritty of writing the essays. There are also many sites that publish
college essays. DO take a look at these if you need help getting started or
getting ideas, but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">don’t </b>feel you
must write essays like the ones you’re reading. <u>There is a huge variety in
college application essays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And keep in
mind that the essays you’re reading online have been through many drafts. You
are not going to turn out a terrific essay in one or two sittings.</u> Don’t be
discouraged! Prepare to do 3 or 4 or more drafts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">9.</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The writing and language, in a nutshell: <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Much of the advice comes down to: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">write in your own voice, as though you are talking more than writing an
academic paper</b>. The tone should be more informal than the stiff, academic
language you would use when writing a history paper. It’s sometimes helpful to
write the essay as though you’re writing a letter to someone – a friend or
mentor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SS language, word
choices and other writing tips: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The essay is not a place to show off your SAT vocabulary or
your penchant for writing poetry. Use SS language: Simple and Straightforward. But
though it’s SS, it must be precise, detailed, and specific. For instance: “My
parents are in the military and we moved a lot. “ vs: “My parents are medics in
the Army, and we’ve lived in five countries since I was born, including Poland,
Germany, and Botswana.” Specific details are always more memorable, and forcing
yourself to focus on detail focuses your brain and your powers of perception. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10. It’s often great
to start an essay with an active example of what you’ll be writing about. Put
us in the middle of the action and then step back and explain how you got there
and how it relates to the essay prompt.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b>“The conductor pointed his baton
to the string section, and we began the fugue that ends the second movement of
Brahms’ Requiem. My fingers responded to the building excitement of the rapid
tempo, and I was enveloped by the sweep of sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I fell in
love with the violin when I was six, and music has been the center of my life
since then. I felt joy every Saturday morning when I began my weekly lesson
with Mrs. Jones and later that day when I played in our town’s youth
orchestra….”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>OR: A very different sort of story:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The
policeman grabbed me by the arm and demanded I show him my ID.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea what I had done wrong, and I
didn’t have my wallet with me. I was just riding my bike in San Diego. I didn’t
think it was a crime to ride on the sidewalk.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“This was
my first experience of discrimination in the United States, where we moved from
Algeria when I was ten years. It would be the first of many times that I would
encounter….”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please visit <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">my website</a> and contact me for a
free consultation. </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com">Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com</a> </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1-855-99-ESSAY</b></div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-61172282277287026302016-06-14T15:49:00.001-04:002016-06-14T15:51:11.792-04:00You Don't Have to Do Them Alone <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BmmRE9COH2btfwLS6m6O8qUsdij3ZCVhWxZZVegkoDBV1dYDzBfSCJXXUsG2ixtcEmvqF7SYGO8JbRae-rQqWBJyt1KIvYLRg4cz33HNiPLW4w04icge3tW-yMf4B0nWW5t_R0emgxZD/s1600/IMG_5149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BmmRE9COH2btfwLS6m6O8qUsdij3ZCVhWxZZVegkoDBV1dYDzBfSCJXXUsG2ixtcEmvqF7SYGO8JbRae-rQqWBJyt1KIvYLRg4cz33HNiPLW4w04icge3tW-yMf4B0nWW5t_R0emgxZD/s640/IMG_5149.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You don't have to do your college application essays alone, whether you want help brainstorming, outlining, editing or putting the whole package together - I'm available. Visit my website for information about my services or shoot me an email: Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com<br /><a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">Don't Sweat The Essay</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I work by Skype or Facetime with Google Docs All Over the World</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496294306933140737.post-50140322447015130582016-06-14T04:11:00.003-04:002016-06-14T04:17:58.668-04:00Quirkiest College Application Supplements Are Out - University of Chicago <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.286px;">You can always read my latest blog post <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.blogspot.com/"><b>here</b></a>. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.286px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20.286px;">If you're considering applying to the University of Chicago, my latest Huff Po blog might help you decide whether it's really the place for you. The opening is below. <b><a href="http://new.www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-benedict/the-quirkiest-college-app_b_10413084.html">Here's the entire post</a>.</b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20.286px;">
<div>
<div class="top-media" data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"top_media"}}" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="top-media--image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px;">
<br />
<figure class="content-list-component image" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 0; margin: 0px auto 30px; max-width: 100%; min-width: initial; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 630px;"><span class="share-bar-image-wrapper" data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"entry_image"}}" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; position: relative; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 27px;">"The extra essays colleges and universities ask you to write, beyond the Common Application essay, contain a wealth of information — for you, not just the colleges. And the most demanding and unusual questions invariably come out of the University of Chicago, where learning for its own sake is valued above all else.</span></span><span class="share-bar-image-wrapper" data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"entry_image"}}" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; position: relative; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;"><br /></b></span><span class="share-bar-image-wrapper" data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"entry_image"}}" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; position: relative; text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 27px;">"Now and then the students I work with have Chicago on their lists, until it’s time to write the supplementary essays, and there’s a moment of reckoning. The questions they encounter lead to a lot of head scratching and anxiety. Many find them too cerebral, too quirky, too impractical. This is exactly the process the university wants you to go through: if these questions thrill you, Chicago might be a great fit. If they don’t, maybe this isn’t your dream school after all. Maybe it’s not even one you want to consider.</b></span></figure></div>
</div>
<div class="content-list-component mt-paragraph text" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 730px; min-width: initial; padding: 0px; width: 630px;">
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Now that the 2016-‘17 questions are out, take a look and see what they do to your applause meter. You can read the University’s essay page <a data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"entry_text","lnid":"citation","mpid":0}}" href="https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/essay-questions" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #2e7061; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">here</a> or below. <br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><b>"Remember, the Common App essay is the centerpiece of the application essays. Whatever else you write should not repeat what’s in that essay. <a href="http://new.www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-benedict/the-quirkiest-college-app_b_10413084.html:">READ MORE</a>.</b></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<b style="background-color: white;">Visit <a href="http://dontsweattheessay.com/">my website</a> for more information about services or send me an email: Liz@DontSweatTheEssay.com, </b></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Elizabeth Benedicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278034381576478616noreply@blogger.com0