College Application Essays - Avoid the Stress

3 Another crucial mistake: Trying too hard to appear creative.

This was the impetus for the College Board to eliminate the common application question: Choose your own topic. Students mistakenly viewed the essay as a creative writing exercise and proceeded to produce pretentious pieces of prose void of true personality. “How My Life is Like the Phrases of the Moon.”  “Why these essays are meaningless.” “How I am viewed through the eyes of my dog.”

Once again…the point of the essays is to showcase the student as a person….not showcase how creative the student can be. This doesn’t mean the essay can’t be fun and entertaining. Obviously we don’t want boring. However, don’t force creativity….

“Sweat dripped from my brow as the proctor meticulously handed out the nationally recognized assessment examination. My pulse raced and my heart pounded through my chest…”

“It was a cold and dreary night when I first arrived in London. I could hear the faint whispers of the Bard himself beckoning me to the Globe Theater….”

“It was all up to me. Bases loaded with two men out in the bottom of the ninth. We were suffering a dearth of three runs. I dug my cleats into the dusty granules of dirt, held my bat firmly and watched for the pitch like an eagle watches for its prey….”

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

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

I only have a few spring dates left and I am limiting myself in the fall…so if you want to bring me to your organization in September, now is the time to contact me.

Long Island

May   5 -   Great Neck Library  

May 12 -   Islip Public Library  

May 15 -   Rockville Centre Public Library  

Sept 15 -  South Huntington Public Library  

New Jersey

May   8 -   Old Tappan Public Library  

May 13 -   Ridgewood High School HSA  

Connecticut

Sept 23 -  Westport Public Library  

Randy Levin is the ONLY college application essay adviser asked to speak at the National College Fair- Nassau Coliseum. The Guidance Dept and English Dept of Half Hollow Hills HS brought Randy into the classroom to speak directly to students. He has a MA in English and a MFA in Creative Writing. He is a published writer and former high school English teacher. Randy has been helping students with their college application essays for over fifteen years. For FREE information, go to his website: WriteToCollege.com