The college admissions scandal that has been all over the news has inspired me to break my recent blogging silence. The greed and lack of integrity exhibited by employees of top universities disturb me greatly. Since I am a Yale graduate, I have received a couple of apologetic letters from President Salovey; I hope that…
You’ve probably heard the myth that you should never, ever write a college essay about one topic or another. Sports is one of the big no-nos. Who wants to hear about another come-from-behind winning game, right? But the fact is, as I related in my last blog, there are no good or bad essay topics,…
We all love a good story. Admissions committees love good stories. Hiring managers love good stories. Customers and clients love good stories. Always remember: the person you’re writing for is a human being! How do you get another human being to read your document? Spin a good yarn! Get tips here on how to do that.
In preparation for a TV interview on Channel 3000 last summer, I researched the new Common Application Essay questions. Somehow I got it into my head that I had already written about them since I had researched them. But in actuality, I did not share these new topics on my blog! Now that it’s college…
I recently heard Anthony Robbins say that as long as you have your attention on other people, and as long as you are making a difference for others, there is no way you can possibly be depressed. He is so right. This past week, despite contracting a norovirus that gave me serious gastrointestinal distress as…
Introduction by Brenda Bernstein: As college application deadlines approach, I wanted to share some tips on the actual submission of your application. I give this same advice to job seekers by the way (“Print your resume!”). We have been so lulled by the convenience of online forms that we forget to dot our i’s and…
In April 2011 I reported on a new 500-word limit for college personal statement, enacted by the Common Application (see Common Application Institutes Word Limit for College Application Essays). In that article I wrote, “Students are now requested to write 250-500 words on their chosen topic.” I now realize how loaded two words in that sentence were: requested and chosen.
Did you ever dump a college from your list because of the type (or number) of essays? If so you’re not alone. Find out why some students are weeding out schools based on their wacky essay requirements.
Is your high school senior stuck or struggling with his or her personal statement for college? Here are 3 tips to help any applicant start writing.
Have you ever accepted an offer for a job or school admission that you thought you would love and ended up hating? Or discovered you didn’t fit as well as you thought you would in a job or a school? What’s your advice for students facing these decisions?
