WriteGirl's summer workshop, "Embracing the Essay," is back! I'll be leading this three-day workshop, where we'll focus on the University of California essays in the first session, the Common Application essays in the second session, and the "Why?" and supplement essays in the third session. 

WriteGirl is a Los Angeles-based creative writing and mentoring organization that spotlights the power of a girl and her pen. We are a thriving community of 200 volunteer women writers serving more than 500 girls annually. WriteGirl produces dozens of workshops, panel discussions and special events every year to help girls get creative, get through high school and get to college. Since 2001, 100 percent of our graduating seniors have entered college, many on full or partial scholarships! ​

I'm excited to be volunteering with WriterGirl's College Program once again and keeping our admissions streak going!
​ 

At the Eastern Sierra Book Festival last Saturday, we celebrated local authors, listened to their stories, and took in the beautiful scenery of Mammoth Lakes.​

One of the highlights of the festival was reading from Doug Wilson’s and my book, The World Was Our Stage: Spanning the Globe with ABC Sports. Doug Wilson was a producer and director with ABC Sports for 50 years. Most noted for his directing of figure skating and gymnastics, which garnered him 17 Emmys, Doug covered major sporting events around the world for the groundbreaking television program ​ABC’s Wide World of Sports and 10 Olympic telecasts. With the 2024 Paris Olympics about to begin, reading from Doug’s memoir was fitting.

I also got to meet Steve Searles, the famous "Bear Whisperer" of Mammoth. He talked about his work with the local bear population and how he helped them coexist peacefully with humans. I got a signed copy of his best-selling book, What the Bears Know, and it’s a page turner!
​

Another Mammoth local—and friend of mine since junior high school—Stacey Powells, read her poem from We See You, We Hear You, an anthology of women writers from Story Summit. 

The festival will be back next year at the Hayden Cabin, a historic log cabin by the creek that is home to the Mammoth Museum. If you love reading, writing, and nature, join us next summer!

​Whether you're a fan of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or children's books, you'll find something to inspire and entertain you by the creek at the Eastern Sierra Book Festival.

Come and join us for a day of literary fun and adventure! Entrance is free!

For more information, visit easternsierrabookfestival.com or www.facebook.com/EasternSierraBookFestival
 #bookfestival  #easternsierra #writing #mammothlakes

Congratulations Class of 2024! Here's to the positive impact you will make in your future careers in medicine, psychology, higher education, statistics, sports management, bioengineering, aerospace engineering, criminal justice, architecture, history, computer science, physics, digital arts, and marketing.

I'm excited to return to California's Eastern Sierra to resume my College Application Writing Workshop in Mammoth Lakes!

We'll talk about how to get organized for the college application process, review the University of California and Common Application prompts, learn how to break down the prompts, and start brainstorming. We'll also discuss the supplemental essays and how to approach and research the "Why?" essays ("Why this school?", "Why this major?", "Why this program?")

If you're a Mono County student, come join us! And bring a pen!


When: Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: Mammoth Lakes Library, 400 Sierra Park Road
Mammoth Lakes, California

​Once I review a prompt with my student, I don't want them to start writing their essay. I want them to brainstorm. No outlining, no thinking about structure--just stream of conscious writing about the points of the prompt.
​
If you start trying to write your essay off the bat, you're forcing your essay structurally and lessening the chance of discovering through the creative process. Take the pressure off writing and free yourself by brainstorming first to see what you find. 

Let's look at the newest Common App prompt as an example:

​Now, pretend you are an Olympic swimmer coiled on the block. The starter gun goes off and you fly into the water and swim your brains out. In this case you'll write your brains out. For at least 10 minutes about the first point of the prompt. Who is your someone? How did they surprise you? Write down all the relevant details you remember. 

Don't worry about organizing thoughts or connecting sentences or utilizing good grammar. Don't judge; don't hold back. Just keep that pen or those keys moving. You are simply downloading thoughts. Later you'll cull through these thoughts to craft an essay. But for now--even if those initial sentences seem worthless or stupid--keep going. This process often reveals good content...if you let yourself go.

If a few minutes pass and your pen or fingers are flying effortlessly, you are likely onto something good. If your timer goes off and you still have more to say, keep going. If thoughts don't come easily, you may not have picked a topic that is truly significant or meaningful to you.
​
Then reset your timer and repeat this downloading with each point of the prompt. 

Warning to Computer Science Students
​
Just about every industry involves computer science in some respect these days. Each year, many of my students are either going to major in computer science or minor in it, and they have already taken courses in the field. When I review their first round of brainstorming, I often see bullet points. This type of thinking is natural for someone who creates code, but it's not very good for writing because bullet points don't contain details. They are literally dots, and it is what connects these dots that is the substance of engaging writing. Use the 5 Ws (who, what, when, where, how and why) and the senses (when appropriate) to flesh out your details, your story.

Divide and Conquer

​Once you have completely investigated your topic and exhausted your thoughts brainstorming, it's time to start putting your essay together. Before going any further, look at your notes. Are they all in one giant overwhelming run- on paragraph? If so, you won't know where to start.

If you brainstormed on a computer, go back and insert paragraph breaks between distinct thoughts and points. As you do this, you might find that some items near the end of your notes tie in with other things written earlier. Move sentences and paragraphs around until similar thoughts are clumped together. Don't worry about order or flow or grammar or anything making total sense; for now, you are simply sorting data.
​
If you brainstormed on paper, type your notes into the computer and go through the previous exercise. Having a printed version of your notes will make them easier to review and refer to as you craft your essay.​

​​Now print your notes on good old-fashioned paper so you can get physical with what you've written. Wade into your rivers of words and pan for the gold. Highlight what sparkles to you--anything that seems interesting or good. These nuggets and flakes will become the bones and content of your essay. Even though they are currently raw and unrefined, they will morph as you work through the writing process.

​Don’t expect perfection on the first draft--or the second one either!

They Call It a Creative Process for a Reason
​
Michelangelo said this about sculpting: “The idea is there locked inside. All you have to do is remove the excess stone.” And so it is with writing. Your slab of marble is the white page or screen in front of you, and as that page fills with words, you will see the form emerging. Don't fret if all you observe at first is a hand, because that hand wants to get free. As you chip away the excess stone, that hand leads you to an arm, which will then lead you to a torso, and before long, you will literally see your creation appearing. When it does, you will know exactly what to do with it.

​​I know, I know; this sounds as if I just told you to forget everything you learned in English composition! Ultimately, you will find order and structure--I'm simply suggesting a different way of getting there. Release yourself from the shackles of outlining, devising topic sentences, and over planning, which only stifle creativity and voice. Trust me: your essay will find its form. For now, loosen up so you can be playful and discover what is locked inside.

College Scoops provides parents of college-bound students with the resources needed to save time, money and stress when planning a college trip. With the help of a dedicated staff, dozens of college interns, and a veritable army of student and parent ambassadors, College Scoops creates curated, interactive guides highlighting favorite places to eat, stay, and play around campus, for both students and parents.

I recently wrote a guest blog for College Scoops about "The Power of a Small Story." This article delves into how students can move beyond the stats in their resumes to write engaging college application essays.  Read the article at this link.  

​Congratulations Class of 2022! Here's to the positive impact you will all have on our world in your future careers in social justice, physics, design, business, bioinformatics, computer science, political science, engineering, mathematics, art, and renewable energy.

When I first started working as a college application coach, I was astounded as I reviewed my students’ lists of activities. They looked like the resumes of my contemporaries at age 30! These teenagers had already performed genomic characterization of novel mycobacteriophages, climbed Machu Picchu, written programs in Python, synthesized nanoparticles, filed patent applications, and started their own non-profits. Amazing.

But when I asked these high achievers what they did for fun, I was almost always met with pauses and nervous laughter as if I were speaking in a foreign language and used a word they did not know.

​And Jack and Jill will be speechless when they start to write their college application essays and come upon essay prompts like, “Tell us about something you do simply for the pleasure of it?” 
​

So, while you are busy interning, working or volunteering this summer, make sure you plan some fun, too. Try something new, whether it’s pickleball, ballroom dancing or making your own pizza.

​Do something in or near your hometown that you haven’t done yet. Maybe you can turn an interest into an opportunity. If you love dogs, volunteer at a local shelter or veterinarian’s office, or let neighbors know you’re available for dog sitting and walking.


Enjoy downtime with your friends away from your devices. Get outside and let Mother Nature work her restorative magic: take a hike, go for a swim or have a picnic in the park.

If you have an internship or job, take your lunch break! And don’t forget to put away your phone and engage with people. Ask a co-worker to join you or pop your head in the office of someone down the hall who does something that is of interest to you.  

Get involved, strike up conversations. Not only will you be giving yourself time to destress and breathe, but who knows, you might even find quality content for one of your college application essays! Remember, your best life stories are not a list of your achievements; they are tales of your experiences. 

I had one student who went on a volunteer mission in rural China over his summer break. Did he end up writing about his mission for his essay? No—which would have been cliché anyway. But he did write a memorable essay about the elder man who sat next to him on the plane to China. When my student first walked down the aisle to take his seat, he was not too thrilled about having to sit next to someone “so old” for 13 hours, let alone someone from a culture that was historically at odds with his. Surprise! The two ended up talking for hours.
​
Bottom line, be aware of the world and people around you. Make time for fun. Carry a small notebook with you, and write about things that impress you, whether people, places or experiences.

I'll be presenting a virtual College Application workshop this summer sponsored by DataEthics4All, 

Online, July 18-22, 2022, Monday through Friday, 3 pm to 5 pm, 

For more information and to sign up, click steaminai.org/

Scholarships are available for eligible students.

2020 was a challenging year on many levels, but you all got through it...and into college! Here's to the positive impact you will all have on our world in your future careers in journalism, psychology, business, social justice, computer science, bioinformatics, environmental design, hospitality, dermatology, physics, engineering, medicine, and industrial design.
​
Congratulations Class of 2021! 

​While most colleges are still figuring out how they will re-calibrate their admissions processes this year, here are are a few takeaways from NPR's article:

• Since SAT and ACT scores are not required, some high schools have switched to pass/fail grades, and most extracurricular activities have been cancelled due to COVID-19, you will need to stand out through your other attributes.
• Recommendation letters and essays will get a closer read.
• Admissions officers will pour over transcripts looking for academic rigor and any patterns that help bear out a student’s academic profile.
• Don’t write 650 words about COVID-19 fatigue. There is a short new question on the Common App where you can write about any extenuating circumstances you have experienced as a result of COVID-19 that are relevant to your application.  
• Do your essays and your activities reflect your character?
• ​Admissions directors are still figuring things out, so requirements will be different from school to school. Visit the websites of schools to see if there are options for virtual tours or interviews. If so, take advantage of them. 
  
  Read the full article or listen to the podcast at NPR-How The Coronavirus Has Upended College Admissions
  
  

​For all you teenagers and 20-somethings who are getting impatient with staying at home and keeping a safe distance from your friends, meet Janet Kwenah of Liberia. Janet is a SHE-CAN scholar I mentored last year and this is her second time around dealing with a deadly disease!

Ebola started to rip through Western Africa in 2013. Looking back on that epidemic, Janet said that Ebola was different; “We were so confused about what to do, but now, we follow preventive measures.” She said she and her peers have been more creative and innovative during the shutdown; they make things with their own hands, including face masks.

Janet’s family of eight children is dependent on the one income from her mother, who sells in the market. Years ago, Janet “escaped” the reality of her living situation by starting to volunteer. Her life was looking brighter and then the Vice Principal announced at school one day that a deadly virus called Ebola was spreading quickly in Liberia. All schools were shut down and a nationwide curfew went into effect. Janet lived in fear that her mother was exposed to danger when she left the house each day to sell in the market, and they had a thorough cleaning regimen when she returned each day. When her uncle, who lived them, died from other causes during the virus breakout, neighbors assumed it was Ebola and avoided Janet’s family. She felt even more isolated.

What Janet missed the most during the Ebola quarantine was volunteering. She realized that she didn’t volunteer to escape the reality of her family’s situation, but because she believed “Whatever change I want to see should start with me, and that change should start now.” When things settled down, Janet and some friends started Think Kids Liberia, which focuses on the development of Liberian children through education, health, charity, advocacy, and creative activities.

​“So many people in my country have lost their hope,” Janet said, “But when I see the kids looking up to me, and hear young ladies say I motivate them, and my parents speak with pride, I think of all the people’s hopes I’m keeping alive.”

When I asked Janet if she had any advice for my American students struggling with the COVID-19 quarantine, she said, “We should all stay calm, spend time with our families and find things that we can do to keep us going. “If you are a believer,” she added, “praying is advisable.” Ebola left scars and fears in her heart, but these experiences also made her unique and strong.  “We beat Ebola,” she said, so she is confident we will beat Coronavirus, too.

Janet was accepted to Lafayette College to study International Affairs with a focus on Children’s Development. Lafayette is going 100 percent remote this fall and, to date, Janet cannot secure a visa. SHE-CAN’s Plan B is to rent a home near Monrovia so all the Liberian students can live and study together. Janet remains optimistic, and hopefully she will get to campus in the spring.

 ​SHE-CAN is a California-based organization that builds female leadership in post-conflict countries by equipping and empowering young women with education, mentorship and leadership skills need to change their nations and the world. For more information: shecan.global  #SHECAN

#college #staypositive 

We’re all passing around as much good cheer as possible during the COVID-19 crisis, and my favorite so far has been the Berklee School of Music’s version of “What the World Needs Now.” The minute I heard this stellar virtual orchestration of Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s 1965 hit, I recalled that ABC Sports used this song in their pre-Olympic telecast for the 1972 Summer Games in Munich, West Germany.

As recounted by producer/director Doug Wilson in our book The World Was Our Stage: ​

​Jim McKay, the iconic host of ABC’s Wide World of Sports and Olympic telecasts, aptly referred to the Olympic Games as a town meeting of the world. The ABC Sports team had been preparing for this telecast for years, and as our plane approached Munich, I thought about the first time I had flown in to the city. It was eight years earlier on my way to the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. The man sitting next to me, who had fought in World War II, reminded me that the Munich airfield was once the site of Luftwaffe Headquarters. Now I was landing at their headquarters! I looked at the buildings through the eyes of my boyhood. Pockmarks still etched the walls from Allied shelling, and as I entered the terminal, my fellow passenger remarked that the last time he had entered the space, ammunition crates were packed from floor to ceiling. I truly felt scared.

The first German I encountered was a customs officer in a dark gray uniform with a high-brimmed military-style cap. He looked like a Gestapo officer. Then I spotted a sign that said “Trink Coca Cola,” and the sight of that American trademark relaxed me a little and reminded me it was 1964, not 1945.

In 1972, much of Europe still had a militaristic, post-war feel to it. The Iron Curtain was still standing strong, and it would be another seventeen years before the Berlin Wall would fall. The memories of Nazi Germany still lingered. The West Germans, who landed on the free side of divided, post-war Germany, were keenly aware of this sensitivity. They wanted to set a tone completely opposite of the very militaristic one set in 1936, when Chancellor Adolph Hitler used the Berlin Summer Games as a world stage to showcase the supremacy of his “Master Race.”

The Olympic Games in Munich Begin

For the Munich Games, the West Germans were dedicated to creating an atmosphere of peace, tranquility, and healthy competition in hope of recasting themselves and their country in the eyes of the world. Their official symbol was a bold, graphic sun design representing light, freshness, and generosity. Their official mascot was Waldi, a harmless multicolored dachshund—a breed with an image that couldn’t be more opposite of the German shepherd, Hitler’s canine preference. The official motto was “The Happy Games,” and the Dove of Peace was seen on posters throughout the city.

​The Munich Games Take a Tragic Turn

We all know the tragedy that unfolded during the second week of the Games, when eleven members of the Israeli team were taken hostage by Palestinian terrorists and killed in what became known as the Munich Massacre. Then, as now, what the world needs now, is love sweet love.

Read more about the Munich Games and producer/director Doug Wilson’s 50-year career with ABC Sports in his book, The World Was Our Stage: Spanning the Glob with ABC Sports. ​#Sportsbooks #whattheworldneedsnow

​Below is a link to an article/podcast from NPR that talks about how to pick your college during the coronavirus outbreak, from financial aid tips in case your family’s financial situation has changed to a link you can use to decode college aid letters.

The article also points out that a lot of universities have put their campus tours online, with virtual tour guides or chat availability. Such access is great regardless, because not all students can afford to travel to visit their prospective colleges. 



​Link to NPR Article and Podcast

​This blog was such a valuable tool for my students last year, I'm re-posting it this year.

Congratulations--You've Got Several Acceptances!

College acceptance letters have arrived and now you wonder how to make the big decision. To those of you who got the nod from your dream school, the next step is easy; but for the rest of you, this important decision can be overwhelming. You also don't have the advantage of Accepted Students Days this year in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic, but do visit the websites of your schools as many have added videos and virtual admission activities to help you evaluate your schools. 

The college selection process reminds me of my year-end task of selecting a medical insurance policy. Not only do I have several plans to choose from, I also have a long list of benefits to consider, not to mention the fact that I really have no idea what my medical needs will be in the coming year.
​
How do I sort through it all? Call Dad, of course. As a retired engineer, he’s good at crunching numbers and evaluating these kinds of things. Last year, he suggested I employ an old Air Force method whereby I would score each plan’s list of benefits. I had narrowed down to two plans, so I cleared off the dining table and laid the lists—which went on for pages—side by side. I then went down the columns and assigned a score to each benefit, either a 0 or a 1, 1 going to the plan with the superior identical or similar benefit. If a specific benefit had equal value in both plans, each plan scored a 0. I also gave more weight to the more important benefits by using a score of 1*.  In the end, I tallied up the score and the plan with the most points and weight won.

What Do You Want from Your College Experience?

Try this scoring method to select your college. First, create a list of what you want from your undergraduate experience. Your factors might include major, minor, specialized academic programs, internship opportunities, location, certain professors, research being conducted at the university, weather, size, cost, scholarship, housing, transportation costs to/from school, family or friends nearby, college town, Division I football, fraternities and sororities, marching band, ski team—whatever is of importance to you.

If you’re a pre-med student, does the college have an affiliation with a local hospital or research institution? If you’re a computer science major, does the school have an internship program at a nearby technology company? A school might have a dual-major program of interest to you like engineering and economics or education and music. If you want to live and work in a certain city after college, then location might be a weighted factor for you in that you can start to establish yourself in that city.

Create a Spreadsheet 

Whatever your parameters, create a spreadsheet with your schools in the top row and your factors in the first column. Then start scoring. Give more weight to items that are of more importance to you. If you are deciding between two schools, the 0/1/1* system will work (you could also use 2 for the weighted score, but I liked seeing the total the number of weighted benefits when I was evaluating medical plans).  If you have more schools, you might need to expand your scale. With three schools, try using 0/1/2/2*.  Expand your scale further if necessary. Once you isolate your final two schools, start over with the 0/1/1* for a true head-to-head comparison.

Do your parents want you to go to one college and you want to go elsewhere? Sharing your score sheet with mom and dad can help you demonstrate to them why your pick is the best choice for you.
​
When I employed this method to choose my medical insurance policy, there was a hands-down winner. So clear through the confusion with this simple method.  Once you choose your school, don’t look back. Look forward. The truth is, what becomes of your four years in college has more to do with your attitude than anything. I grew up in Los Angeles and always wanted to go away for college. But one of the best schools in the country for what I wanted to study was right in my backyard. Though only six miles away, UCLA was a whole new world. I lived on campus and took advantage of all the school had to offer. No regrets. So, pick your school for the right reasons and commit to it. When you arrive on campus, don’t just go to class, explore and get involved. Make your college the experience you seek.

Congratulations to my friend and collaborator, Doug Wilson, who will be inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in a ceremony to be held on December 17, 2019 at the New York Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan.

In his 50 years with ABC Sports, Doug produced and directed programming for ABC's Wide World of Sports and the network's telecast of 10 Olympic Games, which set the standard for sports broadcasting. Doug is most noted for his innovative work in figure skating and gymnastics, for which he received 17 Emmy Awards. You can read all about Doug's incredible career and the advent of sports television in his memoir (which I helped him write!), The World Was Our Stage: Spanning the Globe with ABC Sports. ​

​“Why this school?” “Why this major?”

My students dread writing the “Why” essays, and I loathe reading them. Why? Because they seem to have no creativity, especially when the word count is often limited to 100 or 250 words. The “Why” essays may seem pointless, but I believe admissions uses these essays to separate the wheat from the chaff. Each school you apply to is well aware that you are applying to at least ten other colleges, and with a quick glance at the “Why” essay, they can determine which applicants have taken a serious look at their school—and which have not.

Another upside to writing "Why" essays is that the prompts force you to take a deep dive into your major, department and college to determine if it is the best fit for you. I've seen students change their minds about their dream school after researching "Why" essays because programs at another school seemed more appealing and inline with their goals. 

​Understand the Prompt

As with “personal insight” essays, your successful application begins with understanding and breaking down the prompt. Be clear about what the prompt is asking. A great way to do this is to highlight the key points. If the prompt has more than one point, type them in a list.
 
Below are actual “Why” prompts, but I have removed the school names so you can easily see how these four prompts differ:​

• Why State University?
• Why are you drawn to the area(s) of study indicated in your application?
• Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate college or school to which you are applying at State University.
• How does State University, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to State University.  

The first school’s prompt is wide open. Not only should you discuss academic opportunities available, but you can also include campus clubs and events, school traditions, and the institution’s surrounding community or city. Don’t randomly throw things into your essay or it will be clear you merely lifted information from the school’s website. Anything included must have context and be relevant to you. Be genuine.
 
The second and third prompts, though similar, are slightly different. The second one’s focus is “area(s) of study” while the third’s is a “specific undergraduate college or school.” The latter is slightly broader. “Why are you drawn to” and “describe the unique qualities that attract you” are also similar but responses about you need tweaking to satisfy the specific prompt.
 
The fourth prompt is similar to the first but goes into more detail explaining the prompt and asks you to specifically address three things: learning, community, and future.

​Do Your Research
 
With any “Why” prompt, do your homework about the specific school. Have you visited or will you visit the school? When you do, take a guided tour, talk with students, try to meet with professors and students in your major, and take notes! If you can’t visit the school, investigate the school’s website to take their virtual tours, talk to any friends or acquaintances who go there, or contact alumni in your area. Get school-specific information as it relates to you and the prompt. In your essays, when appropriate, mention a faculty member you’d like to study or work with—and give an explanation. If applicable, mention specific research conducted at the school and any internship or program opportunities that interest you, and reasons for their appeal.
 
Even for a short "Why" essay, you must do a tremendous amount of research about the school in order to find those two to three things to mention in your essay. To convince the school that you are a serious contender, click through every relevant page on the school’s website to find what you need. Typical pages you might investigate are:

• Academics
• Department
• Major, Minor, Double-Majors, Interdisciplinary Majors
• Specific Programs or Tracks within a Major*
• Faculty
• Research
• Centers and Institutes on campus
• Internships
• Campus Life
• Student Activities (clubs and organizations)
• Study Abroad Opportunities

 
*Avoid mentioning specific classes unless they are truly unique. The exception is if you are discussing interdisciplinary studies and point out specific courses relevant to you in another department/major and why.  Same goes for your minor: it's okay to mention two to three electives in the minor to show how you will apply that minor to your major and overall goals.    
 
Be Specific

Chapman University does a great job of explaining what to do—and not to do—in a “Why” essay. Here’s their prompt:
 
                                                      There are thousands of universities and colleges.
                                                      Why are you interested in attending Chapman?

And here are the instructions on the website:

• We're looking for specifics! What separates Chapman from the other institutions you're considering?
  What special programs, activities and aspects of campus are most attractive and compelling to you?

• We're well aware that our campus is in a fantastic location and is aesthetically pleasing
  (we hear about Disneyland and how beautiful our campus is frequently).
  Dig a little deeper to show us you know why Chapman could be a great fit for you!

“Specifics” is the key word. Chapman comes right out and tells you not to bother brown-nosing and to spare them the fluff. Additional generic comments to avoid include “great weather,” “top-ranked program,” “low student-to-faculty ratio,” “world-renowned professors,” and “great alumni network.” Avoid comments you could make about any school. If you bring up studying abroad, internships, research opportunities, or interdisciplinary studies, be sure to go beyond the mention and include substantive content relevant to the school and to you.
 
Some Final Pointers

If you are an incoming freshman who hasn’t decided on a major or career yet, don’t fret.  What is important is that you can express one or two areas of interest to show admissions you have some direction. That said, don’t apply to a tech school if you don’t have any interest in the sciences, and don’t apply to an agricultural school if you think you want to work in psychology or marketing. A school’s “Why” prompt is a good guide to determine if you can submit a solid application or not. If not, opt for liberal arts colleges or universities that don’t have an academic “Why” essay (the University of California is a good example) or don't require you to have specific goals as an incoming freshman--and the resume to back it up.
 
Keep your focus on each school as you craft your essays. If you refer to a particular place on campus or the school’s colors, be sure you’ve got such details right! I know one student who got rejected because he emailed admissions about a swim team the school didn’t have.
 
If your “Why” essay reads like a brochure about the college, you haven’t done a thorough job and it will be obvious you lifted or paraphrased copy from the school’s website.  By talking about how the things you choose to discuss in your essay relate to you and your future, you can move away from the generic statements that any applicant could say.
 
Similarly, be careful of your essay sounding like a list. If you merely mention certain professors, research being done at the university or a speaker’s program, it’s just a list. You must give specific details about these people, things and activities, and express why you have brought them up.

Don't try to jam too much into your essay. Let your word count guide you. If it's 250 words, then select two to three items to focus on. This will give you room to discuss your reasons why you are mentioning the things you are and lets admissions know what you want to do in life and what you intend to take advantage of at their school to start your journey.

Remember, tens of thousands of students are applying to each school. Show admissions you know the school and yourself. Make impressions, not statements.
​
 
                                   For examples of effective “Why” essays, see my book, The Write Way into College. 

​Has one of your prospective colleges invited you to interview with an alum? If so, don’t just show up, prepare! Get ready for your meeting as if you were writing a “why” essay for your application. If you’ve already written one, review it.
 
Know the answers to these questions:​

Why this university? 
What has drawn you to this university?
What do you want to study? 
What do you want to do with your life?
 
Other things you should be prepared to talk about: 

• Your major(s) and minor at the school.
• Any specific academic programs or tracks you are interested in, if applicable.
• The names of one or two professors in your department(s) whose work and/or research is of interest you (and why this work/research is relevant to you).
• A group, organization or club (or two) on campus that you’d like to get involved in (and why).

 
Practice interviewing with your parents or friends. Record your conversation and review the video for cues on how to improve your posture, eye contact, and use of your hands.

On the Day of the Interview

If you're the nervous type, exercise or walk before your interview. Dress appropriately, even if your meeting takes place over the Internet. If wearing a suit is your thing, go ahead, but “nice casual” is fine.

Arrive with a few questions of your own, whether they are about your planned course of study at the university or student life. Bring a pad of paper and pen. Have your list of questions with you, and don't hesitate to write down something the interviewer says that you want to follow up on or a question that comes up during your conversation.
 
If you need an icebreaker, ask the alum why s/he chose the school and what his/her favorite memories are. 
 
If the chair you are sitting in is deep, sit on the edge of it so you can sit up. If the chair swivels, ground your feet so you don't swivel. 
 
Overall, don't be a "bad date." Have something to say, but also listen. Respond to the conversation as it goes. Breathe, maintain eye contact (but don't stare!), smile (naturally, of course). Be genuine; be yourself. Like dating, if it's meant to be, it will be.
 

I’m usually not one to take college rankings too seriously as I believe there are a lot of excellent schools out there, but I came across a list in a Sierra Club newsletter that I read top to bottom: Sierra magazine’s Top 20 Coolest Schools 2019.'

This list ranks colleges in the United States and Canada according to which schools offer the best sustainability-focused courses, eco-friendly cafeteria provisions, carbon-neutral land and energy policies, and opportunities to engage with the environmental movement.

As many of my students are interested in STEM fields and careers, and young people in general are understandably concerned about the health of our planet, from global warming to plastic in the ocean to the burning of fossil fuels, I thought I’d share this list.

​The Top 20 Environmentally Conscious Schools

The top 10 are Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia; University of California, Irvine; SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; University of New Hampshire; University of Connecticut; University of California, Merced; Colby College in Maine; Middlebury College in Vermont; Colorado State University; and Arizona State University.

Rounding out the list are Sterling College in Vermont; Dickson College in Pennsylvania; Seattle University; Chatham University in Pennsylvania; College of the Atlantic in Maine; University of California, Berkeley; University of Calgary; Santa Clara University in California; University of Dayton in Ohio; and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

These schools boast LEED-certified dorms and buildings, energy derived from solar panels, sustainability programs, community gardens, zero-waste programs, composting, renewable energy, fossil fuel divestment, and water conservation.

If you’re interested in majoring in environmental studies, check out these colleges:

https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2019-5-september-october/cool-schools-2019/top-20-coolest-schools-2019?utm_source=insider&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter ​