The Big Eclipse: A Lesson in College Application Topic Ideas

by | Sep 15, 2017

 

Don’t Even Think About Writing About the Eclipse

And What to Write About Instead

 

When I was invited to give one of my college application essay writing workshops to students at Colorado Academy in Denver, Colorado, I had no idea it would be on the day of the big eclipse.

As Monday, August 21, neared, we all realized the sky would darken just about lunchtime during my daylong workshop.

Even though I knew it would be hard to compete with a full-on solar eclipse, I was excited because Denver was more in line with the action than my home in Southern California. (more…)

5 Topic Tips: Do This, Not That!

by | Jul 25, 2015

The Best (and Worst)
College Application Essay Topics
Are Not What You Think!

 

When I first started working with students on how to write college applications essays about eight years ago now, I put together a list of Do’s and Don’ts about picking topics.

It was based on the idea that college admissions officers were seeing many of the same topics, or sensational or ill-suited topics that were not handled well.

And that those were the topics you should avoid at all cost.

But over the years, I realized there was no such thing as a bad topic. (more…)