Stephen P.

Stephen P. is a writer and teacher based in Los Angeles. He has taught literature and writing courses at several universities and has taught writing and reading at Elite Prep Los Angeles since 2010.

Articles by Stephen P.

College Admissions
Why It's Never Too Early to Start Thinking About Your College Application Essays
Everyone has a compelling story to tell. When I say it’s never too early to begin thinking about your college application essays, what I really mean is: you should start thinking about how to tell a story out of your day-to-day life.
May 4, 2020Stephen P.
AP Classes
Is a "B" in an Honors/AP Course Better Than an "A" in a Regular Course?
Be honest with yourself: how many of these rigorous courses can you handle while still maintaining a high GPA?
January 22, 2020Stephen P.
College Admissions
6 Ways to Show Genuine Interest in Your Intended College Major
In your college applications, it’s important that you demonstrate your interests (not just state what they are, but show them at work in your life) and that those interests inform your prospective major.
November 26, 2019Stephen P.
College Admissions
What if I Don't Have Any Extracurricular Activities?
If you’re not on an athletic team, or in the band, or in student government, or involved with any school-organized clubs, chances are you still have extracurricular activities.
November 20, 2019Stephen P.
College Admissions
What to Do If You're Over the Word Limit on Your Admissions Essays
Being over the word count on your college essay is a great problem to have. All writing requires revision, and almost all revision entails condensing. Your aim in cutting down an admission essay is to say as much as possible with as few words as possible.
November 18, 2019Stephen P.
College Admissions
What If My College Admissions Essay is Too Short?
How short is too short when it comes to college essays? And what if you’re so concise that you don’t come close to the maximum word length? Here are a few ways to add to your college admissions essay word count.
October 15, 2019Stephen P.
Study Tips
How to Manage Academic Stress
Stress is also often a learned pattern of thinking, one that we need to unlearn if we’re going to get things done.
August 16, 2019Stephen P.
Study Tips
4 Tips for Finding Balance: How to Study and Still Have a Life
In the face of increasing academic and social pressures, it’s typical for teenagers to make more time for school at the expense of their social lives. So, how can you maintain a social life with such high academic expectations?
June 11, 2019Stephen P.
Study Tips
10 Amazing Ways to Exercise Your Brain
Here are some great ways to get your brain stretching and your mind thinking in “divergent” ways.
May 2, 2019Stephen P.
College Admissions
If I'm Applying to an Art/Design school, Do My SAT Scores Matter?
Short answer: maybe. As with most admission questions, the answer here depends on which schools we’re talking about…
April 4, 2019Stephen P.
SAT
What is SAT Superscore and How Does It Work?
Your SAT Superscore is the total of your highest scores on each test section after you take the SAT two or more times. But there are some important things to remember before submitting your scores to colleges.
March 19, 2019Stephen P.
College Admissions
Is It Bad to Take the SAT More Than Two Times?
As with all issues concerning college applications and admissions, there are a number of complex factors to consider here. Below I outline what you should think about and research before deciding whether you want to take the SAT once, twice, three times, or more.
March 4, 2019Stephen P.
What Should I Study to Prepare for the ACT Science Test?
Despite its name, the ACT Science Test is not really a test of your knowledge of science. You won’t be asked to explain the second law of thermodynamics, or quantum entanglement, or who Galileo was.
February 5, 2019Stephen P.
Study Tips
Fighting Procrastination: 5 Strategies That Work
Anyway you cut it, procrastination is a killer. It hampers our ability to achieve our goals, heaps stress onto our Future Self, and it usually doesn’t provide the instant gratification to our Present Self that it seems to guarantee. So, how do you battle this beast if it’s part of your neurological
January 7, 2019Stephen P.
College Application
5 Techniques for Brainstorming Your College Essay Topic in 15 Minutes
It’s the fall of your senior year of high school. Hopefully by now, you have settled—or are at least close to settling—on the list of colleges and universities you’ll be applying to. Now it’s time to sit down and start in on your college essays if you haven’t already.
November 6, 2018Stephen P.
College Admissions
What Is Committee-Based Evaluation, and How Will It Affect My College Application?
Committee-Based Evaluation (CBE) is a new admissions method gaining steam at universities across the US. With more and more universities and colleges implementing CBE each year, 2018-19 college applicants are likely to have at least one of their applications reviewed with this new method…
October 16, 2018Stephen P.
College Admissions
How to Build a Great Extracurricular Activities List
One of the primary ways candidates stand out among an elite pack is through their extracurricular activities lists. So, how do you build an activities list that will stand out?
October 1, 2018Stephen P.
SAT PSAT
Is the PSAT Easier Than the SAT? How Does It Compare?
In regard to level of difficulty, the tests are nearly identical, with one caveat: the SAT is longer and forces students to move a bit more quickly in the math sections. However, there are some key differences between the PSAT and SAT that all high school students should be aware of.
September 19, 2018Stephen P.
Writing
The Do’s and Don’ts of Emailing College Admissions Officers and Professors
As communication technologies change, so too does digital etiquette. There are ever-evolving, unspoken rules, for instance, to the art of liking or commenting on a friend’s Instagram post. Periods, exclamation points, and no punctuation at all can communicate a wide range of emotions and inflections
April 17, 2018Stephen P.
Writing
The Problem and Appeal of the Slippery Slope
For nearly as long as I can remember, I have heard media pundits, teachers, and peers mention the slippery slope by name—not as a logical fallacy, but as the basis for an argument. As it happens, the slippery slope is one of the best-known and least-understood logical fallacies. What follows is devo
March 29, 2018Stephen P.
Writing Grammar
Can I Use “I” and “Me” in an Academic Essay?
Typically, this question stems from a student’s experience with a high school or middle school teacher who advised, even commanded, students to never, ever use first-person pronouns in their essays. And so, when I get this question, I tend to hear a sub-question lying just beneath the surface: was m
March 12, 2018Stephen P.
College Admissions
5 Things to Do if You've Got a Low GPA
GPA is certainly a major factor in college admissions, but it’s far from the only one. College admissions committees read your application holistically. If you have a low GPA, here are a few strategic workarounds to consider as you prepare to apply to college.
November 21, 2017Stephen P.
Grammar SAT
The Past Subjunctive and Standard Written English
The past subjunctive is a grammatical mood in English used to describe situations that are contrary to fact; Beyoncé is not a boy and Justin Bieber is not your boyfriend (probably).
November 7, 2017Stephen P.
College Admissions
Recommendation Letters: What They Are and How to Get Great Ones
October 23, 2017Stephen P.
SAT
Understanding Arguments: On Counterarguments, Concessions and Rebuttals
October 10, 2017Stephen P.
Grammar
What’s the Deal with Dashes?
September 25, 2017Stephen P.
Test Prep
Mentally Preparing for Your Test-Prep Summer
June 20, 2017Stephen P.
College Admissions
Why You Should Start Your College Admission Essays this Summer
May 30, 2017Stephen P.
Grammar Test Prep
What Is a Run-On Sentence?
May 19, 2017Stephen P.
Test Prep
Sleep and Nutrition: What Your Brain Needs to Ace the SAT and ACT
May 1, 2017Stephen P.
SAT
What’s a Good SAT Score?
April 24, 2017Stephen P.
Study Tips
The Science of Cramming, or How to Prepare for Standardized Tests
February 25, 2017Stephen P.
Colleges & Universities
How (Not) to Choose a College
February 10, 2017Stephen P.
SAT
One Habit That Will Help You Raise Your SAT Reading & Writing Scores
January 28, 2017Stephen P.
SAT
Good at Math? Then You Should Ace the SAT Language Sections
January 14, 2017Stephen P.
SAT
Does High School Prepare Students for the SAT?
January 3, 2017Stephen P.
College Admissions
Writing About a Real-Life Event in Your College Essay
December 1, 2016Stephen P.
SAT
The Value and Purpose of the New SAT Essay
November 6, 2016Stephen P.
How to Pick Your UC Personal Insight Questions
October 24, 2016Stephen P.
College Admissions
When It Comes to Colleges, the Biggest Name Doesn't Always Mean the Best Fit
October 5, 2016Stephen P.