--- title: "Stephen P. | Elite Prep" description: "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…" url: "https://eliteprep.com/blog/author/stephen-p/" image: "https://eliteprep.com/og/page/en/blog/author/stephen-p.png" language: "en" source: "eliteprep build" --- # 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. - ![Title graphic over a soap bubble: "Why It's Never Too Early to Start Thinking About Your College Application Essays"](https://eliteprep.com/media/WHY%2BITS%2BNEVER%2BTOO%2BEARLY-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [Why It's Never Too Early to Start Thinking About Your College Application Essays](https://eliteprep.com/blog/never-too-early-college-essays/) Everyone has a compelling story to tell. When I say it’s never too early to begin thinking about your college application essays… May 4, 2020 Stephen P. - ![Is a “B” in an Honors/AP Course Better Than an “A” in a Regular Course?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BAP-regular-webp-w400.webp) [AP Classes](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/ap-classes/) ### [Is a "B" in an Honors/AP Course Better Than an "A" in a Regular Course?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/ap-vs-regular-courses/) Be honest with yourself: how many of these rigorous courses can you handle while still maintaining a high GPA? January 22, 2020 Stephen P. - ![6 Ways to Show Genuine Interest in Your Intended College Major](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BMajor%2BInterest-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [6 Ways to Show Genuine Interest in Your Intended College Major](https://eliteprep.com/blog/show-interest-in-college-major/) In your college applications, it’s important that you demonstrate your interests… November 26, 2019 Stephen P. - ![What If I Don’t Have Any Extracurricular Activities?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BEXTRACURRICULUAR-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [What if I Don't Have Any Extracurricular Activities?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/no-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… November 20, 2019 Stephen P. - ![What to Do If You're Over the Word Limit on Your Admissions Essays](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2Bover%2Bword%2Blimit-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [What to Do If You're Over the Word Limit on Your Admissions Essays](https://eliteprep.com/blog/over-word-limit-college-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. November 18, 2019 Stephen P. - ![What if My College Admissions Essay is Too Short?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BEssay%2BToo%2BShort-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [What If My College Admissions Essay is Too Short?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/college-essay-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? October 15, 2019 Stephen P. - ![How to Manage Academic Stress](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BStress-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [How to Manage Academic Stress](https://eliteprep.com/blog/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, 2019 Stephen P. - ![4 Tips for Finding Balance: How to Study and Still Have a Life](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BBalance-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [4 Tips for Finding Balance: How to Study and Still Have a Life](https://eliteprep.com/blog/how-to-study-and-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. June 11, 2019 Stephen P. - ![10 Amazing Ways to Exercise Your Brain](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BExercise%2BYour%2BBrain-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [10 Amazing Ways to Exercise Your Brain](https://eliteprep.com/blog/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, 2019 Stephen P. - ![If I'm Applying to an Art/Design school, Do My SAT Scores Matter?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BART%2BSCHOOL-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [If I'm Applying to an Art/Design school, Do My SAT Scores Matter?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2019/4/4/if-im-applying-to-an-artdesign-school-do-my-sat-scores-matter/) Short answer: maybe. As with most admission questions, the answer here depends on which schools we’re talking… April 4, 2019 Stephen P. - ![Fighting Procrastination: 5 Strategies That Work](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BProcrastination-1-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [Fighting Procrastination: 5 Strategies That Work](https://eliteprep.com/blog/fighting-procrastination/) Anyway you cut it, procrastination is a killer. It hampers our ability to achieve our goals, heaps stress onto our Future Self… January 7, 2019 Stephen P. - ![5 Techniques for Brainstorming Your College Essay Topic in 15 Minutes](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BBRAINSTORMING-webp-w400.webp) [College Application](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-application/) ### [5 Techniques for Brainstorming Your College Essay Topic in 15 Minutes](https://eliteprep.com/blog/brainstorming-college-essays/) It’s the fall of your senior year of high school. Hopefully by now, you have settled—or are at least close to settling… November 6, 2018 Stephen P. - ![What Is Committee-Based Evaluation, and How Will It Affect My College Application?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BCBE-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [What Is Committee-Based Evaluation, and How Will It Affect My College Application?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/what-is-committee-based-evaluation/) Committee-Based Evaluation (CBE) is a new admissions method gaining steam at universities across the US. October 16, 2018 Stephen P. - ![How to Build a Great Extracurricular Activities List](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BExtracurriculuar-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [How to Build a Great Extracurricular Activities List](https://eliteprep.com/blog/how-to-build-a-great-extracurriculuar-activities-list/) One of the primary ways candidates stand out among an elite pack is through their extracurricular activities lists. October 1, 2018 Stephen P. - ![Is the PSAT easier than the SAT? How does it compare?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BPSAT%2B%26%2BSAT-webp-w400.webp) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) [PSAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/psat/) ### [Is the PSAT Easier Than the SAT? How Does It Compare?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/psat-easier-than-the-sat/) 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… September 19, 2018 Stephen P. - ![The Do's and Don'ts of Emailing College Admissions Counselors and Professors](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BEmail-webp-w400.webp) [Writing](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/writing/) ### [The Do’s and Don’ts of Emailing College Admissions Officers and Professors](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2018/4/17/emailing-college-admissions-officials/) As communication technologies change, so too does digital etiquette. There are ever-evolving, unspoken rules, for instance… April 17, 2018 Stephen P. - ![Title card reading "The Problem and Appeal of the Slippery Slope" over a green-tinted photo of a neoclassical columned memorial building.](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BSlippery%2BSlope-webp-w400.webp) [Writing](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/writing/) ### [The Problem and Appeal of the Slippery Slope](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2018/3/26/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… March 29, 2018 Stephen P. - ![Students at a table under an orange wash, with text: "Can I use "I" and "me" in an academic essay?"](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BI%2Band%2BMe-webp-w400.webp) [Writing](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/writing/) [Grammar](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/grammar/) ### [Can I Use “I” and “Me” in an Academic Essay?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2018/3/12/i-and-me-in-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… March 12, 2018 Stephen P. - ![5 Things to Do if You’ve Got a Low GPA](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2B5%2Bthings-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [5 Things to Do if You've Got a Low GPA](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/11/21/what-if-ive-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. November 21, 2017 Stephen P. - ![The Past Subjunctive and Standard Written English](https://media.eliteprep.com/The%2BPast%2BSubjunctive-webp-w400.webp) [Grammar](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/grammar/) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) ### [The Past Subjunctive and Standard Written English](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/10/23/recommendation-letters-what-they-are-and-how-to-get-great-ones-xpzba/) The past subjunctive is a grammatical mood in English used to describe situations that are contrary to fact… November 7, 2017 Stephen P. - ![Recommendation Letters: What They Are and How to Get Great Ones](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BRecommendation%2BLetters-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [Recommendation Letters: What They Are and How to Get Great Ones](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/10/23/recommendation-letters-what-they-are-and-how-to-get-great-ones/) October 23, 2017 Stephen P. - ![Understanding Arguments: On Counterarguments, Concessions and Rebuttals](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BArguments-webp-w400.webp) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) ### [Understanding Arguments: On Counterarguments, Concessions and Rebuttals](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/10/10/understanding-arguments-on-counterarguments-concessions-and-rebuttals/) October 10, 2017 Stephen P. - ![What's the Deal with Dashes?](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BDashes-webp-w400.webp) [Grammar](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/grammar/) ### [What’s the Deal with Dashes?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/9/25/whats-the-deal-with-dashes/) September 25, 2017 Stephen P. - ![Mentally Preparing for Your Test Prep Summer](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite%2BBlog%2BImage%2BTest%2BPrep%2BSummer-webp-w400.webp) [Test Prep](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/test-prep/) ### [Mentally Preparing for Your Test-Prep Summer](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/6/20/mentally-preparing-for-your-test-prep-summer/) June 20, 2017 Stephen P. - ![Why you should start your college admission essays this summer](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-33-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [Why You Should Start Your College Admission Essays this Summer](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/5/30/why-you-should-start-your-personal-statement-and-college-essays-in-the-summer/) May 30, 2017 Stephen P. - ![What Is a Run-On Sentence?](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-107-webp-w400.webp) [Grammar](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/grammar/) [Test Prep](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/test-prep/) ### [What Is a Run-On Sentence?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/5/19/what-is-a-run-on-sentence/) May 19, 2017 Stephen P. - ![Bright empty classroom with a long wooden table, white chairs, and a wall-mounted flat-screen TV.](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-8-webp-w400.webp) [Test Prep](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/test-prep/) ### [Sleep and Nutrition: What Your Brain Needs to Ace the SAT and ACT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/5/1/sleep-and-eat-what-your-brain-needs-to-ace-the-sat-and-act/) May 1, 2017 Stephen P. - ![The Science of Cramming, or How to Prepare for Standardized Tests](https://media.eliteprep.com/how-to-prepare-for-standardized%2Btests-webp-w400.webp) [Study Tips](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/study-tips/) ### [The Science of Cramming, or How to Prepare for Standardized Tests](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/2/25/the-science-of-cramming-or-how-to-prepare-for-standardized-tests/) February 25, 2017 Stephen P. - ![Autumn campus walkway past brick buildings with the title "How (Not) to Choose a College"](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-169-webp-w400.webp) [Colleges & Universities](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/colleges-universities/) ### [How (Not) to Choose a College](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/2/10/how-not-to-choose-a-college/) February 10, 2017 Stephen P. - ![One Habit That Will Help You Raise Your SAT Reading and Writing Scores](https://media.eliteprep.com/Elite-Blog-Jan-28-webp-w400.webp) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) ### [One Habit That Will Help You Raise Your SAT Reading & Writing Scores](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/1/28/one-habit-to-help-you-raise-your-sat-reading-writing-scores/) January 28, 2017 Stephen P. - ![Does High School Prepare Students for the SAT?](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-79-webp-w400.webp) [SAT](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/sat/) ### [Does High School Prepare Students for the SAT?](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2017/1/3/does-high-school-prepare-students-for-the-sat/) January 3, 2017 Stephen P. - ![A young woman sits alone on a rooftop edge, looking out over a hazy city skyline at dusk.](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-188-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [Writing About a Real-Life Event in Your College Essay](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2016/12/1/writing-about-a-real-life-event-in-your-college-essay/) December 1, 2016 Stephen P. - ![Overhead view of a dense crowd of graduates in black gowns with gold and orange hoods at a commencement ceremony](https://media.eliteprep.com/image-asset-46-webp-w400.webp) [College Admissions](https://eliteprep.com/blog/category/college-admissions/) ### [When It Comes to Colleges, the Biggest Name Doesn't Always Mean the Best Fit](https://eliteprep.com/blog/2016/10/5/the-biggest-name-doesnt-always-mean-the-best-fit/) October 5, 2016 Stephen P.