AboutKeith Berman Expertise I can answer questions regarding any part of the college and graduate school application process, such as:
1.) What are colleges looking for in an essay? If I wrote on [a given topic], would that help or hurt me?
2.) Should I include a portfolio of music in an application? How should I do it?
3.) Does applying for financial aid affect my chances of admission?
4.) Should I get a recommendation from a sophomore year teacher as opposed to a junior year teacher? Why?
5.) How much does the SAT/ACT matter in the admissions process at [a given school]?
6.) What are my chances at [a given school]?
Experience 2005 - Present, President, Options for College, Inc. (www.optionsforcollege.com), New York, NY
- Have worked with approximately 500 families and students on the college and graduate school admissions process
- Have trained over 200 guidance counselors in NY, California, and India
- Quoted in US News and World Report's America's Best Colleges: 2009, Boston Magazine, Boston Globe, Yale Daily News, Harvard Crimson, Columbia Spectator, and others
- Have published various articles on topics related to college admissions
2004-5, Interviewer, Harvard Undergraduate Admissions Office
2001-3, New York City Teaching Fellow
2001, American Institutes for Research
- worked on issues related to developing the Voluntary National Test
2000, Interviewer, Yale Undergraduate Admissions Office
Organizations AICEP, NACAC, IECA
Publications Publication list available upon request. Most common sources are US Department of Education and Education Update.
Education/Credentials 2007 - Present, Certified Educational Planner, AICEP
2006 - Present, NACAC, Voting Member
2006 - Present, IECA, Voting Member
2006, C.A.S., Harvard Graduate School of Education
2005, Ed.M., Harvard Graduate School of Education
2003, M.S.Ed., Bank Street College of
2000, B.A., Yale University
Awards and Honors Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Grant (2006-7)
Received award/stipend for project entitled An Experimental Intervention: Assessing the Value of Personalized College Counseling for Low Income, High Merit Students. Award covers tuition. Project also received Mellon Foundation support.
Roy E. Larsen Award (2003-2004)
Received award that provides full tuition and fees plus a stipend to first-year doctoral students at Harvard Graduate School of Education in the field of research. Also received identical HGSE grant of same amount for the 2004-2005 school year.
New York City Teaching Fellowship (June 2001 - May 2003)
Selected participant in alternative certification and teacher recruitment program. Awarded $3,000 stipend and full tuition for an M.S.Ed. at Bank Street College of Education.
AmeriCorps (2002 and 2003)
Received two annual $4,725 educational awards for completing national service in education.
Past/Present Clients Yeshiva University HS for Boys, Rudolf Steiner School, Christian Unified Schools of San Diego, Merrill Lynch, NYU Family Life Center, Princeton Review ACS - India
Question Hello,
I am applying to the University of Texas in Austin as a transfer student with a 4.0 GPA from community college.
One of the topics for the admissions essay is : "Choose an issue of importance to you – the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope – and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation."
I am from Israel and I was thinking about writing about the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Do you think this is a good choice? Some people have told me that I should stay away from writing about such political topics.
Am i better off writing about a different topic?
Thanks
Answer Dear Shane,
First, many congratulations on your 4.0 from your CC. That is a huge achievement, and it sounds like UT will be lucky to have you next fall if that is any indication.
Shane, the topic you propose is absolutely fine in your case, especially if you served in the Israeli army -- a discussion of creating peace in the Middle East in the context of your military service and personal/family/social connections would be completely appropriate, and probably advisable if you want to study something in that arena. Considering you are Israeli, you can surely share insights on your particular connection to the Arab-Israeli conflict that few could, from attending shooting ranges and learning krav maga to how you continued friendships with Arabs despite being trained in a national army.
The trick is not to be general in your discussion. Focus on your role, one or two experiences that you had, at the center of the essay. Do not try to propose solutions; instead share insights that might help someone understand your perspective on the conflict, something that expands a readers understanding of what the conflict looks like to one Israeli.
Far too often, students will write essays with truisms like 'the great conflicts in the world are caused by poor communication; if people thought of diplomacy first and war second, we'd live in a more peaceful world.' Statements like these are of course impossible to prove, are overgeneralized, show a personal detachment towards the issue and poor analytical skills. In your case, you can say much more. Make sure to be descriptive, and re-create conversations you had, real interactions that shape your personal perspective -- stay away from the more historical issues except as context (you only have about 500-750 words!).
You asked a great question that I think a lot of others can benefit from your asking it. Typically, choosing the 'political topic' essay is not advisable (for example, on the Common Application), unless you have a personal experience that relates to the larger issue.
I wish you the best of luck with your UT application. Again, congratulations on your successful community college performance -- this speaks very highly to the type of maturity you bring to a classroom.
