The College Essay

Bernadette Bechta: Blackboard Basics

This time of year is sometimes called the college application season. Seniors are feverishly working on them while balancing difficult classes and showcasing their baseball skills. The college essay seems to be the stumbling block. When a senior sits down to write their essay, they stare at a blank screen or paper for a long time and just can’t seem to get started. This is understandable because the essay does have an impact on their acceptance or rejection. For some stellar students, a poorly written essay can raise doubts on your suitability despite good GPA and SAT/ACT scores. A borderline student can capitalize with an engaging essay that stands out and helps them avoid getting cut.

So, what is the purpose of the college essay?

The college essay must be authentic, engaging, and error-free. The application process includes your GPA, a measure of your high school performance. Next, the SAT/ACT examines your critical thinking skills and gives the college another indicator of your potential success in college. An Academic Resume allows you to summarize your extracurricular involvement, skills, hobbies, and goals. The Letters of Recommendations validate your academic performance in the classroom. Teachers will write about your potential and evaluate you in relation to other students they teach. The college essay, however, is your opportunity to give the Admissions Committee insight to your personality, your character, your own personal journey. It may take many forms. Finding the right topic is the first crucial step. Keep in mind that the essay should be “a slice of life” rather than a summary. Your resume is the summary; the essay is a close up of an activity, a relationship, a victory or a defeat. You want to stay away from the typical essay topics. That is, your homerun in a big game, the buzzer beater to win the championship, explanation for your bad grades, and essays about relationships with people that rarely mention you. Remember, the essay is supposed to make the reader want to meet you.

I remember attending a presentation for a top notch university and someone in the audience asked the Admissions Counselor about the best essay he read this year. He replied that the question was “Tell us about one of your collections.” A potential applicant replied that she had a collection of paperclips that she collected over her high school career that symbolized different accomplishments, obstacles. She had a color code for them. At the end of high school, she arranged them into a sculpture and that is what she wrote in her essay. I was stunned at first, but when the Counselor said she sent a photo of the collection and he couldn’t wait to meet her, it made sense. So that is the first goal. Your essay should be sincere and make the reader want to meet you. Let’s examine some other dos and don’ts.

1. Do pick a topic that shows your passion. You can write about baseball, football, your sister, your Eagle Scout Project, your summer internship, really anything, but it must be written to show passion and detail about some aspect of this activity.

2. Do include some specifics. One essay question that intrigued me was “Write about page 268 of your 500 page autobiography.” Perhaps there is a single incident that you could detail. Include some dialog. Describe the setting. Tell the impact the scenario had on you. This is the purpose of the essay question.

3. Do check your spelling and grammar. Several times. Also, have at least two people review your essay and critique it. Don’t be overly sensitive. It is an important part of the editing process.

4. Do watch your word count. Most essays need to be between 300 and 750 words. Each application tells you the limit. Adhere to this limit; otherwise, your essay will truncate when the school prints it out. Be mindful of this as you write. Get your ideas down the first time, and then consolidate your ideas and sentences into more concise sentences.

5. Don’t include all your extracurricular activities in your essay. Your resume and application detail those elements. Instead choose a single topic.

6. Don’t be too trivial. A little humor is fine, but don’t overdo it. Your topic can be light but be respectful of the purpose here.

7. Don’t include essays that reveal controversial topics like religion, politics, personal stands on war, abortion, etc. You could subconsciously alienate the reader.

8. Don’t write about your grandmother, grandfather, sister, brother, and not define what impact they had on you. Although the committee is glad to see your have had good relationships with your family, they want to know something about you.

9. Don’t be a braggart. Somehow find a way to incorporate your success into a meaningful story.

10. Don’t use too many commonly used words. There are some overused words you should avoid. These words include some of the following: amazing, awesome, bad, beautiful, big, good, great, happy, interesting, nice, quite, really, so, very, well.

As you write your college essay, try not to consider it a chore. It really is a blank canvas that you can create in any direction you choose. Just follow the do’s and don’ts and you will be proud of your finished product. Also, remember that an important essay like this can take several hours. Few people can write a polished essay the night before an application is due. Use the tools provided in Microsoft Word: word count, spelling and grammar checks, and the thesaurus, Good luck to you!



Bernadette Bechta serves as the main academic contact for all players and parents in Baseball Factory's Exclusive Program. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and advisor at the high school level, Bernadette will provide families with guidance on topics ranging from application essays to financial aid. In addition, Bernadette’s two sons have both gone through the Exclusive Program, so she knows the ins and outs of the process from a parent’s perspective.

How to Have a Productive Summer

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Are you having a productive summer? The months of June, July and August provide players with an abundance of time to work on many aspects of their game. Unfortunately, very few players take advantage of this extra free time and let their game suffer in different areas. If you have a game plan and set some goals for yourself, you can give yourself a lot of separation from other players.

So, what can you be doing today that will get you ahead of the pack tomorrow? Before I run down a possible “to do” list, I think it’s important to emphasize, above all else, balance in the summer schedule. Too much focus on one area can cause just as many problems as not putting in any effort at all.

The majority of the summer should be spent on, of course, improving your game. You should always strive to play at the highest level possible, while at the same time ensuring that you’ll get the necessary reps and exposure. On top of that, summer ball is a good time to try different things and get reps at new positions.

A lot of players make the mistake of concentrating too much on tournaments, camps and showcases, and forget about the endless process of conditioning and training. Getting plenty of reps on the field will allow you to stay fresh with your bat and glove, but unless you continue to put in time in the gym, you can easily get out of shape and suffer a setback or injury.

One of the most overlooked areas that recruits can work on is their academics. After all, who wants to think about books in the summer? While you don’t have to work through a summer school course, you can really help yourself by putting some time aside each week in preparation for the SATs or ACTs. Even if you’ve already taken the test once, you can put yourself in a better position by working to improve your scores by 100 points. The summer is also an excellent opportunity to work on upcoming admissions essays. Ideally, you should brainstorm for a creative essay, a “why you want to attend” essay and a “tell us about yourself” essay.

Finally, rising seniors should try to create a mock “college” schedule that they can follow to prepare for the life of a college student-athlete. Many players struggle at the college level not so much by the competition they face, but by the rigors of early classes and training in the morning. Time management can really make the difference between a starter, a bench player or a spectator, and the more practice you have at this, the more success you’ll have at the next level. While you know your schedule best, don’t be afraid to work with your parents and friends currently in college to develop an efficient schedule.

The key to having a productive summer and reaching any goals we set for ourselves is to have a game plan. By making yourself aware of what needs to be accomplished over, you can set reasonable benchmarks and improve your chances of getting the most out of your free time. If anything, game plans will ensure that, among the travel, tournaments and practices, you may be able to have some fun this summer!

Kelly Kulina is the Senior Vice President of College Recruiting at Baseball Factory. Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

Invest in the Tests

Bernadette Bechta: Blackboard Basics

In the spring, students feel the anxiety of testing. Some students are preparing for the Advanced Placement (AP) tests in various subjects while others are preparing to take the SATs/ACTs for the first time as a junior. The SAT Subject tests are also taken in the spring and are required at about 150 colleges around the country. What do all these tests mean for the prospective college applicant?

Let’s start with the AP test. If you are enrolled in an AP class, an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, or if you are taking a rigorous Honors class and study from an AP test book, you should consider taking the spring tests. A score of 4 or 5 at many schools could yield college credit. If you calculate the internal rate of return on this $75.00 investment (cost of the test), you could realize quite a return on this investment. Having a course or two “on the bench” as a reserve could help you as you meet graduation requirements with a busy baseball schedule. An individual course at college ranges from $1000 to $5000. That’s a good call for any high school student. If you are successful in these classes and perform well on the tests, this is a good indicator to a college that you are well trained and capable of college work.

I often receive questions from parents about the SAT vs. the ACT. Let’s compare them. The SAT test lasts approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes and includes an essay. The essay is scored by two or more readers who grade your essay from 2-12 with 12 being the highest score. Practice and preparation can help your score on the SAT test and random guessing will penalize you. The maximum score for the SAT is 2400 with a grade for Math, Critical Reading, and Writing and a separate score for the essay. The recommended strategy is to take the test two or three times. The College Board publishes a book, The Official SAT Study Guide for the New SAT, which has eight practice tests. It is a good study tool.

The ACT is well known in the Midwest and the South. It has sections in Math, Reading, English, Science Reasoning and an Optional Essay. The maximum score is 36 and the essay is scored on the same scale as the SAT from 2-12. The test lasts 3 hours without an essay and 3 hours 45 minutes including the essay. There is no penalty for random guessing. The ACT has traditionally been known as more content-oriented than the SAT. The questions are linked more to the high school curriculum than to critical thinking and problem solving. Check with your Guidance Office for preferences at individual schools.

Finally, if some of the selective colleges on your list require the SAT Subject tests, consider taking them in May/June as you finish a class. The test consists of three one-hour tests. These are content-based tests, designed to measure a student’s mastery of a specific subject. Test prep books and software programs can help with preparation. New research shows that these tests are a better indicator of academic success than the traditional SAT because they are directly related to curriculum.

As you can see, testing is an entire subject in itself. The expression "No Pain, No Gain" applies here as you prepare for all of these tests. Your time and effort could yield you great returns. The Dean of Admissions at Rollins College gave a candid response to the question, “How much do tests count?” He said, “At most institutions, standardized test scores count less than students think and more than colleges are willing to admit.” However, keep in mind that testing is only one part of the evaluation process. Your GPA, extracurricular activities, special talents, and service are also important. For more information, check out College Board or ACT.


Bernadette Bechta serves as the main academic contact for all players and parents in Baseball Factory's Exclusive Program. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and advisor at the high school level, Bernadette will provide families with guidance on topics ranging from application essays to financial aid. In addition, Bernadette’s two sons have both gone through the Exclusive Program so she knows the ins and outs of the process from a parent’s perspective.

The Right Place at the Right Time - Part 2

Kelly Kulina: Your Link to the Colleges

Before getting into this week’s topic, please take a minute to review last week’s entry regarding college camps and their role in the recruiting process. This week, I will be going over the role of college showcases and how you can maximize the benefit of attending one.

The showcase route, while obviously dealing in greater numbers of players and scouts, should no less receive the same type of “quality over quantity” consideration as college camps. For coaches, they are cost-effective and allow them to save money in their recruiting budget by seeing more players at one place. At the same time, they offer good opportunities for players to be seen by a larger number of coaches, compared to camps. However, players have a very limited number of swings, ground balls and playing time in general. With limited playing time comes more pressure to perform.

Too many times, players attend events where they are over matched and melt into the crowd. Another common mistake is that players attend so many events that by the time they make it to a worthwhile event, their feet are heavier, their bat is slower and their arm is fatigued! Some colleges will only have one chance to see you play, so you need to be ready and prepared every time you get in front of them. That being said, I would recommend getting some local showcase experience along the way to prepare for a pressure-filled environment.

We work with our Exclusive Players to plan out their showcase schedule in conjunction with all their planned activities. For instance, it makes no sense to attend a showcase immediately after a family vacation. If it’s been more than a week since you’ve picked up a bat, how can you expect to impress a college scout? You will do yourself a favor by passing on an opportunity rather than trying to labor through a workout. Not only could you reverse any momentum you’ve made in the process, but you also risk the chance of getting hurt.

Just like with individual camps, it’s also important to do some reconnaissance and figure out which schools are going to be represented at the showcase. Are these schools you are interested in attending, and can you play there? More importantly, are you going to be able to distinguish yourself among the other 199 players present? Every event features prospects that are fine players in their own right, but are unfortunately missed because they are not one of the better players at this event.

Some assumptions you CANNOT make when considering showcases:

-Every coach is going to be able to see me and I am going to get my fair share of exposure.
-Showcases are one in the same.
-The more showcases I attend, the better off I’ll be.
-I’m bound to get a phone call and a scholarship offer after this showcase.
-I’ll know exactly where I stand with the colleges who attend this event.
-All the colleges who attended in the past will be there.

The biggest mistake you can make is to write a check every time the mail comes in. With proper research and planning, you can maximize the amount and type of exposure you get with each of these events and create some serious momentum for yourself in the recruiting process. Showcases and college camps are important steps in the recruiting process, but there needs to be a game plan and strategy in place, so you don’t spin your wheels as you empty your pocket book. Doing everything is NOT the answer here. There is such a thing as the right place at the right time!


Kulina is a former Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator with the University of Maryland. As a former recruiting coordinator for ten years in the ACC, Kulina has vast contacts and is widely respected throughout the nation. From 1989 to 2000, Kulina coached 46 players who were selected in the MLB draft.

A Plan of Action – Part 1

Steve Bernhardt: Building the Better Ballplayer

Last week I wrote about the need for more practice time for young players trying to get better. If you are committed to that idea of true player development, then follow the steps I’ve outlined for you this week. There is no overnight fix, but dedication to this process will make you a better player for sure.

Step 1: Create an honest evaluation – This should include a self-evaluation as well as an objective evaluation from a baseball professional. In the self-evaluation phase, players must be honest with themselves. They know their own abilities and shortcomings well, but are often hesitant to admit any weakness. Without addressing these things they can’t formulate a truly helpful game plan. A professional scout is the best person to offer an objective evaluation of the player, but coaches and former players also have the ability to outline a player’s strengths and weaknesses. A player who wants to improve must be able to put away his ego and accept constructive criticism during the evaluation process. Moving forward he must be willing to work not just on accentuating strengths, but on attacking weaknesses as well. Knowing these strengths and weaknesses is the first step.

Step 2: Formulate long-term goals – Players need very specific future goals to work towards. These goals should be realistic and encompass the big picture. They must be more than game statistics; they must drive the player in all areas on and off the field. Once a player determines where he is now as a baseball player and where he realistically wants to be in the future, he is ready to move forward in the player development process.

Check back next week as I will touch on two more steps in the player development process: Developing a game plan and formulating short-term goals.

Bernhardt played for five years in the Colorado Rockies organization. As Executive VP of Baseball Operations at Baseball Factory, he oversees all events and instruction. Bernhardt currently serves as an Associate Scout with the Colorado Rockies. He received his B.S. from the University of Richmond where he was an All-Conference player.