Katie Malachuk (’91), a yoga teacher and writer, spoke to parents and students at the Oct. 20 PTSA meeting about her new book You’re Accepted: Lose the Stress. Discover Yourself. Get Into the College That’s Right for You.

Malachuk, who attended Northwestern and Harvard undergrad, Georgetown law school and Stanford business school, combined her knowledge of the admissions process with her understanding of yoga to write her book, which explains that applying to college is more a process of self-discovery than a game.

“The real game is to be able to keep it real,” Malachuk said. “Don’t think about who the school wants you to be, show them who you really are. That’s really what admissions officers want to see.”

In addition to teaching yoga in Manhattan, Malachuk works with business school applicants and works pro bono with high school students applying to colleges. On college applications, Malachuk explained that the essay is the most important aspect because it’s the only component that the applicant can completely control.

“The trick is being honest and reflective; the magic trick is avoiding the magic trick,” she said. “Don’t write the essay according to what you think the admissions officers want to read. Those are the most boring essays. Write about something you would enjoy writing about.”

But, Malachuk discourages parents from reading their child’s college essays. Rather, she encourages teachers and other adults not in the family to proofread the essay to guarantee there are no grammatical errors.

“This is the way the schools get to know who you are,” she said. “Parents may be offended or shocked by what their children are writing in the essays. Sometimes it’s better to avoid this conflict, especially when the essay could be the ticket to admission.”

Malachuk also advocated picking schools with the help of guidance counselors, who know more schools than those recognized by name.

“Guidance counselors can be very helpful because we only know about 50 schools and there are so many out there,” Malachuk said. “It’s a lot about your gut instinct and trusting your feelings about the school. If the school has what you like to do, it’s where you want to live and has what you want to study, apply there.”

Her book is in stores and available for purchase on amazon.com. Malachuk is writing a similar book, coming out over the summer for MBA applicants.