College Admissions Essays: HELP!

Service Description

The thought of writing a college-level essay can feel intimidating, overwhelming and exhausting. After all, you’ve spent years learning how to craft reports, arguments and reflections, and now perhaps you’re wondering, "How can I write an essay that really represents who I am, and all of the work that I've done so far to further my dreams? What is an admissions committee really looking for? How do I make my essay stand out, rather than sounding generic? Writing is so hard!" In my work as an instructor in the English Department at the University of Michigan, as well as a published nonfiction writer, I have come to believe that an authentic voice and a genuine desire for discovery are the true keys to successful essays (in college, and well beyond). This 3-session class will empower you the information needed to craft unique, authentic and attention-grabbing college admissions essays. All forthcoming High School Juniors and Seniors with a desire to strengthen their voices, speak truthfully to their experiences or learn to better engage a reader’s attention are welcome! Finally, this class is designed help you feel greater confidence in your writing, and its ability to help you open doors towards the future you want. Here is a brief overview of the course: Class 1: We will explore the fundamentals of college writing, how to select which questions/topics to write about, and how to create a first draft so that the writing process feels liberating, empowering and truthful (and not agonizing and terribly boring). You’ll learn what your professors may be looking for in your work, and how you can confidently dive into college admissions essays while strengthening your unique presence on the page. Class 2: We will discuss handout readings together, as well as do some in-class writing. The goal is to help you discover your ‘authentic voice’ (you’ll learn what this means, and how important it is!), and how to avoid some of the pitfalls I often see students make when writing personal essays. Class 3: Informal workshopping! This is something my University of Michigan students always tell me is one of their favorite parts of our class. During workshops you’ll learn how to give thoughtful feedback as you identify your own strengths and gifts (I promise, every writer has them), how to edit your essays with confidence and presence, and how to bring the strongest version of your voice, character and experiences to life on the page.

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