Writing College Admissions Essays

Service Description

Writing college admissions essays can feel intimidating, overwhelming and exhausting (not to mention fraught with stress, pressure, confusion, and a lot of starts/stops and sighs). What are admissions committees REALLY looking for, students ask? What does a successful college admissions essay ACTUALLY include, that isn't already in your transcripts or on your list of accomplishments? And how, finally, do you distinguish yourself on the page, among thousands of other competitive applications? In my work as an instructor in the English Department at the University of Michigan, I know the very real struggle - and the very real power and opportunity - of bringing oneself authentically to the page, harnessing language that captures and sustains the attention of our readers (in this case, admissions committees). In short, I believe that our experiences and stories matter, and that the words we use to tell those stories have the power to open otherwise closed doors; to make the difference between crossing that particular threshold, or not. My work with young writers in the college admissions essay-writing process entails guiding students towards the prompts that will offer them the greatest opportunities to stand out, and then helping them craft their ideas, and THEMSELVES, onto the page in unique, distinguishable, honest, and - I hope! - enjoyable ways. This 4-session class will explore several of the prompts from the Common App, with the understanding that the process for writing successful college application essays remains quite similar for any college essay promps students may be asked to respond to. Each 1 hour and 15 minute session will include: 1) The discussion of a previously assigned short reading (nothing bland, text-booky or dry, I promise; our goal here is practice with REAL, well-crafted, authentic voices). These readings will help students approach their essays with fresh perspectives and confidence. 2) In-class guided brainstorming and writing. 3) An opportunity to ask questions about their ideas, concerns, struggles, or anything that may be lingering in their minds about college writing. Our 4th and final session will involve workshopping a complete essay prompt in small groups, ensuring that students leave the course with a complete essay as well as ideas for revision. Additionally, for students who wish to receive tailored feedback from me after they've completed the course, I offer a limited number of individual sessions.