Story, Voice, and Strategy: A College Essay Workshop - Grades 9-12

Writing personal statements is a daunting challenge: part memoir, part self-marketing. But it is also a meaningful opportunity for self-discovery. In this workshop, we will demystify the myth of the “perfect essay” and excavate some of the powerful stories you already possess.

The workshop will explore these topics:

• The Admissions Lens: the purpose of the personal statement and how admissions officers read essays.
• The Landscape of Prompts: a guided tour through Common App prompts and a range of supplemental questions.
• The AI Frontier: navigating the ethical and practical use of AI in the college essay process.
• Avoiding Pitfalls: steering clear of topics and tones that fall flat.
• Identity and Inquiry: writing and visual art exercises designed to uncover core values, generate unexpected ideas, and explore what matters most.
• “Show and Tell” and the Hook: strategies for balancing vivid detail with meaningful reflection while drawing readers into your story.
• The Feedback Loop: learning how to filter outside opinions while keeping your own voice at the center of the essay.

This is a no-tech workshop. Please bring a pencil/pen and notebook.