The college essay can be daunting in both its open-endedness and importance. The prompts ask students to do a kind of self-reflective narrative writing that many haven’t had much experience with, and, because the task often feels so high-stakes, it’s often difficult to know where to begin. How can students balance the seemingly impossible demands of this task with the imperative to stay true to themselves and write with authenticity? In an age of AI and Chat-GPT, it’s essential that the student’s voice remains at the heart of the essay. This intensive college essay boot camp is designed to bring students from blank page to completed draft over the course of four two-hour meetings.

On Monday, we’ll read through the Common App prompts, talk about the college essay’s audience and purpose, discuss best practices, and debunk some of the myths students may have heard about what they “should” an “should not” write.

Tuesday is all about drafting. Students will respond to prompts, answer unexpected (and sometimes seemingly unrelated) questions, and work on generating a variety of attempts from which to work and refine

On Wednesday, students will begin to think about shaping and revising. What images, moments, and language stands out? How can these pieces be organized and ordered to make the most of the essay?

On Thursday, students will workshop a complete draft & polish mode: students will review their work in one-on-one meetings with Amanda and we’ll get into the fine-tuning of grammar, syntax, and mechanics to make the finished piece illustrate the thoughtfulness and care they’ve put into their writing.

In addition, each student will schedule a 30-minute Zoom meeting with Amanda within a week of the final class meeting to review final questions and edits to ensure the essay is 100% ready to go!

Where:

Westport Writers’ Workshop

5 Sylvan Rd. Suite J

Westport, CT