Life Skills: College 101 - Write a Winning College Essay Camp
In this course, scholars will learn effective writing strategies for composing a compelling college essay that gets them admitted. I'm a highly successful college coach who has a 100% overall acceptance rate & 97% admit rate to top schools.
Demeka Mays, M.Ed.
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(12)
What's included
4 live meetings
3 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
COURSE OVERVIEW The purpose of this course is for scholars to learn effective strategies for writing a compelling college essay that will optimize their success in getting admitted to their top-choice colleges. This course is recommended for rising juniors and seniors. Please see related college admissions course links at the bottom of the course description for more topics. In this course, scholars will learn and apply effective writing strategies to compose a compelling essay in response to ONE, student-selected Common App essay prompt. Through lectures, discussion activities, and independent exercises, scholars will develop an understanding of how to analyze a prompt and brainstorm, organize, and write an essay using one of two narrative approaches: traditional and creative. Scholars will receive real-time coaching and feedback during class in whole group or small group breakout sessions. By the end of the class, scholars will have a complete draft of their Common App/College essay but WILL NOT have a draft of their Main Common App/College Application sections. If your scholar is interested in the Common App/College Application course or other related college admissions courses, please see the end of this description for links to register for these classes. COURSE FORMAT 1. Deliver an overview and use an exemplar to model the expectations on the topic. 2. Provide guidance and support for independent work on the topic during the class meeting. 3. Facilitate whole and/or small-group share, Q&A, and feedback on the topic during the class meeting. 4. Communicate the next steps (e.g., homework, a continued plan of action) that the scholar should follow after the class meeting. 5. Post discussion questions and afford scholars the opportunity to post questions to the classroom stream and to submit anonymous excerpts from their own writing via email for teacher/peer feedback. COURSE SCHEDULE This course meets once weekly for four weeks. Sometimes the teacher offers sections that meet for multiple days per week 😊. Please check the schedule to ensure that you are registering for the correct section - once weekly or multiple days in one week. Class 1: Select/Analyze Essay Prompt; Learn Essay Structures; Brainstorm Ideas Class 2: Outline Essay Class 3: Draft Essay Class 4: RAMP Essay Revision Exercise NOTE 1: **COMMON APP PROMPT SELECTION** The teacher will model with one prompt, but scholars may write an essay in response to the Common App prompt of their choosing. Scholars can review the current prompts at the following link: https://www.commonapp.org/apply/essay-prompts. This class does not cover the Common App's "Application" sections. Please see the end of this description for a link to the Common App/College Application Camp. NOTE 2: Can scholars who may not complete and submit college applications via the Common App take this course? Yes. In my experience, scholars often use their Common App essay to satisfy at least one essay requirement for the Coalition App, Common Black Application, Universal College Application, individual school application, and/or scholarship applications. NOTE 3: This course is for high school seniors. Scholars in grade 11 may take the course to gain practice in applying effective strategies to respond to a college essay prompt, but keep in mind that these scholars may struggle to fully develop their response because they may lack significant high school experiences. Scholars outside of the listed age range/grade levels will be withdrawn and refunded. Please understand that the class materials, content, and/or feedback are developmentally appropriate for the specified age group and are not suitable for younger scholars. While I provide the highest-quality macro guidance to scholars, please note that my guidance is strictly advisory, and I do not guarantee outcomes. Please request a 1:1 private tutorial/coaching session for micro-level support. NOTE 4: It is highly recommended that scholars have a basic understanding of college admissions, conduct their college search, and create their best-fit college list prior to this course. If your scholar is interested in related courses, please see the end of this description for links to register for these classes. NOTE 5: For editing and feedback services, please register for one or more private sessions here: https://outschool.com/classes/life-skills-one-to-one-college-coaching-how-2-succeed-in-your-aim2getadmitted-pojxY5Lf#us7XqOxsXv. OTHER RELATED COURSE OFFERINGS FOR GRADE 12 (AGES 16-18) (COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS) For my one-time College Admissions 101: How to Write a Great Continued Interest Letter (one-time), please register at https://outschool.com/classes/college-admissions-101-how-to-write-a-great-continued-interest-letter-nZxOwrmb?sectionUid=39c2c0e9-c978-4326-9510-2f08720f2004&showDetails=true. For my one-time College Admissions 101: How to Write a Financial Aid Appeal Letter (one-time), please register at https://outschool.com/classes/life-skills-college-admissions-101-how-to-write-a-financial-aid-appeal-letter-VNDNrRTf?sectionUid=819cea70-72fc-4f25-9769-629324f645bf&showDetails=true. For my ongoing College Planning 101: How to Create a 4-Year College Success Plan class (Grade 12), please register at https://outschool.com/classes/college-planning-101-how-to-create-a-4-year-college-success-plan-p7Ay7yi4?sectionUid=0cb21bf0-d4df-4dcb-93af-f909caf761e2&showDetails=true. For my ongoing College Planning 101: How to Prepare for Your College Dorm Like a Boss class (Grade 12), please register at https://outschool.com/classes/college-planning-101-how-to-plan-and-pack-for-your-college-dorm-like-a-boss-hG00afSc?sectionUid=ec9766db-7c54-448c-b3fa-2d1b29408333&showDetails=true. FOR GRADES 11-12 (AGES 15-18) For my multi-day Common App and College Application short course, please register at https://outschool.com/classes/life-skills-college-camp-how-to-write-a-winning-common-appcollege-application-FP8a3n9L?sectionUid=53c37543-0666-4e0a-9c28-6bb25f079c6b&showDetails=true For my multi-day College Essay short course, please register at https://outschool.com/classes/essay-writing-camp-how-to-write-a-winning-common-appcollege-essay-ykB8qepc?sectionUid=fdc394dd-8171-4a50-9c80-06a3fe4eade8&showDetails=true. For my multi-day Step-by-Step College Admissions semester course, please register at https://outschool.com/classes/life-skills-step-by-step-college-admissions-course-wClJ8DLz#us7XqOxsXv. FOR GRADES 8-12 (AGES 13-18) For my multi-day College Admissions 101: Deep Dive Information Sessions short course, please register at https://outschool.com/classes/college-admissions-101-deep-dive-information-sessions-tSOCybZN?sectionUid=1a9ec2fe-4141-4fc8-9954-4ba416af61f8&showDetails=true. For my College Search and Best-Fit College List short course, please register at https://outschool.com/classes/college-search-and-best-fit-college-list-VNgyrGFd?sectionUid=ce6eceb4-e77d-4d97-b165-641ce6aba925&showDetails=true. For my one-time Scholarships 101: How to Search and Apply for Scholarships course, please register at https://outschool.com/classes/life-skills-scholarships-101-how-to-search-and-apply-for-scholarships-V86UaFHP?sectionUid=693b04db-bde0-42bb-b692-9bfbf59247c5&showDetails=true. For my one-time Life Skills: One-To-One College Coaching-How 2 Succeed in Your Aim2GetAdmitted course, please register at https://outschool.com/classes/life-skills-one-to-one-college-coaching-how-2-succeed-in-your-aim2getadmitted-pojxY5Lf#us7XqOxsXv. FOR GRADES 8-11 (AGES 13-18) Don't have the time for a multi-week class but still want a basic understanding of college admissions? Please register for my one-time College Admission 101: General Information Session course (one-time) at https://outschool.com/classes/college-admissions-101-general-information-session-cjXefeUo?sectionUid=fbb04b00-a1f0-4b9d-b25b-61baebd6b2cd&showDetails=true. For my ongoing College Planning 101: How to Create a 4-Year College-Prep Plan course (Homeschool/8-11), please register at https://outschool.com/classes/college-planning-101-how-to-create-a-4-year-college-prep-plan-Mck3ZjXI?sectionUid=83cf13b1-c674-451c-ace2-933cc7d95a7a&showDetails=true. For my ongoing College Planning 101: How to Create a 4-Year College-Prep Plan course (Grades 8-11), please register at https://outschool.com/classes/college-planning-101-how-to-create-a-4-year-college-prep-plan-lyFSZrLU?sectionUid=35978f76-085f-4357-83b9-bfee3f5f76c8&showDetails=true. OTHER COURSE OFFERINGS FOR GRADES 8-12 (AGES 13-18) For my multi-day Get Lit & Write Right! Scientific Research & Writing semester course, please register at https://outschool.com/classes/get-lit-and-write-right-scientific-research-and-writing-semester-course-YdW6kw2K#us7XqOxsXv. For my multi-day Music - Hip Hop Lit: Listen, Read, Write, & Speak About Hip Hop 70s-2020s semester course, please register at https://outschool.com/classes/music-hip-hop-lit-listen-read-write-and-speak-about-hip-hop-70s-2020s-BbPAjZ2y#us7XqOxsXv. For my multi-day Examining Racism, Injustice, and Black Lives Matter Through Poetry short course, please register at https://outschool.com/classes/examining-racism-injustice-and-black-lives-matter-through-poetry-IXC9OoI7#us7XqOxsXv. Get Lit! Success in Writing Informative/Explanatory Essays (High School, 8 Wks) In this 8-week course for high school learners, learners will use and employ RAP-for-Success and BWA Text Talk strategies to effectively write an informative/explanatory essay in response to a text about the Black experience in America. https://outschool.com/classes/get-lit-success-in-writing-informativeexplanatory-essays-1yTYIOd6#us7XqOxsXv Get Lit! Success in Writing Argumentative Essays (High School, 8 Wks) In this 8-week course for high school learners, learners will use and employ RAP-for-Success and BWA Text Talk strategies to effectively write an argumentative essay in response to a text about the Black experience in America. https://outschool.com/classes/get-lit-success-in-writing-argumentative-essays-5YjYp10r#us7XqOxsXv Get Lit! Success in Writing Narrative Essays (High School, 8 Weeks) In this 8-week course for high school learners, learners will use and employ RAP-for-Success and BWA Text Talk strategies to effectively write a narrative essay in response to a text about the Black experience in America. https://outschool.com/classes/get-lit-success-in-writing-narrative-essays-mFMxEHKg#us7XqOxsXv Get Lit & Write Right! Scientific Research & Writing Semester Course In this 8-week course, scholars will learn how to conduct literature reviews (essay writing about science texts), write a scientific report, create a science research poster, and learn citation methods (e.g., APA and MLA). https://outschool.com/classes/get-lit-and-write-right-scientific-research-and-writing-semester-course-YdW6kw2K#us7XqOxsXv
Learning Goals
Through lecture, discussion, and independent activities, scholars will
1. Analyze an essay prompt.
2. Brainstorm and outline an essay response to a prompt.
3. Write an essay using one of two narrative approaches: traditional and creative.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
My role is to provide personalized coaching and guidance to your scholar on his/her/their selected topic. My role does not involve making decisions for families, writing applications or essays, creating the 4-year plan or college list, completing FAFSA, or any other action that may be deemed unethical in practice and counterproductive to scholar taking ownership for his/her/their own college journey. While I guarantee to provide high-quality, individualized coaching and support, I do not make any guarantees that a scholar will excel at every high school endeavor, find big money scholarships, be eligible for scholarships, receive scholarships, or be admitted to his/her/their schools of choice, as a number of variables relative to intrinsic motivation or an applicant's qualitative and quantitative data inform high school and college success.
Supply List
Scholars will access course resources, ask questions, and post responses to discussion questions via Google Classroom. Students will use one or more of the following writing programs and applications to complete assignments: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .pages, .rtf, .txt, Google Docs, Google Slides, etc. The assignments may also be typed directly into the chat box option. It is not advised that students use the Common App prior to the application going live in August as student information does not always rollover from the draft app to the live Common App. Thus, students will draft their application using one of the following: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .pages, .rtf, .txt, Google Docs, Google Slides, etc.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined December, 2020
4.9
12reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
As an independent college counselor and education consultant for federal and state granted-funded programs, I have developed award-winning college and career readiness programs that have been scaled and replicated in several schools and districts. In these capacities, as well as my formed district and building roles, I have trained hundreds of teachers, leaders, and high school guidance counselors and helped thousands of students of varied socioeconomic and academic programs succeed in getting accepted into the colleges, universities, and post-secondary institutions of their choice. Ninety-five percent (95%) of Pinnacle Prep scholars get into one or more of their top three choices. I consider my own two children’s success my greatest college counseling accomplishments because both graduated valedictorian (two years apart), were accepted to Stanford, MIT, five-six Ivy League universities, and several Top 20 colleges, and earned $2.5 million in merit scholarships together.Reviews
Live Group Class
$160
for 4 classes1x per week, 4 weeks
50 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 15-18
4-16 learners per class
