College Application Essay Writing: Mastering the Common App Personal Statement

This one-time workshop is geared toward helping students unlock the power of flash nonfiction to craft compelling and concise personal essays for the Common Application. 

This workshop is designed to equip high school students with the skills and techniques needed to write impactful essays that stand out to college admissions committees.

Class Focus:
In this workshop, we will explore the art of flash nonfiction—short, personal essays that capture significant moments or insights in a limited word count. Inspired by the Common App's 650-word limit and the practices of esteemed publications like Brevity, which caps nonfiction submissions at 750 words, students will learn to create essays that are both brief and powerful.

Why This Workshop?
Many high school English classes fall short in preparing students for the unique demands of college admissions essays. Despite writing personal essays in tenth and twelfth grades, students often lack sufficient practice in the narrative form required by the Common App. Furthermore, the absence of guidelines on essay length leaves students unprepared for the precision and intensity of flash nonfiction.

Workshop Content:
◈ Introduction to Flash Nonfiction:
◈ Understanding the form and its importance in the college admissions process.
◈Studying examples from masters like Judith Kitchen, Lia Purpura, and Ira Sukrungruang.

Techniques for Flash Nonfiction:
◈ Learning the principles of compression in pacing and meaning.
◈ Creating a compelling narrative that engages readers from the first sentence.

Writing and Revising:
◈ Hands-on exercises to start and refine personal essays.
◈ Peer and instructor feedback to polish your work.

Overcoming Common Challenges:
◈Strategies for self-reflection and finding your unique voice.
◈Tips for staying within the word limit while maintaining depth and authenticity.◈