**Thank you for visiting my class page. Unfortunately, I am at capacity for this application cycle and am unable to work with new learners at this time. Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your applications!

During this 75-minute small group workshop, you will complete all of the pre-writing activities necessary to write an outstanding personal statement. After the workshop, you can submit your first draft for personalized feedback.

This essay workshop is especially powerful when multiple learners join the session. Students have the benefit of seeing each other's ideas and giving feedback to one another. That said, sharing is never mandatory.

Workshop Hour 1
After a few strategic icebreakers, we'll start with FAQs and a discussion of the task (e.g., word count, common topics to avoid, what admissions officers are seeking). 

Next, we'll delve into a pre-writing exercise that may take you down memory lane. This activity will help you practice descriptive, sensory writing that will make your story pop off the page. 

After the exercise, you'll do a values scan and make some decisions about what matters most to you. This is important because your values will ultimately act as the "glue" of your essay and application as a whole. 

Finally, we'll end with a discussion of essay structure. I'll give you two to choose from -- the narrative and the montage -- and we'll break them down to their core elements. 

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Workshop Hour 2
We'll start the second hour with another set of strategic icebreakers, and then we'll get straight to outlining. 

First, we'll outline at least three narrative essays by focusing on challenges we've faced in our lives (challenges often make for great essay topics). 

Next, I'll help you make connections between your responses and show you how the exercise can be transformed into three separate, potential college essays. 

Afterward, we'll review montage structure and complete another exercise that explores your interests and experiences by theme rather than chronology. I'll ask you to brainstorm topics you know a lot about, or, if you know what you want to study in college and pursue as a career, the qualities of a great [career of your choice]. Then we'll make two lists of five linked items, and I'll show you how to turn those lists into unique essays. 

Finally, we'll end class by reading a sample narrative essay and a sample montage essay, dissecting their parts and highlighting the various techniques that make the essays successful. We'll wrap up with a discussion of the four elements of a dazzling college essay, and you'll be off to write your first draft from one of the five outlines you've prepared. 

After the workshop, once you've completed your first draft, I will be happy to give you comments! This initial feedback is included in the cost of the workshop. Should you require additional feedback, I would love to continue working with you. Please feel free to schedule a 1-to-1 session by registering for one of my individualized feedback classes.


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This is an introductory workshop; no prior experience or knowledge necessary. Students will have the opportunity to share some responses with the group using the chat feature. Sharing is entirely optional.