Need Help Writing That College Admissions Essay?

To the editor:

"Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?"

 If the thought of trying to answer this question in 650 words or less—in order to give college admissions committees insight into what makes you stand apart from a sea of thousands of applicants—makes your blood run cold, then welcome to the summer before your senior year.

The essay component of the college application process can often be a student’s biggest source of stress, because the nature of this type of writing is not one frequently emphasized in high school curriculums. Known by writing professionals as a type of creative nonfiction, the admissions or "personal essay," as it used to be called, is a unique genre that mixes elements of creative writing (like telling a story or developing a voice) with elements of the traditional academic essay (like persuading your reader to accept your argument). It is also a genre that requires a fair amount of self-reflection and understanding, as well as an ability to edit mercilessly to make every word count. Sound like fun?

It can be. Really. If you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of writing this essay, the talented consultants at "Write This Way" are here to help. This summer, they will be offering two four-day “Admissions Essay Boot Camps,” where you can work with a professional writing consultant to help hone your creative nonfiction skills. For two hours a night, four days a week, Sheryl Sawin, Ph.D., and Jamie Gizinski, M.A., will guide you through the process of selecting the perfect common application essay prompt to help you tell your story. By the end of the four-day workshop, you will have a completed draft of your essay, as well as the tools to revise and edit your work so you can complete your common application before the beginning of your senior year.

Both Sheryl and Jamie have years of experience as English professors, admissions committee members, and private writing tutors. They understand the range of issues rising seniors are confronted with as they travel the road to college admissions. While this road can seem like a long and frustrating one filled with resume building, standardized test-taking and the dreaded application essays, it can actually be an adventure and a time of self-exploration—if managed properly.

Write This Way’s admissions essay boot camp can help you develop your voice and your story to distinguish yourself through your writing. Most colleges and universities can’t and don’t offer evaluative interviews as part of the application process, so the essay has become, in many ways, the new interview. The Common Application Board of Directors recognized this, and the brand new essay prompts and word-length restrictions reflect two years of research on the importance of the essay in the application process. If written over the summer, with the guidance of seasoned educators who have proven techniques to strengthen your writing skills, this essay process will be a rewarding one.

If interested, go to writethiswaynj.wordpress.com for more information and to register for a workshop. You can also contact Write This Way at 856-912-6095. Workshops will be offered from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Aug. 12-15, and 7-9 p.m. August 26-29, at the Moorestown Library.

Space is limited, so early registration is recommended. 

Sheryl Sawin
Moorestown 

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