Description of the Curriculum

"Ack!  Writer’s block!  Help!” Yes, writing the required essay(s) is easily the most daunting part of the college application.  But, never fear!  Our talented college admission counselors will take you through each phase of writing your stupendous essay in a way that will calm your fears, guide you step-by-step through the process of brainstorming, topic choice, rough draft, and polished essay with expert advice developed over years of reading applicants’ essays, and reward you with an enviable result to submit with your application.

This is a four-part course conducted over four weeks.  You receive an assignment, then submit your answers by email. Within 24 - 48 hours, the admissions counselor gives you feedback, suggestions, and pointers on the assignment.  Each week between new assignments, the student and counselor work together through a private chat room to achieve the best result in setting up the next assignment.  If you end up with a thorough inventory, your topic choice will be easier; if you do a good outline, the rough draft will flow, etc.

The four assignments are, briefly, as follows.  You will receive a more detailed explanation, and instructions for submitting your "homework,” after you sign up for the course.

Week One:  Writing a Personal Inventory.  Examine your attributes, activities, family circumstances, community, school, interests, likes and dislikes to come up with the best examples of what you want the admissions committee to know.  This is very difficult because it is hard to know what is truly interesting about ourselves.   Experiment, stand outside yourself to gain some insight into what is important to you.

Week Two:  Brainstorming and Choosing the Topic.  Analyze each topic for its fit with what you’ve listed in week one.  Write a rough paragraph based on what you think you want to write about for at least two of the topics.  Brainstorm some more and flesh out your paragraphs a little.

Week Three:  Writing the Rough Draft.  After you have completed week two, you’ll have a better feel for which idea will make the best essay.  This section will include many pointers about writing the essay, from tone and flow, grammar and structure, to the admissions evaluator’s reaction to its value as a good admissions essay.

Week Four:  Polishing the Final Essay.  Write the final draft for review and suggestions by the counselor.

How It Works