College essays are increasingly being used both for admissions and scholarship consideration. Some schools are even dropping test score requirements in favor of an essay. These essays must embody the students' perspective and grow out of the students' work. My role is to help them select essays on which they would like to focus, and then brainstorm the general thrust. Once students complete a first draft, the rewrite process begins.
It will be important that I get to know the students so that I can help them inject their heart and soul into the essay. With that in mind, much of the first class will be spent in this "interview' process. I will find out what makes them tick. Then it is a matter of making sure that clockwork ends up on paper. Yes, the writing part is important. But colleges are looking for heart and soul.
Formulating the essay is BIG. The rewrite process is equally important. Thomas Wolfe -- of Look Homeward Angel fame -- once quipped that great novels aren't written... they are rewritten. Essays... same. I sent my youngest daughter's essay back for additional work ten times before it was finished. That essay earned her a free ride to a great school
There are four 50-minute classes in the "College Essay" series. Depending on the student's progress, we can begin a second essay once the first is mastered. The total cost is $300 for the series.