What are colleges really looking for from your Common Application personal essay? Dr. Suzanne Sink will share knowledge gained from her previous work as an admissions consultant for both colleges and students - both sides of the admissions process. The program will begin with a presentation on specific qualities that admissions officers look for in these essays, followed by the opportunity for students to begin outlining and drafting their own essays.

For college applicants and their parents.

The Common Application Early Decision deadline is on November 15. More information about Common Application deadlines is available on the Common Application website. 

Session 1 (You Are Here):

• Students (and parents too!) are invited to attend a brief presentation to learn about the Common App essay. This presentation will include a discussion of what college admissions' readers are looking for in an applicant's essay, how to select a prompt and highlight traits that align with common admissions' selection strategies, and how to avoid common pitfalls.
• Following the presentation and questions, students can stay for a prewriting workshop to generate and organize ideas for the essay with individualized discussions and an essay outline template. Students will leave with a prompt selected, specific topic for the essay, and an outline to organize the details for the introduction, body, and conclusion. 

Session 2:

• Students can return with a first draft of their essay, or for additional assistance with essay planning. In this workshop, students can work with peers to identify strengths and areas for improvement and receive individualized feedback from the facilitator. The session can be used to continue drafting and making revisions to the draft.

Session 3:

• Students can bring their essays for final review and proofreading before submission. This session will also assist students who may need to reduce the word count to meet the limit or expand the essay with additional details. Students can also get advice and strategize with the facilitator on writing supplemental essays for specific institutions.