Common Application Essay Workshop

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The Common Application is OPEN! Now is the perfect time for high school seniors to begin working on their college applications. One of the first steps of the application process is the all-important Common Application Essay. This essay will be sent to all Common Application schools that a student elects to apply to and serves as the backbone of a student’s application. In an increasingly competitive environment, schools are placing a greater emphasis on essays in order to make fine-line distinctions between applicants.

Patrick Craig Academy is excited to partner with Natalie Jordan of College10. She is a certified college counselor who works with students throughout the application process, specializing in essays. After holding four successful Common Application Essay Workshops last year, together, we are offering a Late June Essay Workshop for rising seniors. The goals of the workshops are to introduce students to the fundamentals of an engaging and effective essay, provide space for students to focus on drafting with the assistance of Natalie and our staff, and provide individualized brainstorming/editing help. The objective is for students to finish the workshop with an essay that is not only ready for the common application but also is something that the student feels best represents them - we want each student to love their essay!

Late June Essay Workshop

June 19th-21st from 9:30AM-11:30AM (LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE)

  • The cost for the 3 session workshop is $375.

    Students need to attend all three sessions.

  • Each workshop begins with a comprehensive introduction to the Common Application essay, including how colleges evaluate essays, the hallmarks of a successful essay, and guidelines for effective drafting.

    Students will work with Natalie and our staff to brainstorm ideas for the essay, identifying a topic that will best showcase a student’s story and writing ability.

    Students will have dedicated time and space to work on drafting their essay. Writer's block? We will be there to help encourage and advise students regarding their progress.

    Students will receive editing assistance with respect to content, delivery, and grammar.

    Students who work hard and take advantage of their time and resources should expect to have a completed draft by the end of the workshop.

  • Laptops charged. We have plenty of outlets at the tables so feel free to bring your charger just in case.

    • The Common Application (or “Common App”) is the medium through which students can apply to over 970 colleges. While each school has its own application within the Common App, the Common App essay is a 650-word essay that will be sent to all schools that a student applies to through this format. Because of this, it is important that this essay showcase a student in their best light.

    • Supplemental essays are additional essays required by individual schools. Examples include the University of Vermont’s “Which Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavor (real or imagined) best describes you,” or the University of Chicago’s “What’s so easy about pie?”

    • Students will be given an introduction to what supplementary essays are and how they play into the common application as a whole; however, the focus of this application is the Common App essay. If a student requests advice on supplementals, we will be happy to help!

    • Yes. The goal is for students to take advantage of the time to independently draft and receive guidance from Natalie and our staff, leaving with a finished product.

  • No. We actually don't recommend for students to even THINK about the prompts when brainstorming! We find that this forces students to try to fit their essays within a "box," rather than expanding our possibilities and then finding the box that it'll best live in!

  • “Natalie was a huge help with the college application process. We could not have done it without her assistance. She is knowledgeable with respect to deadlines, scholarships, and essay writing. She also happens to communicate and work well with high school age students!”

    — Parent of a Class of 2022 Senior