GET FIT FOR FALL:
THE ULTIMATE COLLEGE ESSAY BOOT CAMP

SESSION 1:

Starting to think about what question you will answer on the Common App as you ready yourself to apply to college? Does that task seem so daunting?

No worries. Come join Misstudy’s College Essay Boot Camp. In 6 two-hour sessions over a three-week period, you will have the opportunity to prepare 2 out of the 6 choices of essays on the Common Application. Does that seem like a daunting task? No worries! You will be able to brainstorm ideas with fellow students and the boot camp leaders. You will be counseled by college prep professionals who, along with fellow college students, help you produce two outstanding essays, corrected and ready to be downloaded to your application. All you need to bring with you is your laptop/iPad/paper and pen and a desire to create essays that reflect your best self as a candidate for college.

• Introduction of Misstudy and personnel

• Open up for discussion what students’ expectations are of the boot camp

• Misstudy: Objectives of the Boot Camp

• Exercise: Breakdown barriers; find commonalities; appreciate differences

1. Why: because each person will be both writer/reviewer; building supportive and
honest relationships

2. Introduce each other in pairs:

a. Personal backstory and family history and college

b. What is going to college means to me

c. One thing that someone would find surprising about me

3 Student Introductions

• Homework: Expand in writing the introduction of you! Email that introduction to Misstudy.

SESSION 2:

• Respond to Introductions by reading (without names) some of the things written by the students. Only positive things written. Discuss why we thought those things were positive with the students. To try to get them thinking about what is good communication words and thoughts.

• Break into groups (depending on size of participants will be size of groups)

1. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your
thinking? What was the outcome?

2. As a group, write this essay in 500 words.

• Homework: Now answer that question yourself using your own personal ideas in an essay of 500 words.

SESSION 3:

• Analysis of Group Essays:

  • Detailed exploration with Reviewer and student comments

• Open discussion about concerns about the essay part of the common app and the separate college application questions. Use those concerns in the next session.

SESSION 4:

• Read and discuss some of the personal essays written as homework (Pretend you are a college admission officer reading the essays. You will get someone’s essay with no name on it. Make constructive comments. Bring those back to the total group for discussion.)

• From those discussions, we would have made a list of composition, style, etc. issues to hand out in a worksheet for them to use as reference for their neck txt writing experience.

• Homework: Choose one of the remaining 6 questions from the common app and write a 500 word essay in response to the prompt.

SESSION 5:

• Individual meeting to review the writing assignment. Correct and review.

SESSION 6

• Final reviewed copy of 2nd question returned. Read to group.

• Review of what was learned in the boot camp.

Students will learn how to write a college application or scholarship essay that has a memorable impact on college admissions personnel. Students learn how to illustrate their greatest strengths through an interesting story, and they will finish the week with an essay.

Cindy Soloway, MA, MSSW, JD

As a former English teacher, federal grant writer and social worker, Cindy Soloway has spent her entire adult life working with high school and college-age students. Currently Cindy coaches students in resume writing at Florida International University (BBC campus) as well as at Misstudy with high school and college students’ in writing personal statements and application essays.

Yasiara Ortiz, BA and MIA from Columbia University

As an authority on top academia, Yasiara Ortiz developed Misstudy, a unique and patented insight into elite university admissions. Her process has been adopted by a global network of influential scholars and fortunate graduates. As a TED-Talk speaker, she also inspires many to drop their fears and begin working on their unique professional and personal mission.

Students will write a college essay and will need additional time outside of class to do so.

Students should have at least one university or college they want to attend and the writing prompt required for their college application.

Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.

2 hours per week in class, and an estimated 2 - 4 hours per week outside of class.