College Essay Workshop, Grade 12
Understand what colleges are looking for and brainstorm, write, and polish essays that make you confident to hit “Submit!”
8 class sessions over 4 weeks, 1.5 hours per class (12 hours of instruction)
July 8 - July 31
Tuesdays/Thursdays, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. PST
Course Description:
Everyone knows that applying to college can be a stressful experience, but many of us miss that it can also be empowering, edifying, and even fun. In this course, students will learn about the role and types of college essays and make a game plan for “apps-season” success. Students will be challenged to take a deep dive into their personal experiences through brainstorming and mining activities, where they generate ideas, identify elements like insight, detail, and stakes that will help their writing “sing” on the page and stand out for admissions readers. By the end of the workshop, students will have solid outlines and drafts to head into senior year.
Instructor Biography:
Michelle Reigstad has taught at Glendora High School in the San Gabriel Valley for 25 years. She teaches AP Research, AP English Language, and ELD, and loves working with students to enjoy and maximize their writing process. Michelle holds a BA in English from UCLA and a Master of Education in teaching English to speakers of other languages from Concordia, Portland. She became a UCI Writing Project fellow in 2023, and is the founder of College Essay Sidekick, an essay coaching service.
Everyone knows that applying to college can be a stressful experience, but many of us miss that it can also be empowering, edifying, and even fun. In this course, students will learn about the role and types of college essays and make a game plan for “apps-season” success. Students will be challenged to take a deep dive into their personal experiences through brainstorming and mining activities, where they generate ideas, identify elements like insight, detail, and stakes that will help their writing “sing” on the page and stand out for admissions readers. By the end of the workshop, students will have solid outlines and drafts to head into senior year.
Instructor Biography:
Michelle Reigstad has taught at Glendora High School in the San Gabriel Valley for 25 years. She teaches AP Research, AP English Language, and ELD, and loves working with students to enjoy and maximize their writing process. Michelle holds a BA in English from UCLA and a Master of Education in teaching English to speakers of other languages from Concordia, Portland. She became a UCI Writing Project fellow in 2023, and is the founder of College Essay Sidekick, an essay coaching service.