College Essay Workshop, Grades 10-12
8 class sessions, 1.5 hours per class (12 hours of instruction)
October 15 - December 10
October 15, 22, 29; November 5, 12, 19; December 3, 10
Tuesdays, 4:30-6:00 p.m. PST
No class during Thanksgiving week
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 engage in brainstorming and mining activities to generate ideas they’re actually excited to write about, and 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 that will give them the confidence they need to hit “Submit.”
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 engage in brainstorming and mining activities to generate ideas they’re actually excited to write about, and 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 that will give them the confidence they need to hit “Submit.”
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.