• Essay Workshop In A Box Part 1: Brainstorming

    A unique approach to college essay brainstorming process.

  • Details

  • Have you considered offering essay writing workshops for your students as a group? Are you looking for engaging ways to help students write compelling essays for their college applications?  If so, this workshop has you covered!


    Essay Workshop in a Box is an approach you can use to help students kickstart the essay writing process through interactive brainstorming and quick write activities. I am sharing with you a workshop I've been offering to students for years. It is designed to help students brainstorm essay topics, communicate their stories, and showcase their strengths. It can be done with students individually, or in groups. It can be led online or in person.

    Student Experience

    Students regularly report experiencing less stress about the college essay process once they completed this writing process. Students benefit from experiencing this brainstorming process guided by you, their skilled college advisor. Students also enjoy doing this activity in a group. It contributes to their feeling of connection and eases the burden of facing the task of writing essays.

     
    Follow up:

    Wrap everything up with a 1:1 session with Cyndy McDonald after the session. 

  •  Workshop Meeting Time:   8:30 am - 11:30 pm Pacific time/11:30 pm - 2:30 pm Eastern time

    Registration Limit:  15 participants in each session

    Registration Fee:  $195.00 

    INCLUDES: Essay in a Box presentation, shared folder with resources and a 60 minute 1:1 consultation with Cyndy McDonald as a follow up.

  • Workshop Agenda

     

    Setting the Stage

    Success in the college essay process lies in laying a strong foundation. Explore tools to help students kickstart their brainstorming process. A presentation on the purpose of college essays helps them understand the role of storytelling in their applications.

    • Student Pre-Assignment: Student Activities List
    • Informational Presentation: Purpose for College Essays (see presentation in workshop resource folder)

    Finding Core Personal Stories

    Utilizing multiple writing exercises increases students' comfort with writing personal narratives. Students dig deeper to find their story through "The Your World of Experiences Graphic". It enables them to visually organize key life moments to highlight strengths and core stories. A guided discussion refines their focus, ensuring their stories are meaningful and impactful.

    • Your Room Writing Essence Activity
    • Your World Graphic Organizer
    • Values Exercise

    Connecting Personal Stories to College Essays

    Participants use structured exercises to match their experiences to college essay prompts. The University of California PIQ prompts and Common App personal statement serve as practical tools for brainstorming multiple topics and shaping strong narratives.

    • Common Application Essay Prompts
    • University of California Essay Prompts

    Encore with Supplements

    This approach helps students identify their core stories and additional stories for supplemental essays. Student values and core character traits are more easily identified using this framework. 

    To Use AI or Not? That is the Question

    Can counselors use AI in a support role?  Can students use AI in their college essay brainstorming process? Join the discussion!

    Apply Principles Learned

    Using resources and insights from the workshop, participants create a plan to apply these principles in their own essay-brainstorming process. Participants learn how to help students effectively brainstorm in a shorter period of time. This will save you time, money, and reduce stress for parents, students, and advisor. A follow-up session with Cyndy McDonald provides an opportunity to review their plan and refine their approach.

    Tips for Essay Structure & Review

    After the brainstorming, comes the writing, review and polish process. Join Cyndy for Essay Part 2: Structure and Review workshop.

  • Key Objectives and Learning Outcomes

    By the end of this workshop, participants will:

    • Have explored a unique approach to college essay brainstorming with students.

    • Gain tools to help students easily and quickly uncover their unique and personal stories.

    • Help students develop confidence in their storytelling abilities and personal voice.

    • Connect their experiences to college essay prompts effectively.

    • Create a personalized action plan for continuing their essay development.

  • Participants Say....

    "It is the best investment for my professional development as an IEC."

    "Essays are always challenging and whether you are a new IEC or have been doing it for a long time, it always good to see another approach."

    "This workshop is a great way to experience the essay coaching process from the POVs of the coach as well as the students. Well worth time and money to get Cyndy's expertise and materials."

    "Good brainstorming techniques."

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