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College Essay Jumpstart

  • Portland/Online 2140 Southwest Jefferson Street Portland, OR, 97201 United States (map)

This workshop is designed for students entering 12th grade who will be writing college application essays in the coming months. It is most valuable for students who haven't yet started their essay, or who have started but don't yet have a clear direction.

What to Expect

College essays are part of the application process that most students dread and most families underestimate. It's not a book report or a résumé in paragraph form — it's a story, told in your own voice, that shows an admissions officer who you actually are. Knowing that is one thing. Knowing where to start is another.

This workshop gives students both. In two focused hours, you'll work through the core exercises that unlock a strong personal statement: clarifying the personality traits and values you want to convey, identifying the small, specific moments that reveal them, and choosing a topic that has the elasticity to carry a compelling 650-word narrative. You won't leave with a finished essay — but you will leave with a clear angle on your story and a realistic timeline for getting it done before your deadlines.

The session is led by a North Avenue college essay coach and draws on the same framework used in our 12-hour College Essay Express class and our 1:1 coaching programs. Students who want to keep the momentum going after the workshop have a natural path to both. For students who are ready to dive into the full writing process, College Essay Express runs August 10–13. This workshop is the ideal starting point before enrolling in that class.


Key Benefits

  • Limited to 12 students for a practical, strategies-focused session

  • Guided brainstorming exercises to identify your story, values, and strongest topics

  • Honest framework for what works (and what to avoid) in a college personal statement

  • A concrete essay angle and topic direction you leave with on the day

  • A realistic, personalized timeline mapped to your actual application deadlines

Schedule
Date Time Event
Tuesday, June 23 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (PDT) Group Workshop (Session 1)
:

Meet Your Instructor

Featured
Ann P.
Ann P.

BA, Carleton College
MFA, Pacific Lutheran University

In everything she does, Ann brings a passion for language. As a former English professor, grant writer, environmental advocate, and creative writer, she's honed an ability to find the right words to move her intended audience. She knows finding your story isn't always easy, but it is possible – and can even be fun! She’s committed to helping students get past the challenge of a blank page and find their unique voice.

Ann’s Study Tip: “The cinematic quality of the stories you tell will draw your reader in. Once you've created a few good ‘scenes,’ then it's time to tell the reader why you gave them that scene. Your analysis is the icing on the cake. Strive for an essay that is 80% showing (scenic) and 20% telling (analytic).”

$149.00

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Level Up: Succeeding in College