by j9robinson | May 26, 2015
I’m not sure how many high schools require their English teachers to help students write college application essays, but those that do could give their juniors and seniors a huge advantage in the college admissions game.
For many students, an assignment to write one of these essays for English class will be the only outside help they get.
But if a high school decides to have its English teachers include these essays in their curriculum, it’s important to get them right. (more…)
by j9robinson | May 12, 2015
How To Write a College Application Essay:
This mini, online tutorial e-course teaches you how to write a narrative-style college application in less than one hour!
Upon enrollment, you will be sent a link and personal password for complete access to this self-directed course, which includes:
- 11 short instructional videos by Writing Coach Janine Robinson of Essay Hell
- 15 downloadable handouts that include sample essays by real-life students, topic tips, StoryFinder™, sample outlines, my AnecdoteBuilder™, and more.
- Unlimited access to digital versions of all 4 Essay Hell writing guides: Escape Essay Hell!; Heavenly Essays; Writing Survival Kit and 2015-16 Prompts Primer.
- The video tutorials walk you through 10 simple steps through the brainstorming, outlining, writing and editing process, which results in a standout personal statement essay. Start anytime and work at your own pace.
- JUST ADDED! Access to 2 PowerPoints: “How to Write Supplemental Essays” and “How to Write UC Essays”
- Cost: only $99.
Who Should Take This Course?
My concentrated, on-demand course is ideal for college-bound students who need to write personal statement essays for The Common Application, as well as other core essays for universities, graduate programs (med, law, business schools), scholarships, transfers, internships and other educational institutions.
It’s also perfect for parents, teachers, high school counselors, college admissions counselors and educational consultants who work with students on these dreaded essays, and want to understand what makes them effective and help students write their own. I offer significant discounts to educators and counselors who want to purchase the course in bulk for their students.
Like Having Your Own Private Writing Coach
In this concentrated course, I literally step you through the exact approach I use with my private students–-helping brainstorm a unique topic, find your real-life stories, map out a writing plan, learn powerful literary and creative writing techniques, and finally edit and polish your “slice-of-life” essay.
Along with my short video presentations, I share the most effective tips and advice through instructive handouts and worksheets, which include sample essays from real students and the most helpful excerpts from my popular essay writing guides, published on Amazon.
The course also includes my ProblemFinder™ andAnecdoteBuilder™ handouts, which walk students through a quick-and-simple formula to identify and spin a real-life moment into an engaging anecdote.
I know how busy you are, so in this crash course you will quickly learn exactly what you need in your essay to set you apart from the pack, and then the steps (brainstorming, writing and editing) you need to take to write your own. All 10 instructional videos are well under five minutes each—so you can watch them and review all the handouts easily within several hours.
The rest of the course is the time you take to craft your outline, rough draft and final draft along the way—all at your own pace.
Bootcamp students also will have free access to the entire Essay Hell Library, which includes complete online access to my popular writing guides: Escape Essay Hell; Writing Survival Kit and Heavenly Essays. (about a $30 value in themselves).
Students will have unlimited access through the end of 2019.
Course Content
You start by learning exactly what college admissions officers want in these essays, and then launch into the 10 steps of crafting your own. During the crash course, you will:
- Identify your defining qualities and characteristics
- Find your real-life stories for a “slice-of-life” essay
- Learn what makes a hot topic and how to generate your own
- Discover the secret to a great story
- Map out your narrative-style essay
- Learn how to write the all-powerful anecdote
- Reveal your intellectual vitality, grit and life lessons
- Bump up your writing with literary writing tricks and techniques
- Craft a conclusion that is memorable
- Self-edit and polish your winning essay
You can move through these steps all in a single day, or over a week or two, or several months. It just depends on how fast you work. But by the end, you will have a killer college application essay in hand that reveals what makes you you–and will be the most potent and personal component of your college application.
Also, without even trying, you will have dramatically boosted your writing ability and learned language tools and techniques that will help you once you land in your dream college, as well as with future projects in the workplace.
by j9robinson | Apr 7, 2015
Storytelling “Clues” from a Master
for your College Application Essay
If anyone knows how to spin a great story, it’s this guy: Andrew Stanton. Ok, I hadn’t heard of him before either, but I certainly know about his films: All the Toy Story movies, Monsters, A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo, WALL-E, and a ton more. If you are working on your college application essay, you grew up with all these popular animated films.
Stanton is an American filmmaker with Pixar studios, and he recently gave a TED talk about what makes a story powerful. His greatest storytelling commandment? “Make me care,” he says. (more…)
by j9robinson | Apr 6, 2015
Learn to Vet College Application Writing Experts
Read PART ONE on How to Find The Best Essay Help on College Application Essays first…
Here are other potential sources of help for writing personal statement essays for college admissions:
2. High School College Counselors: Remember that most of these counselors have literally hundreds of students to guide through the admissions process. If you are lucky, you might be able to bounce off topic ideas, find direction to other resources or even get them to read your drafts. This can be immensely helpful, since most of these counselors have a strong idea of what makes an effective essay. But you might have to seek out more help on your own. (more…)
by j9robinson | Apr 6, 2015
If you landed on my Essay Hell blog, there’s a strong chance you are in search of help on writing your college application essay.
Yes, that’s what I do, and I’m happy to help you.
But I was thinking of how I would advise a student or parent who is looking for someone to assist in the essay writing process (other than me).
There are many options—from private college counselors to teachers and smart friends.
Many “experts” claim to know their stuff, but it’s important to make them prove it.
I think the trick is to A. determine if your essay helper really understands what makes a good college admissions essay (a very specific type of writing), and B. has the experience and skills to help a student write or improve her or his own. (more…)
by j9robinson | Mar 10, 2015
A good selfie can define and shape your personal image that you blast out to the world. The same goes with your college application essay.
Both selfies and personal statement essays are supposed to capture your essence on some level, and reveal what makes you stand out from the crowd of other applicants. Some of the same tricks you use to snap your selfies apply to writing these admission essays, such as for The Common App and other universities and colleges.
If you are starting the college admissions process, it’s time to put down the cell phone and pick up your pens now or this summer or as soon as you can. Here are five ways that selfies and college admission essays are similar, and some tips that can help you craft an awesome essay snapshot of yourself (click the links for more help):
1. A good one catches everyone’s attention. There is something about a great selfie that grabs the viewer; they can’t take their eyes off you. Same thing with your personal statement: It’s imperative to hook the reader’s attention at the start with a compelling introduction, such as starting with an anecdote. (more…)
by j9robinson | Feb 13, 2015
Not many images are more daunting than a blank page. The horror! But starting next month (March), I’m launching a weekly Webinar series to assist more students and families with starting their college application essays.
I write this blog, peddle my three guide books and tutor privately to get out my advice, tips and inspiration to make this process less miserable. I actually believe writing these essays can be an enlightening and productive experience, and dare I say, fun, if you have some direction and support. It can also be a total drag.
But I think you have a choice on how it goes. A lot of the stress of the college admissions process is caused by the unknown. Once you know what to do, you will see that it’s not that impossible.
I’m hoping that my Webinars can help students, and parents and others who work with students, get a jump on what they need to do. (more…)
by j9robinson | Nov 11, 2014
UPDATE: as of March 23, 2016 The University of California announced NEW essay prompts for 2016-17. Read about how to answer them HERE.
This post is now outdated. The information is no longer relevant!!
If you are working on your two college application essays for the University of California freshman application, I’ve put together a short list of my most helpful posts.
Prompt 1: Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.
How to Describe the World You Come From
Sample College App Essay for UC Prompt 1
Brainstorm the World You Come From (more…)
by j9robinson | Oct 25, 2014
Photo by Janine Robinson
Feeling a Bit Underwater
About Your College Application Essay?
It’s that time of year. Most “early decision” deadlines are counting down by the day, and other major deadlines aren’t far behind. Stay calm. Read my blog. Target your essay writing needs by using the indexed listing called “Help By Topic” in the right sidebar.
My last post was about an article that a USA Today reporter wrote sharing my advice on these essays, as well as tips from other college experts. When we first spoke, the reporter asked me to put together a list of my best tips. In her article, she wove in some of the tips I sent her, but I thought students might find the entire list I sent her even more helpful. So here it is:
Essay Hell’s Top 10 Tips
For Writing Standout
College Application Essays
1. Don’t try to impress. Instead, look for topics that are “mundane,” or everyday. (Scooping ice cream; singing karaoke; riding public busses; having big feet, etc.) It’s counter-intuitive, but those lead to the most memorable essays. (more…)
by j9robinson | Sep 9, 2014
UPDATE: as of March 23, 2016 The University of California announced NEW essay prompts for 2016-17. Read about how to answer them HERE.
This post is now outdated. The information is no longer relevant!!
Looking for your World to answer the University of California Prompt 1?
A high school English teacher contacted me this week asking if I had any sample essays for the University of California college application Prompt 1.
She was using my guides and Essay Hell blog posts to help teach her students how to write their college application essays. (more…)
