College Essay Workshop

Summer 2024 Offerings: June 17-28 and July 15-26

The College Essay Workshop will be offered twice during Summer 2024. When registering, students can choose their preferred session from one of the two offerings: June 17-28 or July 15-26.

Jumpstart Your College Application: Get a head start on your college essay this summer! In the first week of this two-week workshop for rising grade 12 students, you’ll join live video sessions and hands-on work time that will guide you from brainstorming ideas to drafting your essay. The second week focuses on small-group feedback sessions with peers and teachers, helping you polish your work. By the end, you’ll have a strong, refined draft of your essay, ready for those finishing touches.

Why Take This Workshop? Ease the stress of senior year by making significant progress on your college essay. With expert guidance and constructive peer feedback, you’ll craft a compelling and authentic narrative that leaves a lasting impression on admissions officers. Gain the confidence and clarity to tackle your college applications head-on!

Note: The College Essay Workshop costs $250 for students from member schools and $350 for students from non-member schools. Unlike other GOA courses, this workshop is ungraded and non-credit-bearing.

Drop Deadline: For the June 17-28 session, the last day to drop with no financial penalty is June 17, and the last day for a 50% refund of the enrollment fee is June 18. For the July 15-26 session, the last day to drop with no financial penalty is July 15, and the last day for a 50% refund of the enrollment fee is July 16.

Students in GOA courses will need reliable access to a computer with webcam/microphone connections, an email address (preferably school-based), a Web-conferencing app (GOA courses use Zoom), and a Word processing app (GOA courses use Google’s G Suite). When necessary, alternative arrangements may be made. Some courses require additional materials which can be found here.

View Course Outline

Meet the faculty facilitating the College Essay Workshop:

Kim Banion is an English instructor at Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, Missouri and has been a part of GOA since 2013. She brings over a decade's experience ushering students through the college essay process as a teacher, mentor, and tutor. She has a passion for helping students understand the power of their own stories and unique voices in the college application process.

Joel Garza teaches Fiction Writing and Race & Society at GOA. He has also served as the Upper School English department for seventeen years at Greenhill School in Texas. Joel guides students through the process of finding the right story to tell in just the right way. With his guidance, students find their voice, find their stories, and bring themselves and their goals to life.