College Essay Assistance
Personal statement support to unlock the stories within students for their college applications.
826 Boston will be hosting two College Essay Boot Camps for high school juniors and seniors to prepare for upcoming college applications. It doesn’t matter if students have a blank page, first draft, or final draft—volunteers will support students at all stages of the writing process. Click on the sign up link for each volunteer shift below in order to learn more about the ways you can get involved.
Margarita Muñiz Academy (20 Child Street, Boston, MA 02130)
Suffolk University (Sawyer Building, 8 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108)
Questions about volunteering? Email volunteer@826boston.org.
Student sign-up: High school juniors and seniors can sign up to get help with their essays! If you have any questions, email workshops@826boston.org. Visit 826boston.org/essay to sign up.
About College Essay Boot Camp
The college essay is arguably one of the most important pieces of writing our students will ever produce in their lives, but many students are trying to chart a course to college on their own. College Essay Boot Camp can be the critical support students need.
Some stats about past College Essay Boot Camp participants:
“Thank you, 826 Boston, for your amazing work with our college-bound students. Your programs truly make a difference.” – Josette Teneus, mother and guidance counselor, Charlestown High School
“To be honest, I came here with no ideas, no topic, nothing. I am so grateful to be a participant in this program. I overcame a lot.” – Former student participant
No matter where you are in the writing process, our On Demand College Essay Support videos are available now to help you tell your story. Whether you’re brainstorming, drafting, or are ready to begin revising, join members of the 826 Boston team on an exploration of those all-important 650 words, all on your own time!
Lesson 1: Intro to the College Essay
To learn more about the “genre” of the personal statement, start here! This introductory lesson explores what colleges are really looking for when they read your essay, debunks some common myths and misconceptions, and breaks down some stellar sample essays that have been successful in the past.
Lesson 2: The Prompts
So, what do I write about? Choosing the right topic can be one of the most important—and challenging!—parts of the college essay writing process. In this lesson, Will takes a deep dive into each of the 7 Common Application prompts and provides tools for making the most of the word limit and telling your story most effectively.
Lesson 3: Outlining and Drafting
Once you’ve chosen a topic and decided on a Common App prompt, it’s time to start drafting! In the final lesson of our virtual college essay series, Will explains key organizational tools such as the Kernel Essay outlining model, closely examines a final sample essay, and shares drafting tips to strengthen your story.
