College Application Essay Writing Workshop
How to write an unforgettable college essay that reflects you
In this online workshop, high school students will practice and develop the skill of writing a college application essay. Students will brainstorm, draft, and revise a full-length college application essay by the conclusion of the workshop. Provided students attend all four sessions and complete the 1-2 hours of homework assigned each week, students can expect to leave the workshop with an essay that is ready or near-ready for submission. Together, we will investigate the central questions of application writing, including:
- Who am I? As a student? As a writer?
- What do I want out of my time in college?
- Which of my experiences have most shaped who I am today, and why?
- Where have I witnessed my ability to enact change in my community?
This workshop is for high school students at the beginning of their application writing process; all writers will start their essays from scratch. Our virtual classroom will function as a collaborative workshop, as well as an instructional space. Students will routinely read and analyze each other's work, as well as personal essays by published authors. Together, we will grow comfortable with: (1) the conventions of application writing, (2) vulnerably sharing our stories, and (3) a rigorous revision process involving peer review and instructor feedback. In order to create an open online writing community within the workshop, students will be asked to turn their Zoom cameras on.
Students will have the opportunity to join a generative collective of writers, to discuss their hopes and anxieties regarding the application process, and to connect firsthand with the UMass Amherst university level writing community. We will approach application writing both practically, and creatively: all students will leave with an essay they feel confident about, and will have also had the opportunity to challenge and hone their skills within the expansive personal writing genre.
Enrollment for this workshop is limited to give time for personalized attention. Questions? Email [email protected].
Workshop Format and Schedule
April 4 - 25, 2026 | Live synchronous sessions meet Saturdays from 12:00 - 1:30pm (Eastern)
This workshop consists of 4 online synchronous meetings. In addition, participants should plan for 1-2 hours of asynchronous assignments per week.
Attendance
Students attending the online program are expected to attend all class sessions live in real time. In order to prioritize the health and well-being of participants, eligibility is restricted to applicants residing in time zones where class hours do not extend beyond midnight. Please use a time zone converter to check when class sessions will meet in your time zone.
Steve Fox, M.A., is a Senior Lecturer II & Sport Journalism Director in the UMass Department of Journalism, and teaches College Writing under the UMass Writing Program. Fox is an award-winning journalist with 25 years of experience as an editor and reporter for print and online publications, including The Washington Post and United Press International. Full bio.
