Annual college clinic helps kids write essays

CVHS teachers, administrators, and counselors held conferences with prepared seniors to help relieve the pressure of college admission essays this October. The goal of this essay clinic was to help seniors improve and feel confident in their writing. 

“I find that students sometimes create generic responses to the essay prompts. In these conferences, I make them dig from a different angle to try to find something unique to write about,” said English teacher Anne Parris. 

Most seniors feel lost as to where to start in writing their college admission essays, but CVHS staff members provided them with support.

 During the first week of conferences, each student was paired up with a teacher or administrator that they didn’t personally know, as to get honest and unbiased feedback on their work. Seniors came ready with prefilled essay prompts and received suggestions for improvement. Each student got 15 minutes to discuss strategies on how to write and find inspiration for the application essays. 

The second stage of the clinic was held the following week where students met with their original helpers to discuss their improvements. 

“Students need to learn how to brag about themselves, even though it’s hard it is what makes the essay,” said English teacher Elisa Frozena. “We as English teachers take time to help students at this clinic and therefore will be saddened if students come to us after those dates and ask for help of essays.”

Even if you didn’t make the essay clinic, Frozena and Parris suggest looking outside of the box for inspiration and to reflect on your past experiences, not to just list them.