College Essay Workshop

Click here to see College Essay workshops on the schedule!

Through conversation and a series of writing exercises, our college essay instructors help applicants reduce stress, get grounded, and identify the most important stories they have to tell. We engage applicants in a student-centered storytelling process by sharing a diverse range of unusual, highly celebrated college essay samples written by other Writopia writers. We use inspiring, proprietary writing exercises, and a dynamic, discussion-driven revisions process. Applicants leave with a beautifully crafted essay and a newfound confidence in their voice and writing skills.

Each and every word is the student's own. We allow students to find their voices and give them the confidence to use them. Throughout the process, we provide guidance on structure and editing. At Writopia Lab, we witness the power of authentic young voices every day. Students will not only have completed a college essay but will have discovered a new confidence in their own writing.

Our approach is time-tested, joyful, and effective.  We help every applicant, no matter their prior comfort level with writing, compose a powerful personal essay that transmits who they are in the most important ways. Everyone has a story to tell. We serve students who have not yet begun the college application process, students who may already have a draft they want to polish, and students who are anywhere in-between.

Our College Essay workshops:

• are offered as small-group workshops, private sessions, and at schools and partner CBOs
• have a maximum of eight participants
• are only available to students who are high school juniors or seniors. Personal Essay/Pre-College Essay Workshops are available for freshmen and sophomores.

"Love Your Essay" Second Edition

We are happy to share the second edition of our anthology of college essays written by Writopians, "Loved Your Essay" —The Admissions Team. It features nine new, fiercely individualistic college essays written in Writopia's college essay workshops or in private sessions. Each essay earned its writer admission to their top choice school. Purchase here!

"Simply wonderful writing by kids whose essays got them into top schools. Funny, touching, thought-provoking, and inspiring. Also includes a process and great tips for writing a college essay - but, me, I just enjoyed reading such great, unique essays that increased my hope for our future." —Amazon Review

Rebecca Wallace-Segall, our Fouder and CEO, has spoken on multiple panels with directors of admissions from various universities and colleges since 2009, and our approach reflects the insights she has gained through more than a decade of engaging this robust process. She, along with a team of highly-trained Writopia Lab instructors, has helped thousands of high school juniors and seniors write their college essays and supplements, many of whom have received positive comments on their acceptance letters about their essays and have even received phone calls and emails commending them on their essays from directors of admissions.

We are thrilled to report that in recent years, our college essay students have won admittance to:
Barnard College, Binghamton University, Boston University, Bucknel University, Colorado College, Harvard University, LeMoyne, Loyola, New School, New York University, Northwestern, Oberlin, Pace, Pace University, Seton Hall, Skidmore, Stanford, SUNY Albany, Swarthmore, Temple University, Tufts University, University of Chicago, University of Maryland, University of Minnesota, University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas Austin, Washington University, Yale University, and many more!

Feedback on a Writopia College Essay

Hi Theodore,

I have been working in college admissions for a really long time and have read thousands of essays. Today, I read yours and I loved it so much, I decided to stop what I was doing so that I could write to you. I laughed out loud – I loved the scene you set, your insight, your sensitivity. I have a complete and detailed mental picture of the parking lot, the neighbors, the tension. It was really fabulous. I then decided to show it to others on my staff and they all laughed in the same places, nodded in others, and handed it back saying, “Awesome.”

So, you have not only made my day, but you did so for a bunch of my colleagues as well!

I hope you enjoyed writing it as much we enjoyed reading it.

Cheers,

Director of Admissions (A top school)

Testimonials from Parents and Guardians

"The staff from Writopia created a personalized, genuine writing experience for our students. They patiently guided students through the anxieties surrounding college admission essays, validated students' experiences, and motivated them to turn those experiences into eloquent, personal statements. The students walked away feeling confident about the essay writing process, and so did I. I highly recommend their services!"

Chano LaBoy - Director, College Bound - Chess in the Schools

"My daughter worked with Writopia for her Common App essay and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. She benefitted immensely from the individual work with her Writopia instructor who made her feel valued and confident. As a result, my daughter was able to write an essay that clearly communicated who she is both as a student and a person. Our only mistake was not starting to work with Writopia earlier."

Karen - Writopia Parent