The Algonquin Writing Center (AWC) provided students with an opportunity to generate and share college essay ideas during the College Essay Brainstorm Night hosted on Oct. 1.
The event, designed for students who hadn’t yet started their essays or were unhappy with their topics, featured exercises aimed at sparking new ideas. As part of the AWC’s efforts to support students during the college application process, this workshop is one of several resources aimed at guiding seniors through the essay writing process.
“It gives students an opportunity to discuss ideas with others, get some peer feedback and also take a step back and look at different ideas,” AWC Student and Faculty Engagement Team Leader Amelia Sinclair said.
AWC tutors and staff led participants through activities such as listing items in their bedroom, key life moments and personal fears to help them identify unique essay topics. Students also reviewed sample essays, discussing what worked and what didn’t to identify non-cliche approaches to their own writing.
“We went through two other college essays as a group saying what we liked and disliked about them, and then from there, each student would scan a QR code and then look through a website with different college essay examples,” Sinclair said. “Then they would find one that they found relatable, one with an interesting topic and then one they didn’t like. Then we would share why.”
The AWC also offered college essay resources in other ways, including a “Night Against Procrastination” held on Oct. 15 to keep students on track with their essays. Additionally, students can sign up for pen-pal or in-person tutoring through the AWC’s website for more personalized feedback on their essays.
“[The Night Against Procrastination] gives students an opportunity to work together, to get feedback and to just kind of build community because we’re all going through a rough time with this,” Sinclair said.
For students who missed the brainstorming session, Sinclair suggested developing ideas by focusing on the seemingly mundane details from everyday life.
“Think about the things in your life that have just been quiet constants,” Sinclair said. “That’s the best way I can put it; just think of those things that are so normal in your life that you take them for granted, and honestly, those can be some of the best essay topics.”
