College Counseling Team Hosts Writing Workshop
The Upper School College Counseling team hosted a college essay writing workshop for faculty, Juniors and their families on March 7. The workshop, led by college admissions expert Dr. Sarah Myers McGinty, focused on the role of the college essay in the application process and how students could find their own unique voice.
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McGinty, who retired from teaching at Harvard in 2005, spent the afternoon of March 7 with faculty members interested in refining their letters of recommendation for students.
“If I could offer just one piece of advice it would be this: shine a strong light on a small territory. The same goes for recommendation writing,” McGinty said.
McGinty, author of The College Application Essay, said every word needs to count when it comes to both letters of recommendation and students’ admissions essays.
“Students often think they have to follow the formula of introduction, supporting paragraphs and conclusion. Get rid of the introduction and conclusion and get to the meat. Dwell in this,” she suggests.
College Counselor Alain Darang, a former admissions officer at the University of Miami, echoed the importance of the college essay. Darang said the essay can often make or break the case for a student on “the bubble” of being offered admission to a college or university.
McGinty offered an additional evening workshop for Juniors and their families where she discussed the importance of finding one’s unique voice and distilling that voice into college essay form.
“We had a good turnout of Juniors and their parents. Dr. McGinty did a wonderful job of reassuring the students that they had the skills to tackle the task ahead, offering concrete advice about what colleges and universities are looking for in a good essay, busting some common myths about the essay, and offering tips for students as they move forward. She illustrated through several examples that it is essential to focus on something small and then to use that example or story to illuminate the bigger picture of your life story,” said Head Of College Counseling Anna Wright.
The College Counseling department will help our Juniors take the advice offered and apply it during the remainder of the application process.
“We’re delighted that Dr. McGinty was able to come and share her expertise with Benjamin students, families, and teachers and look forward to working again with her in the future,” said Wright.
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A premier PK3 - Grade 12 independent, coeducational day school with campuses in North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. Since 1960, The Benjamin School has provided a challenging college preparatory education to a diverse student body in a structured, nurturing community environment.