New College Develops Online Writing Workshop

July 9, 2021 – Sarasota

A powerful, well-written essay can make all the difference in whether a student gets accepted into a college. Yet many students who hope to achieve their dream of a college degree may not have a mentor who is able to guide them through this potentially overwhelming component of their college application portfolio. 

Local high school seniors who wish to learn the ins and outs of writing a college essay can now do so conveniently from their home or school computer, thanks to a partnership with New College of Florida and Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. New workshops provided at no cost will cover aspects such as becoming familiar with the application, ways to generate ideas, how to write reflectively and how to approach rewrites.

Dr. Jennifer Wells, director of writing and head of New College’s Writing Program, is the developer and instructor of the workshop and has over 15 years of experience coaching admission essay writing in high school classrooms and writing centers and in workshops for nonprofit organizations. The project also includes training for professionals who are in a position to advise students on writing their college admission essays, such as teachers, guidance counselors and librarians. 

“Personal essays carry greater importance in a student’s overall college application because a growing number of colleges and universities are dropping the requirement of SAT and ACT scores,” says Dr. Wells. “I am excited to bring this opportunity to those students who desire extra help. We are grateful for Barancik Foundation’s support of this vitally needed program.”

In addition to sponsoring writing workshops for area high school seniors, the Barancik Foundation grant, totaling $73,737, also provides funds to strengthen New College’s support of transfer students. 

“New College has reinvigorated its commitment to transfer students by identifying their special needs and marshaling institutional resources to facilitate their timely progress to a baccalaureate degree,” says Suzanne Sherman, provost and vice president for academic affairs at New College. “This summer, faculty and staff are participating in workshops on specialized transfer student advising, and each incoming transfer student will be partnered with dedicated advisors who will help clarify pathways and connect students to career and student success support services across the college. The Barancik Foundation’s generous grant enables us to direct more resources to transfer student programming; we truly appreciate their partnership on this critical equity and access initiative.”

For more information about this grant or the New College Foundation, call 941-487-4800 or visit https://www.ncf.edu/alumni-and-friends/the-foundation/.