College Admissions Essentials Series
Improving success and confidence in applying to college.
It’s no secret that the college admissions landscape is rapidly changing. Test optional admissions, holistic reviews, and an increasing search for diverse applicants has left many students wondering “What are colleges really looking for?” In our series of workshops designed specifically for Las Vegas students, we answer this question.
Cultivate Academics prides itself on putting students at the center of their college admissions journey, helping each student to grow through the process.
Common Application Workshop
In our first workshop, students gain valuable insights into how college admissions officers use applications to make determinations about student applicants. You will learn what portions of an application are most important to admissions officers and how to ensure that your authentic character and values shine through on the Common Application, the UC Application, and others.
Purpose
- Provides insight into how college admissions officers use the application to make determinations about student applicants.
- Reveals what portions of an application are most important to admissions officers and how to use them to your advantage.
- Guides you through perfecting and polishing your application to highlight your strengths.
- Advises you on what to include about your academics, extra-curricular experiences, and what topics are best to write about in supplemental essays.
Agenda
- Account Creation
- How to accurately complete demographic, family, citizenship, academic, educational background, etc. information
- Building the College List
- How to assess college admission deadlines, application requirements, and admissions plans
- Honors and Awards section
- Strategically highlight your most significant achievements
- Activities List
- How you spend your time represents who you are as an individual!
- Most meaningful activities from multiple perspectives (intended major, extra-curricular experience, internships,
athletics, etc.) and how to connect those to other elements of your application
- COVID Statement & Additional Information
- How and when to approach these elements of the application.
- Office Hours Follow Up
- Personalized assistance on apps, Q&A on additional applications (Cal State, UC, UNLV, UNR, etc.)
Proposed Cost & Timeline
- Instructional Session
- Follow up Office Hours
- Cost: $99/student
- For every 5 students, 1 in-need student free
Application Writing Workshop
Purpose
- Explores the College Admissions essay & supplements from nuanced perspectives, providing you with the insight into how College Admissions officers use essays as a tool to assess student character, values, and overall “fit” for their university
- Expands your understanding of how to employ literary elements including theme, anecdote, dialogue, imagery, tone, and voice to create an engaging and authentic narrative that will be memorable to admissions officers
- Guides you as an individual with personalized attention in creating deeper clarity about yourself in the present and as a future college student
- Creation of a personal statement that is applicable to the Common Application, UC Application, etc.
Agenda
- Personal Statement Introduction
- What are Admissions Officers really
looking for? - “Library” Essay and Emory Univ.
Admissions Officer feedback
- What are Admissions Officers really
- Personal Narrative
- What is it? What is it not?
- Character, Point of View, Theme, Voice
- Cultiv8 Qualities
- Opening Paragraph
- “Mr. Peanut” Essay
- Imagery
- “Wisconsin” Essay
- Emotion vs. Pretense
- Music essay comparison
- Dialogue
- “Legs” Essay
- Addressing Adversity
- “Dyslexia” and “Hockey” Essays
- Supplements
- School specific mini-essay questions
- Office Hours
- Essay and supplement review/edits
Proposed Cost & Timeline
- Instructional Session: Friday, 2hrs
- Follow up Office Hours: Saturday, 2hrs
- Cost: $99/student
- For every 5 students, 1 in-need student free
Scholarships and Financial Aid
And finally, in our third workshop students gain information on available college funding resources, ensures accurate completion of FAFSA and CSS Profile applications, as well as insight into private and public scholarships. Time always allows for individual Q&As.
Purpose
- Inform students and families about available resources in college funding (work study, scholarships, grants, private scholarships vs institutional scholarships, loans)
- Ensures accurate and knowledgeable competition of two major financial aid applications: FAFSA and CSS Profile
- Allows for individual questions and answers from College Admissions Counselor and former Admissions Officer specializing in the process of college funding
Agenda
- Personal Statement Introduction
- What are Admissions Officers really
looking for? - “Library” Essay and Emory Univ.
Admissions Officer feedback
- What are Admissions Officers really
- Personal Narrative
- What is it? What is it not?
- Character, Point of View, Theme, Voice
- Cultiv8 Qualities
- Opening Paragraph
- “Mr. Peanut” Essay
- Imagery
- “Wisconsin” Essay
- Emotion vs. Pretense
- Music essay comparison
- Dialogue
- “Legs” Essay
- Addressing Adversity
- “Dyslexia” and “Hockey” Essays
- Supplements
- School specific mini-essay questions
- Office Hours
- Essay and supplement review/edits
Proposed Cost & Timeline
- Evening workshop (parents may attend)
- To be held at: The Coop 5955 S Edmond St, Las Vegas, NV
- Cost: Suggested $10/donation
- Half of proceeds go to Communities In Schools