5-Day Essay Workshop Review

Curio’s five-day writing workshop combines fun with learning.

Read on to learn more.

“Hey, students!

So how was the essay workshop?

On the last day of the workshop, we showed our students how to use the Common App system. There is no better place to work on your essay while meeting new friends.

Curio’s mentor Helen started the day off with an icebreaking activity and helped students practice how to express themselves in public.

Every day from 3-4 pm, students have a team building event!

Interaction with fellow students after hard work is a great way to cool off.

No matter whether you have super time management, positive learning attitudes, positive energy, or are a social butterfly, everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. They all help each other and become confident, free and fearless together.

“The Essay Workshop’s Success,

Is Due  to Our Amazing People”

Brainstorming

• Session 1: Finding something you care about
• Session 2: Write about why you care
• Session 3: Adding emotional and details to stories to catch the eye of admissions officers.

The biggest hurdle to overcome at the Essay Workshop is how to find your own inspirations. Michael shared some advice to help our students discover their own passions in writing:

“The art of expressing your feelings can be mastered by using everyday objects that resonate with you and use them as centerpieces of your stories.”

Improve Your Writing Skills

American Counselor Laura, a former admissions officer at several universities in the United States, understands what admission officers are looking for and shared her tips to CURIO students to help them with their supplemental writing.

Between classes, individual students could organize 1 on 1, face-to-face writing guidance and essay editing with their counselors to work out grammar and logic problems and hear suggestions to improve their essay.

Learning About the Four Main Applications Systems

Nikayla, who has reviewed thousands of applications for American universities, explained to students how to use the Common App. The Common App is the most popular app for applying to American Universities. Nikalya shows our students how to start an account and went over how an application process should look like.

Jordan introduced UC system and the UC application system, and he also showed how to use the Coalition App.

Suzanna our U.K. head counselor, explained what is required to apply U.K schools and how to use the UCAS system.

Everyone Recharge Your Engines

On the 4th day of the workshop, most students had completed 90% of their work and were slightly tired. Our counselors were there to provide encouragement to help them all cross the finish line.

Your Uniqueness Makes You Exceptional

CURIO is a place where thoughts can be shared, debated, and appreciated. In these five days, you can also find opportunities to learn more about yourself and find meaning in your life.

Do You Know The Real You?

Learning who you really are is critically to writing about yourself. Digging out interesting details of your life is a start but it doesn’t end there. You must learn how to describe your passion in captivating ways.

Move At Your Own Pace

Some students have just started writing their personal statements and other students have already finished. Some students get things done early and other students need more time. With proper planning and support, every student can finish on time no matter their speed.

As long as you push yourself to be better than you were yesterday, nothing is impossible.

A Message to Those Who Attended The Workshop

To all our students and counselors who worked so very hard to finish all applications, personal statements, and supplemental essays. Embrace these moments of tribulation and triumph. Be proud of your accomplishments. CURIO hopes you will all keep pushing yourselves no matter if you plan to apply EA / ED / or RD.

“Remember the most important thing is to always be yourself.”

Some statistics from the workshop

• 5-Day Workshop
• 3 US college-based counselors
• 3 Shanghai-based counselors
• 30+ students
• 30+ Personal Statements
• 100+ Supplemental Essays
• 200+ Edits and Revisions
• 1 Common Goal to “Achieve Success”