- Interactive exercises that help foster moments of self-discovery
- Aligned with Common Core State Standards
- Videos, PDFs, and PPT slides
- Adaptable to a variety of formats
- Developed by a former high school AVID teacher and college essay coach
Our curriculum was designed specifically for teachers, high school and CBO college counselors.
The lessons work equally well in the classroom, during advisory or homeroom periods, or in after-school and summer programs.
Training for Your Team
- College Admission Fundamentals
- How to Guide Students Through the Personal Statement Process
Focused Lessons
- Based on powerful insights from the industry leaders in college essays
- Engaging opening questions, teaching strategies, and introspective activites
Resources
- Fully adjustable/editable Google slides
- Student Google Doc workbooks
- Instructional video library
Materials
- Perfect for schools that offer a college counseling class/summer school
- Also great for the weeks right after AP testing
Tutorials
- Access to all College Essay Guy videos of exercises and concepts in action
Resources
- 20 flexible lesson plans
- 4-week pacing guide
- Teacher's guide/workbook
Elizabeth, Dean of College Counseling (Louisiana)
Teachers & Counselors
- Less stress and confusion thanks to the teaching strategies
- Time saved by implementing peer evaluation/feedback for grading
- Fewer instances of repeating material/steps more than once
Students
- More confidence in getting started thanks to the practical brainstorming exercises
- Noticeably improved personal statements
- Feeling less stressed thanks to having personal statements drafts done by the end of summer
Janis L., Cerritos High School
Are you a member of a district or organization? We’d love to hear from you too!
I don’t know what colleges are looking for. Will this curriculum still help?
Yes. Included with the curriculum is a live PD session that walks you and your team through what colleges are looking for today and where personal statements fit in.
When is a good time for me to do these lessons?
The Curriculum is designed for 11th and 12th grade students and can be delivered as early as January of junior year. Some junior teachers will find that a great time is in May, right after AP Testing. For senior teachers, early fall is ideal so that students benefit from receiving the information before early admission deadlines.
I have to teach my usual content and the personal statement materials. Do I have to do all the lessons?
Not at all. The essentials are in the first two weeks, but even then, you can pick and choose which lessons you want to cover. The essentials include the brainstorming activities and the difference between narrative and montage essays.
I’m only going to use some of the lessons. Can I edit the slides and workbook to match what I want to teach?
Definitely. After you make your own copy, feel free to customize the workbook before sharing it with your students.
I have no teaching experience as a school counselor. Can I use these to build a multi-day essay program?
Absolutely. One counselor told us that as someone who never taught a class, these materials gave her the confidence to run her essay boot camp and that it saved her so much time to do other responsibilities.
And we’ve designed the curriculum to work equally well for counselors who have advisories, college counseling classes, or want to set up a summer program.
