Writing a Compelling College Application Essay or Personal Statement
A Workshop for Chicago Area High School Seniors
Instructors: Linda M. Bendorf, M.A.T., J.D. and Mary C. Gilmore, M.A.
Saturday, November 22, 2008 ~ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Arlington Heights Memorial Library – Hendrickson Room
Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~ William Wordsworth
While SAT and ACT scores, transcripts and extra-curricular activities are essential aspects of your college application, an effective personal essay distinguishes you. All of the essays (generals and specifics) ask for your personal statement. This personal statement is an opportunity to show who you really are as a unique person, to show your special talents and interests, and to show why you would be an asset to the college. Most importantly, an effective essay engages the reader from the first sentence, and continues to demonstrate intellectual vitality, creativity and uniqueness – qualities that will help you succeed.
Each college essay workshop is limited to 12 students. Following whole group overview, students will be guided by expert writing instructors in groups of 6 or fewer. Students will conclude the college essay workshop with a minimum of one personal statement.
Dear Linda…Thank you again for working with our daughter on her college application essay. I have read the final product, and am so impressed with both the quality of her thoughts and the well crafted structure of the written piece. Your ability to prompt her and elicit such great ideas, framed so descriptively, is truly a gift. I appreciate all you did to optimize our daughter’s chances for acceptance at the colleges of her choosing.
Carol B., parent
Arlington Heights, IL
Strategically crafted writing prompts and exercises help you to generate compelling material. In this workshop, you will also
The November 22, 2008 workshop is best suited for high school seniors seeking fall 2009 admission to college.
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2008
Location: Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 2nd level, Hendrickson Room
500 N. Dunton Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Time: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Fee: $350 (Includes beverage, snack, materials and instruction)
Workshop available to first 12 registrants.
Blue Sage Writing offers college essay workshops throughout the summer and fall. This is the last fall 2009 college essay workshop; however, college essay tutoring is available in private tutorials at $90.00 per hour.
For more information, contact:
Linda M. Bendorf, Director
Blue Sage Writing
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Website: www.bluesagewriting.com
Email: info@bluesagewriting.com
Phone: 224-688-9222
Instructor Biographies
Linda Bendorf (M.A.T., J.D., The University of Iowa)is a writer and award-winning teacher with over twenty years of experience inspiring students of all ages. She participated in the Iowa Writing Project; taught essay writing at the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education; and served as Visiting Assistant Professor of Teacher Education at Coe College, and as Language Arts and Reading External Consultant at ACT, Inc. She was selected Iowa City’s Outstanding Young Educator as Language Arts Department Chair with the Iowa City Community Schools. Linda has been a faculty member with the Iowa Summer Writing Festival for twenty years (http://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/iswfest/). Linda’s columns and features have appeared in McCall’s, USA Today, Gannett News Service Wire, The Des Moines Register, Instructor, The Iowan, and Accent. Her poetry has appeared in 100 Words and the Chicago Public Library’s Premier edition of CRAM. Her poem, “Coastal Memory” is also reprinted online in The University of Iowa Daily Palette (http://dp.uiowa.edu/). In July 2008, she presented Enhanced by Inspiration: The Creative Nudge, at the University of Iowa, as part of the Iowa Writing Festival’s Elevenses Series. She and her husband live in the Chicago area, where Linda is Director of Blue Sage Writing (www.bluesagewriting.com). Their youngest daughter is a senior at the University of Iowa; their oldest daughter, who graduated from George Washington University, lives and works in Washington, D.C.
Mary Gilmore (M.A., English, University of Illinois at Springfield) is an accomplished writer and writing instructor who has taught honors composition and American Literature at the University of Illinois at Springfield; and creative writing and technical writing at Lincoln Land Community College. As a graduate student at UIS, she was awarded a graduate assistantship in the Capital Scholars Program, a unique honors program for first year students.
Mary says, “The most relevant, productive learning happens when students feel that their voices count in the classroom; we have so much to learn from one another, and it makes learning far more interesting. We meet skills objectives and cultivate analytical thinking …and we have fun in the process.
Mary has also published original works of fiction in two literary journals: The Ruptured Seed and The Alchemist Review. After graduation, Mary was chosen to present her work at the Illinois Philological Association’s (http://www.illinoisphilological.org/) annual conference. She has also worked as a curriculum developer. She has developed and edited interactive course materials, and technology related government contracts. Mary recently moved from Chicago to Park Ridge, Illinois. Her extracurricular activities include reading and dancing.