College Application Essay Writing Workshop Series

Are you a Detroit high school student preparing to apply to college and unsure how to write a college application essay? Perhaps you’ve started a draft, but don’t know if you’re on the right track. Or just want some feedback.

Our College Application Essay Writing Workshops this September will help you navigate every step of the process.

In these two in-person workshops led by coach Danielle Alexander, high school students will practice and develop the skill of writing a college application essay. Students will brainstorm, outline and begin drafting at least one college application essay by the conclusion of the first workshop. They will return two weeks later to ask questions, receive feedback on their draft and revise their essay(s) for submission.

In addition to being an instructional space, the workshops are intended to be collaborative. Students will read and analyze each other's work, as well as model college application essays. Together, we will grow comfortable with the conventions of application writing, the vulnerability of sharing our stories and the revision process involving both peer review and instructor feedback.

Students are welcome to bring a draft of an essay they’re working on or prompts they may need to answer.

Students who attend the workshop will receive:

  • Lunch

  • Reusable water bottle

  • Journal

  • Purple pen

  • T-shirt

  • A laptop to borrow during the workshop

  • Parking stipend

  • Free tickets to select Detroit Writing Room workshops and events throughout the year

Additional Coaching:

Students will have an opportunity to get feedback from a Detroit Writing Room coach after the workshop ends. This one-hour free coaching session will be virtual on Zoom. Students can choose to meet with a coach once their draft is complete.

Photos above feature our 2024 workshops.

Upcoming Workshop Dates:

Part 1:

Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST

Part 2

Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST

Location:

Bamboo Detroit (6th floor)

1420 Washington Boulevard, Detroit MI 48226

Cost:

The workshop is free for students who attend a Detroit high school or live in the city of Detroit. Students must apply and be accepted to the program.

The 2025 workshop is made possible by the The Skillman Foundation and Coaching Detroit Forward donors.

About the Coach:

Danielle Alexander has been helping high school students write their best college application essays for over a decade. A two-time graduate of Michigan State University, she taught high school English and journalism and college composition for seven years. She currently spends her academic semesters as a doctoral student and research assistant at Oakland University and her summer months as a freelance journalist for a number of Metro Detroit publications.

Disclaimer:

Coaching Detroit Forward does not warrant or guarantee that a student will be admitted to a college or university after attending this workshop. Our coaches will only offer guidance and feedback with respect to essays that are written only by the student.

To Apply:

The deadline to apply is June 2, 2025. Space is limited to 25 students.

Thank you to our sponsors and Coaching Detroit Forward donors for making this workshop possible!


Interested in sponsoring a Detroit high school student to attend this workshop for free? Learn more at coachingdetroitforward.org/donate.