Real Essay Workshop
A live, cameras-on workshop where students discover their real stories.
Real Essay Workshop
Experience how real college essays begin — live.
Most college-essay webinars deliver the same generic tips you can find anywhere online. The Real Essay Workshop is different. It’s not a lecture, not a slideshow, and not pre-recorded. It’s a real workshop — cameras on, ideas shared, and writing happening in real time.
What Makes It Real
Everyone participates. Students turn on their cameras and actually talk through ideas.
Live coaching. You’ll work directly with a PhD-level essay coach to uncover potential topics and understand what makes a genuine, memorable essay.
Real writing, not theory. You’ll leave the session with either a draft topic or a clear outline — and a concrete sense of what an authentic essay sounds like.
Small by design. Each workshop is limited to 10 students so everyone can be heard.
Even if you don’t walk out with your final topic, you’ll understand how real essays begin — through conversation, reflection, and discovery.
Upcoming Sessions
Common App Edition
When: Summer 2026 (June–September)
Focus: Finding and shaping your main Common App essay topic before senior year begins.
You’ll learn:
How to identify stories that reveal your character
How to build a narrative arc that feels natural, not forced
How to start writing with confidence and authenticity
UC PIQ Edition
When: Fall 2026 (October–November)
Focus: Writing UC Personal Insight Questions that sound personal and thoughtful — not like a résumé.
You’ll learn:
How to turn accomplishments into reflection
How to avoid the clichés UC readers see thousands of times
How to write with depth and individuality
Format & Tuition
Each Real Essay Workshop is:
90 minutes, live via Zoom
Limited to 12 participants
Led by PhD-level instructors
Tuition: $125–$150 per student
(includes a post-session outline template and next-steps guide)
“This isn’t another tips webinar — it’s a real writing session. Cameras on, pens out, and no fluff.”
Stay in the Loop
We’ll announce 2026 workshop dates soon.
Join the waitlist below to be the first to know when registration opens.
(You’ll also get early-bird access and priority seating.)
FAQs
Q: What happens during the Real Essay Workshop?
A: Each workshop is live and fully interactive. Students turn on their cameras, share ideas, and work through writing exercises in real time. It’s a chance to experience what real writing feels like — guided by PhD-level essay coaches.
Q: How many students can attend?
A: Attendance is capped at 12 students per session to make sure everyone gets personal attention. These are small, hands-on workshops, not large webinars.
Q: Do I need to prepare anything in advance?
A: No. You don’t need a finished draft or even a topic — just bring an open mind and a willingness to participate. The goal is to help you discover the story only you can tell.
Q: Is the workshop recorded?
A: No. These sessions are live and confidential to create a space where students can think freely and experiment without pressure.
Q: Who teaches the workshop?
A: All Real Essay Workshops are led by published authors with PhDs who specialize in helping students write with authenticity and clarity.
Q: Will I leave with a finished essay?
A: Not necessarily — but you’ll leave with a topic, a plan, or a clearer understanding of how to begin. Many students come away with a strong opening paragraph or detailed outline.
Q: Can you host a Real Essay Workshop for our school or program?
A: Yes! We occasionally lead private versions of the Real Essay Workshop for high schools and college access organizations. If you’re interested in arranging one for your students, contact us here.
About Real College Essays
Real College Essays is a boutique college essay coaching service run by published authors with PhDs. We’ve helped students earn admission to Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and the top UC campuses — not through gimmicks, but by helping them write honest, reflective essays that sound like them.
Founded by Ben Urwand, a former UC Berkeley instructor and author of The Collaboration (Harvard University Press), Real College Essays is grounded in real writing and real thinking.
Our programs — Real Essay Workshop, Real Essay Review, and the Real Voices Essay Coaching Award — are all built on the same belief: that great essays don’t come from formulas. They come from real stories, told well.
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