College Application Summer Camp

For Rising High School Seniors

This is a week-long, small group workshop designed to help you make major progress on college applications. The workshop will be led by college Counselors Joanna Petti and Vanessa Bortnick, who'll work with you and provide guidance through each step.

Date/Time

June 22-26

9 a.m. to noon daily

Format:

  • 5 days of in-person group workshop (15 hours total)

  • 1 hour of homework each day

  • Cost: $100 per student

Location:

Oakland, CA (about 1 block from Head Royce). Specific address to be shared upon booking.

Here's what we'll be working on:

- Drafting your Personal Statement

- Brainstorming and drafting your UC Essays (Personal Insight Questions)

- Reviewing and drafting effective Supplemental Essays (college-specific)

- Strengthening your Activities List (a key component of your application)

- Crafting and sending emails to colleges to show "Demonstrated Interest"

- Signing up for, and starting to fill out, the Common App

CLICK HERE TO BOOK

FAQs

What will students learn in this bootcamp?

  • How to craft the best college essays possible

  • What college admissions officers look for when reading essays (and what they say to avoid!)

  • How to identify and answer the various types of supplemental essays

  • Other important aspects of the admissions’ process, including the activities list, demonstrated interest and establishing an account on Common App

What will students do during the workshop?

  • Exercises to help them hone and use their unique writing voice

  • Read and analyze examples of successful admissions essays

  • Brainstorm effective essay topics 

  • Pre-write, free-write and edit essay drafts (individually, in small groups, and with instructors)

What if I/my child has to cancel?

Here’s our cancellation policy: 

  • If you cancel within 30 days of the workshop date, no refund will be given, but you’ll receive a credit of up to four hours of 1:1 support from one of our counselors.

About your college admissions counselors and workshop leaders…

Joanna Belkin Petti has taught Humanities and English/Language Arts for nearly 20 years in various Bay Area private and public schools, including St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Oakland School for the Arts, and Julia Morgan School for Girls. She has helped kids with countless essays, and is masterful at helping students find their voice in writing and produce incredible, effective college essays. Joanna is skilled at working with neurodivergent kids and those with learning differences. She earned a JD from Northeastern University School of Law and was a competitive swimmer at Syracuse and Clark Universities. Learn more at: www.jpetticollegecounseling.com

Vanessa Bortnick has reviewed hundreds of college essays and loves to guide students through the brainstorming, drafting and editing process—resulting in essays that are uniquely them. Before college consulting, Vanessa founded and ran a Communications consultancy. She worked extensively with senior leaders from top companies, helping them write and deliver effective, impactful and meaningful communications. She majored in Journalism in college, and was inducted into her alma mater’s Journalism Hall of Fame. And while nobody would mistake Vanessa for a D1 athlete, she has won a couple of (cheap, plastic) trophies for her mad hula-hooping skills. Learn more at: www.upleveladmissions.com

CONTACT US

Email: jpetticounseling@gmail.com or vanessa@upleveladmissions.com

Phone: (510) 761-7987 or (415) 203-2907