Students Nicole Tsai, Andrew Luyapan and Jiahao Li listen to OH! My Essay presenters Amy Sisson and Raul Acevedo in the media center during the UC PIQ workshop on May 16.
By Maria Barquete,
Staff Writer
Students looked attentively to the slideshows College and Career technician Amy Sisson presented in the Media Center, followed by a Q&A with Sisson and reviewing past college essays.
The May 16 OH! My Essay UC PIQ workshop and the May 18 private school workshop covered how to write short answers and essays for college applications. The event was created in 2017, and Sisson plans to continue it for as long as possible.
“It was a personal decision myself, another counselor and English teacher made. We were reading a lot of students’ essays and they were not ready,” Sisson said. “And so we felt it would help for us to teach them and talk to them about what schools are looking for in an essay or short response. That way a first or second draft will be closer to being ready.”
Following the event, Sisson emailed the attendees some of the slideshows seen in the workshop. Those who were not able to attend cannot have access to the material presented. However, students can access the College and Career Canvas page which provides UC guides that help with applications.
In addition to this seminar, students can contact Sisson at the College and Career Center next to the counseling office during office hours, lunch and before school hours where she assists students with their applications and questions.
Sisson will also provide workshops in the fall where students can submit their essays in advance and have them critiqued. During fall and spring, applicants have the opportunity to attend admissions presentations as well.