New College of Florida and the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation have partnered to create a new program designed to help high school seniors write stronger essays for college applications.
The free workshops will begin this summer and will be offered online to local students. The program also includes training for teachers, guidance counselors and librarians who advise students on their college admissions essays. The program was developed by Jennifer Wells, the director of writing at New College and the head of its Writing Program. She has more than 15 years of experience coaching admissions essay writing in high school classrooms and writing centers and in workshops for nonprofits.
A $73,737 Barancik Foundation grant will support the new program. That money will also go to help New College better support students transferring to the college. “The Barancik Foundation’s generous grant enables us to direct more resources to transfer student programming; we truly appreciate their partnership on this critical equity and access initiative,” said New College provost and vice president for academic affairs Suzanne Sherman, according to a press release.