What’s The Supplements Launch?
The Launch is our strategic program for the college applicant who is ready to identify topics for supplement essays and to begin drafting!
Is The Supplements Launch Right for Me?
If you’ve completed your main application essay and will need to address five or more substantial supplement prompts in addition to the common “Why are you applying here?” question, we recommend The Supplements Launch for the instruction and strategic organization it provides.
The Launch is open to students who are working with a Hillside coach in The Uncommon Essay Course or The WayFinder. Materials from the Discovery steps in these programs serve as a rich source of ideas and directions for the supplement-writing project. Students not enrolled in one of these programs should contact us to discuss a support plan for work on supplement essays.
If the supplements project is considerably smaller in scope, we recommend scheduling discrete Draft Feedback Sessions, which can be followed by or paired with E-Feedback support.
How Does the Launch Work?
Research
College Research and Essay Prompts
The student completes Hillside’s “Why Apply Here?” steps, which provide instruction for performing college-specific research. Discoveries from the research and a collection of the applicant’s supplement prompts are due to the student’s coach before the first session.
Even if the question is focused on the college, don’t just use this as an opportunity to show your knowledge about the college; use your knowledge of the college to tell your own story. University of Richmond admissions officer
Planning
The Supplements Planner
The coach creates The Supplements Planner — a customized, shared spreadsheet for project management. The Planner organizes prompts, word limits, deadlines, ideas, and session notes, supporting the strategic thinking necessary for progress.
Session 1: Strategy
Coach and student identify promising experiences to write from and, using The Supplements Planner, discover efficiencies for addressing essay prompts. The coach also provides feedback on the student’s college-specific research. By the end of the session, the student has direction and is ready to begin writing.
Coaching Sessions
Sessions 2 & 3: Revision and Development
Reading drafting out loud launches top-to-bottom revision work, locating areas for clarification and further reflection. Coach and student also discuss further strategies for addressing additional supplemental essays.
Options for Further Support
We’ve designed The Supplements Launch to provide instruction, tools, and organizational help so students can approach remaining essays on their own after completing the course. If students would like feedback on additional essays or further strategic guidance, support can be extended through Draft Feedback Sessions or E-Feedback.
What Clients Are Saying About The Supplements Launch
Almost every other supplement I wrote stemmed from the ideas we found for that first essay!Student, Cambridge, MA