College Essay Excelerator
A structured, hands-on, immersive writing experience designed to move students meaningfully forward in the personal statement process.
What We Focus On
Guided idea generation, essay structure, and actual drafting—with real-time in-person feedback from your guide every step of the way.
What You Leave With
Real progress: a clear essay direction, a workable draft, and a substantially revised version of what you came in with.
The Team
The College Essay Excelerator is led by Lydia Gallant and Raquel Maysonet-Sigler, two college counselors who believe every student has a story worth telling—and have the skills to help them tell it.
Students will also be joined by a team of experienced educators, writers, creatives, and mentors who bring additional perspectives and hands-on guidance throughout the workshop.
Raquel Maysonet-Sigler
Lydia Gallant
What to Expect
In-person environment. No Zoom fatigue, no distractions!
Feedback that's specific to you. Not generic advice you could Google or ask ChatGPT, but real-time responses to your writing and ideas.
Small student-to-writing guide ratio. You won’t just be a face in the crowd!
Dedicated space and time for real writing and reflection. We’ll go beyond “tips and tricks”!
Guidance from experienced professionals. Your guides are more than good writers. They know exactly what admissions offices are actually looking for.
Community with other students going through the same process. A low-pressure environment built for authenticity, and a judgment-free space to explore who you are and what you want to say.
Sample Schedule
How to Get There
179 Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn (St. Francis College campus) offers excellent public transportation access, located within walking distance of multiple subway lines, buses, and the Atlantic Terminal. Key stations include Jay St-MetroTech (A, C, F, R), Hoyt-Schermerhorn (A, C, G), Hoyt St (2, 3), and Borough Hall (4, 5).
St. Francis College
179 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime at collegeessayexcelerator@gmail.com. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and register!.
-
This workshop is for rising seniors who are working on college essays—wherever you are in the process. Whether you’re just starting out with a blank page, have some rough ideas you can't quite shape, or have an early draft that needs real direction and revision, the College Essay Excelerator is for you.
-
No. Students at all stages are welcome. Some will arrive with nothing but a vague idea; others may have a first draft they're stuck on. We meet you exactly where you are and focus on meaningful forward progress from that point.
-
Possibly, but that's not the primary goal. The truth is, an essay that was written start-to-finish in only three days rarely reads well. The focus is on real, substantive progress: a clear direction, a solid structure, an earnest draft. Students who come in with existing drafts may leave with a meaningfully revised version.
-
Each guide works with roughly 3–4 students, which means you get individualized attention throughout the program (not a generic prompt to work on and a room full of strangers). Guides are actively engaged, giving real-time feedback as you write and helping you think through your ideas on the spot.
-
The primary focus is the personal statement, but the skills you build — finding your story, structuring it, writing with clarity and voice — apply directly to supplemental essays as well. Guides can help you think through those too.
-
A private counselor typically works one-on-one in scheduled sessions across several months. This workshop is led by two private counselors, but it is an intensive, immersive experience — dedicated days in a shared space, writing in real time with peers, and getting immediate feedback as ideas form. The two aren't mutually exclusive; many students find the workshop a strong complement to ongoing counseling.