Parents workshop: De-stressing the college essay and supporting your teen
A free 45-minute Zoom workshop for parents of rising seniors. Learn what admissions officers actually look for, how to help without taking over, and the most common mistakes parents make during essay season.
Limited to 15 parents per session
Who This Workshop Is For
This workshop is for parents of rising seniors applying to highly selective colleges or competing for merit-based scholarships. With single-digit admit rates and record-high application volumes, essay season is one of the most stressful parts of the college process for students and parents alike. This workshop gives you a clear playbook for supporting your teen in producing their best work while minimizing stress. You'll learn how to give feedback, navigate disagreements, vet outside help from family friends or coaches, and calibrate your level of involvement to the needs of your teen. You'll walk away knowing how to be your child's best support system without adding to the pressure.
What You'll Learn
- How to manage timelines and stay on track
- What admissions officers look for
- How to give constructive feedback, even during disagreements
- When to bring in outside help, and how to vet coaches, teachers, and other readers
- Navigating discussions about AI usage in the essay process
- The most common mistakes parents make (and how to avoid them)
Your Host
James Rizzo is a Schwarzman Scholar (Tsinghua, 2016) and former product leader at Lyft and Intuit. He founded Essay Launch to help students craft authentic admissions essays.
"Working with James was an incredible experience! He helped me take my essay to the next level with thoughtful, detailed feedback and expert advice. Thanks to his guidance, my essay became so much stronger and more effective."
Ethan C.
Admitted to Stanford University
Choose Your Session
All three sessions cover the same material. Pick the time that works best for your schedule.
Tuesday, May 5
7:00 PM PT
Limited spots available
Thursday, May 7
7:00 PM PT
Limited spots available
Saturday, May 9
10:00 AM PT
Limited spots available
Tuesday, May 12
4:00 PM PT
Limited spots available
Can't Make These Times?
Can't make any of these sessions? Get notified about future dates.