College Prep Workshops
Do you have a college-bound high schooler looking for additional support as they navigate the college application process?
Vermont Commons is excited to offer in-person college prep workshops this summer, open to all area high school seniors. Led by our dedicated and highly experienced staff, students have the opportunity to receive expert guidance and structured support in small-group sessions.
SAT Prep Class - Register Here
August 3-7, 10:00am-2:30pm
Looking to prepare for the SATs on August 22nd or later this fall? Or want to get some studying done before the October PSAT/NMSQT? This intensive week-long prep class will shake off the summer cobwebs and get you ready for test-taking success. We’ll dedicate two days each to Math and Reading & Writing, with test-taking strategies covered throughout as you review content and practice with real test questions. On Friday students will take a full practice SAT and review and analyze their own results, creating a personalized study plan to review the concepts that still need some additional practice before their next test date.
Enrollment is limited to be able to provide instruction tailored to the group's needs--register today!
Prerequisites:
Students must have an active College Board/Bluebook account prior to the start of class. If they have not set this up already they may need to reach out to an administrator at their own school to do so.
Students are asked to take a full practice exam in advance of the class and submit their results to our instructors to help guide the content covered during the course.
Meet the Faculty:
Jennifer Cohen holds a B.A. in English and Theology from the University of Notre Dame, an M.A. in Theology from Harvard Divinity School, and a Master’s in Teaching English from the University of Washington. After teaching at various high schools and colleges across the country, she settled in Burlington and has been teaching English at Vermont Commons School since 2004. Jennifer helps her junior and senior students prepare for the SAT every year and has led previous SAT Reading & Writing bootcamps at VCS.
Kyler Star holds a master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Vermont and has been teaching and tutoring math for 13 years. Kyler has been tutoring VCS students for five years and founded his own company, Mountain Star Tutoring, in 2021. He is passionate about helping students find joy in math while growing and excelling academically. When he’s not working, you can find him hiking, playing board games, or hanging out with his wife, son, and cats!
College Essay 101 Workshop - Register Here
July 21-23, 10:00am-1:30pm
Want to complete the majority of your college apps before senior year starts? Come join us for this intensive college application bootcamp designed to jumpstart one of the most important parts of the admissions process: the writing. Students will focus on developing a compelling personal statement with guided brainstorming, drafting, and feedback sessions, while also receiving targeted support on supplemental essays and the activities section.
What We Will Cover:
Brainstorming and shaping a strong, authentic personal statement
Drafting and revising the main college essay
Approaching and organizing supplemental essays
Building a clear, impactful activities section
Strategies for presenting a cohesive application narrative
What You Will Walk Away With:
A solid draft of your personal statement
Starter drafts or outlines for key supplemental essays
A well-developed activities list
Clear next steps and a personalized plan to complete your applications with confidence
Enrollment is limited to better provide opportunities for individualized coaching and feedback--register today!
Meet the Faculty:
Eliot Sloan is the Director of College Counseling at Vermont Commons School. A writer, editor, and teacher, Eliot has over twelve years of experience as an essay consultant, helping college and graduate school applicants draft and polish personal statements. Eliot also has experience as a MIddlebury College Admissions Reader.
A native New Yorker, she graduated from Vassar College and then worked as an editor at Zagat Survey and at Harper’s Magazine before heading off to the deserts of the American Southwest, where she earned her MFA in creative writing at the University of Arizona and spent summers completing a master’s degree in English at Middlebury. She then went on to teach English at several independent secondary schools before moving to Vermont, where she taught writing at St. Michael’s College for almost a decade and worked as an independent college counseling consultant until joining the VCS faculty in 2022.
College Prep Bundle
Save $75 if you enroll in both the Essay 101 Workshop and SAT Prep Class! The discount will automatically be applied to your cart during checkout.