How to improve Highschool students writing

[Anonymous]

A nephew of mine whose heart was set on attending one of the best Ivy League schools did not get in. He’s crushed. He had all the necessary scores and grades. He had a wonderful extracurricular activities and a great science project he completed. He was a National Merit finalist. So what went wrong? We think his writing skills were not as strong as they wanted.

Our private school wants to do something about this problem of students having poor writing skills. They are looking for an excellent writing teacher to teach a summer camp for about 4-6 weeks. They have asked me for help in finding one. Any ideas on where I should look?

[Anonymous]

Why do they not have excellent writing teachers actually teaching in the school?? I'm not sure I understand why they are asking you instead of truly seeking someone to employ for the position. There are many journalists and copywriters without employment due to AI taking their jobs so I wouldn't think finding a writing teacher would be impossible...

Also no matter how perfect a student is, applications for the Ivies are a crap shoot. At absolute best you can get yourself up to about a 20% chance. There is no shoe in for the Ivies there is a chance or absolutely no chance...

[Anonymous]

It wasn’t his writing. The Ivies are a roll of the dice. Thousands of supremely qualified and able students are denied every year because they simply have vastly more best-of-the-best applicants than they have seats.

It’s obviously very difficult for 17-18 year olds not to get wrapped up in the process and natural to feel like they really have a shot and then be crushed when they don’t get in, but it’s really not about them or their abilities, it’s just the reality of schools with sub-5% admissions rates.

[Anonymous]

Also I 100% do not believe OP has been tasked by their kid’s HS in April to find an excellent writer to teach a 4-6 week (!) writing workshop over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also I 100% do not believe OP has been tasked by their kid’s HS in April to find an excellent writer to teach a 4-6 week (!) writing workshop over the summer.

Yea, I think OP was pushing for it and they were like "well you would need to find someone to teach it" meaning "yea, we aren't looking to do that right now" and he took it as they were looking to him to hire...

[Anonymous]

I do not believe anyone who writes "Highschool" has been tasked to find an "excellent writing teacher."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It wasn’t his writing. The Ivies are a roll of the dice. Thousands of supremely qualified and able students are denied every year because they simply have vastly more best-of-the-best applicants than they have seats.

It’s obviously very difficult for 17-18 year olds not to get wrapped up in the process and natural to feel like they really have a shot and then be crushed when they don’t get in, but it’s really not about them or their abilities, it’s just the reality of schools with sub-5% admissions rates.

Yeah, I don't think I could get in today. And the only reason I DID get in 20 years ago is that I was a fantastic writer and applying from a less competitive state (so, not CA, CT, MA, or NY).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It wasn’t his writing. The Ivies are a roll of the dice. Thousands of supremely qualified and able students are denied every year because they simply have vastly more best-of-the-best applicants than they have seats.

It’s obviously very difficult for 17-18 year olds not to get wrapped up in the process and natural to feel like they really have a shot and then be crushed when they don’t get in, but it’s really not about them or their abilities, it’s just the reality of schools with sub-5% admissions rates.

This is exactly right. The best thing you and your family can do is encourage him in choosing from among his options and making the best of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also I 100% do not believe OP has been tasked by their kid’s HS in April to find an excellent writer to teach a 4-6 week (!) writing workshop over the summer.

Totally. Very strange troll post.

[Anonymous]

Highschool -> high school
Students -> students'

A nephew of mine whose heart was set on attending one of the best Ivy League schools did not get in. -> My nephew was disappointed not to get into an Ivy. [original is too wordy]

[Anonymous]

Students need to read real books. They need to write. They need teachers who have the time to give real constructive feedback. They need to accept this feedback. They need to not expect to get an A on everything based on perceived effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also I 100% do not believe OP has been tasked by their kid’s HS in April to find an excellent writer to teach a 4-6 week (!) writing workshop over the summer.

Totally. Very strange troll post.

I don't think it is a troll, just very misguided in how this all works...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Highschool -> high school
Students -> students'

A nephew of mine whose heart was set on attending one of the best Ivy League schools did not get in. -> My nephew was disappointed not to get into an Ivy. [original is too wordy]

Is this your formal application for the position 🤣

[Anonymous]

Look at Writopia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also I 100% do not believe OP has been tasked by their kid’s HS in April to find an excellent writer to teach a 4-6 week (!) writing workshop over the summer.

I am so tired of people like you. You're irrelevant. Get lost.