Preparing an application for college or graduate school can be a daunting experience. Join us for a Journey that unpacks everything you need to know about finding college and graduate school programs, applying to school, preparing personal essays, and getting the most out of your college or graduate school experience. (Mentees: ages 14-18; Mentors: ages 19+)
Led By
Azia Armstead
Azia Armstead (she/her) is a poet from Richmond, Virginia. She holds an MFA in Poetry from New York University where she received the Goldwater Fellowship. In 2019, Azia was a finalist for the Furious Flower Poetry Prize judged by A. Van Jordan and honorable mention for the Arts Club of Washington’s Scholarship Award for Poetry. Azia was chosen as a finalist for the 2023 Nine Syllables Press Chapbook Contest. Her work has appeared in Boston Review, The Quarry, Obsidian, Rattle and elsewhere. She currently lives in Brooklyn.
Learning Objectives
- Create a list of colleges you’re most interested in applying to.
- Draft your personal statement and/or statement of purpose.
- Finalize your college application materials.
- Reflect on what you want to gain from your college experience.
Apply Now
Applications for the Summer 2025 Cycle are open!
Priority Deadline: April 30, 2025
Final Deadline: May 15, 2025
Cycle(s) Offered:
Summer 2025 (July-September)
Time:
3 hours
Areas of Focus:
College, MFA Programs
Requirements:
- Attend journey meetings
- Write personal statement or statement of purpose
- Create creative writing portfolio in your chosen genre (for those interested in MFA applications)
- Reach out to recommenders for letters of recommendations
College & MFA Preparation Journey Package
As a mentee or mentor in the College & MFA Preparation Journey, you’ll have access to an online course designed help you tackle the often-daunting process of applying to college and graduate school. You’ll be paired with a mentee or mentor for one full cycle, and you’ll meet with them at least twice each month. Mentees and mentors in the College & MFA Preparation Journey must attend at least one Community Experience per month.
College & MFA Preparation Course
In the College & MFA Preparation course, you will tackle the often-daunting process of applying to college and graduate school. You will narrow down your list of preferred schools, finalize your application materials—especially your personal statement and/or statement of purpose—and identify what you want from your ideal college experience.
This course is offered as a part of this journey package. If you’d like to take a course without joining a journey, click here.
College & MFA Preparation Mentoring
Mentees and mentors in the College & MFA Preparation Journey will be matched for one cycle. Pairs will meet for at least two hour-long sessions each month.
This Journey requires mentees and mentors to commit to two per month. If you’d like to mentor but cannot commit to this requirement, click here.
College & MFA Preparation Community Experiences
Mentees and mentors in the College and MFA Preparation Journey must attend at least one Community Experience per month. They are expected to attend meetings that are specifically required for College and MFA Preparation. It is strongly recommended that they attend Exploratory Community Studios, College & Career Chats, and Salon Experiences.
This Journey requires attendance at the Community Experiences noted above. If you’d like to attend Community Experiences but cannot commit to these requirements, click here.
College 360 Adventure
The College & MFA Preparation Journey is a part of the College 360 Adventure.
Journeys in the College 360 Adventure focus on the process of getting into college and making the most of your college experience. It is perfect for mentees and mentors who are applying to college or are in college currently.
Learn more about the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below.
Not ready for a Journey?
If you want to be a part of the Girls Write Now Collaboratory but you aren’t ready to join a Journey, you can participate in individual writing courses, short-term mentoring services, and select community engagement experiences. See all of the options available to you below!
Writing
Take a course without joining a journey, being paired with a mentee or mentor, or attending community experiences.
Mentoring
Meet with a mentee or mentor without joining a journey, accessing writing courses, or attending community experiences.
Community
Attend Community Experiences without joining a journey, being paired with a mentee or mentor, or accessing writing courses.